Music MAYhem

Strap yourself in for a May music melee as Beijing braces for one of the busiest months on its music calendar. Whether you're planning to attend the heavy-hitting Midi and Strawberry festivals or its bantamweight counterparts MMAX and Ditan Folk, here's your rundown on music you can choose so that you won't lose.

MMAX Festival

Don't miss: Day 2 (April 30): Pu Shu (pop rock), Zhang Xuan (folk)

But you'll have to diss:

Midi: Yasiin Bey, aka Mos Def (US hip-hop), Muma & Third Party (rock), Residence A (rock)

Strawberry: AV Okubo (electro rock), DJ Spooky (US), A-Boys (Oi Punk)

Ditan Folk: Shanren (Yunnan folk), Xiao He (indie folk), Dolan (Mongolian)

What to expect: no alcohol, a short film exhibit and limited food

With so much anticipation for Midi and Strawberry yet lackluster promotion, Beijing's first MMAX Festival comes somewhat as a surprise. Loosely aligned with Chaoyang Pop Music Week as an "independent event," MMAX offers bare bones and only two stages occupying the Chaoyang Sports Center near the Fourth Ring Road from April 29 to May 1.

"Midi has heavy rock and Strawberry is for young people still finding their direction in life. But MMAX is for people who know what they want," said Ma Yue, the festival's public relations officer.

Considering the festival is an alcohol-free affair, one of its only redeeming features is managing to lure reclusive pop rocker Pu Shu, who will headline on April 30 with an eight-song set. Ditching the backing tapes that dimmed his rare appearances in recent years, Pu has finally put together a live band.

Although Pu will stick to his hits, he is currently road-testing the band for a long-awaited third album. The album, to be recorded later this year, marks his first release in nearly a decade, his management told the Global Times on Monday. MMAX has opted for local talent to go with its local venue, with the most exotic artist being Hong Kong crooner Huang Yaoming. Though weighing heavily on the Mandopop side with the likes of Yu Quan, Peng Tan and Tan Weiwei, the lineup unites acts with historically different festival allegiances under one banner.

Among MMAX's modest 33 offerings are Modern Sky's Queen Sea Big Shark, Midi poster boys Miserable Faith and Maybe Mars flagship band Carsick Cars.

There will also be a simultaneously running electronic stage courtesy of S.T.D. in Shanghai featuring usual DJ suspects Elvis T, Sulumi and Terry Tu.

Unlike the DJ lineup, over a third of bands overlap with other festival rosters, including Hao Yun and Miserable Faith at Midi, as well as The Life Journey, Carsick Cars, Hanggai, New Pants and Hedgehog at Strawberry. With the exception of The Life Journey and Hao Yun, Day 2 at MMAX offers people the chance to catch them either on April 29 or May 1.

Add an independent film exhibit and indoor "social networking event," and perhaps MMAX might be worth checking out.

When: April 29-May 1, 2:30 pm-9:30 pm

Where: Chaoyang Sports Center, 77 Yaojiayuan Lu, Chaoyang district

Tickets: 80 yuan (presale)/100 yuan (gate)/220 yuan (three-day pass)

Getting there: Take bus No.406 heading east along Workers Stadium North Road and get off at Pingfang

Contact: 400-880-2880/chinaticket.com