COLUMN: Chinese Powerviolence Band CHOU Reflect On Playing UK Fest CHIMPYFEST

Very cool to see some fellow Asian extreme musicheads who live out here in the west (United Kingdom to be precise) also continuing to actually play music instead of just being attendees at shows! This past weekend Scotland-based powerviolence band CHOU brought their assault to the London’s annual CHIMPYFEST. Drummer Qiu Qiu was kind enough to write this amazing reflection about the entire experience, and yes, he talked about the Mahjong table!

ENJOY!

Since 2021, the year I moved to Scotland, I’ve been going to London every September, and the only reason is CHIMPYFEST. To me, Chimpy is undoubtedly the best festival in the UK. It has left me with countless wonderful memories and forged many precious friendships. Over time, stepping onto the Chimpy stage became a small dream or a goal of mine. As far as I know, no Chinese band has ever played at this largest UK-wide Grindcore/Hardcore carnival. About half a year ago, I sent some C.H.O.U.’s gig videos to Tony, one of the organisers, to ask about potential opportunities. Shortly after our demo release, we received a positive response. Thanks to the support of Tony and many other friends, C.H.O.U. eventually arranged a wee UK tour in September, marking the first time we ventured outside of Edinburgh.

Being the second band on Day 1 felt somewhat surreal. Before heading to London, we imagined that there might not be too many people at the venue, allowing us to play under less pressure and then fully enjoy the rest of the festival. But when we arrived at New Cross Inn and saw the crowd, we knew something was completely wrong. After quickly setting up our merch place, our bassist Xi and guitarist Keming, in a rare move, suggested going to the crowd early to prepare, adjusting to the bustling atmosphere. Understandably, being our first time playing in a festival, it felt like a big deal, and I felt even more nervous. However, once we had set up all the instruments and stood (or sat) on stage to let out the first burst of noise, all the tension vanished. Due to time constraints, we didn’t even have a line check, but the raw energy just exploded from the stage. During our set, I barely noticed what Xi and Keming were doing. With only the occasional glance at the surging crowd below, most of my energy was focused on channelling my emotions and energy into the drums and vocals. From the audience’s feedback during and after the gig, I realised that my dream had come true.

When it comes to Chimpy, I have to mention its influence on the entire Grindcore, Hardcore, and Powerviolence scenes across the UK and even Europe. This year, more than ever, I felt the shift in identity from being a fan to becoming a performer. Every
September, countless bands use the festival as a springboard for tours, spoiling grinders across the country. From Edinburgh to Leeds, to Rugby, Chimpy bands can be seen everywhere. Especially this year in Edinburgh, just two days before Chimpy, there was a 7 band international Grind night. Bands from North America (P.L.F., Houkago Grind Time), Europe (Whoresnation), and East Asia (Myxoma) blasted together, which never happened in Edinburgh before. Underground venues, DIY promotions, and ridiculous cheap ticket prices – the impact and strength these outstanding bands leave behind in the local scene are immeasurable. As one of the few Chinese people in this scene, I’m both awed and a little regretful. I believe folks in China would resonate with this feeling. A huge thanks to Chimpy’s three organisers, Ben, Martin, and Tony – you’ve brought so much joy to so many people.

We also prepared a special feature for Chimpy: bringing mahjong to the front of the stage. Initially, the plan was to have four players play mahjong on stage while we performed, but due to time and space limitations, the traditional Chinese board game ended up being played under the stage. I had thought of this idea months ago, aiming to use a Chinese approach to portray people’s detachment and indifference to everything happening around them. The frantic performance and the fierce mosh pit didn’t stir any emotional response from the mahjong players. They created an environment detached from the gig and were immersed in their entertainment, just for the four of them. At Chimpy, it was merely a game removed from the chaos. In every corner of the world, similar scenes are happening in an even more ironic and ruthless manner. Surprisingly, the idea received unprecedented positive feedback. Tony’s brother, a hardcore mahjong enthusiast, brought the set to the venue and led his girlfriend, Glista’s vocalist Matija, and my girlfriend Yaxin in a serious mahjong. Huge thanks to them for their brilliant participation. Derek, the drummer of Myxoma, was supposed to join the game as well, but they arrived late and only made it to the venue as we were finishing our set.

As for C.H.O.U., we’ll play the last gig of our tour in Glasgow on the 29th of September, followed by another one in Edinburgh on the 19th of October with Diall and Louse from the Newcastle Hardcore scene. After that, we don’t have any gig plans yet, and the band will concentrate on writing new songs. Traditional Powerviolence will remain the core element, but it will undoubtedly have C.H.O.U.’s vibe. We’ve already got an invitation from a Swedish band to release a split EP, but it’s also possible that we might release a full-length first – just let it be.

https://www.instagram.com/chou.band/