[:en]For its organizers, a festival is a funny thing. We start thinking about the next edition 2 months before the current one actually happens – we are always living in the future. Then suddenly the present presents itself in full Technicolor glory 6 weeks out: looming deadlines, all-nighters and a sudden scouring of weather forecasts become our non-sleeping lives. And then, in a matter of 48 hours, it’s done.
摄影：杨枪枪
For two consecutive weekends in April, Michael Eavis’s farm in Somerset becomes the one of the 20 largest cities in the UK, and sometimes it feels insane to put so much effort into something that lives for just a single weekend. Our festival in Shanghai is not quite at Glastonbury’s level (yet), but we like to think that their spirit burns strong in our veins.
摄影：李乐为
This year’s Concrete & Grass bore strong traces of the Great British summer all around. Wellington Boots, rain ponchos and umbrellas interspersed Day One as we caught the tail end of not one, but two super typhoons moving South and East of us (some quick thoughts need to go out to the families and individuals whose lives were materially affected by those typhoons). For the preceding 10-day period, we all became amateur meteorologists, furiously studying the various weather apps that predicted everything from torrential rain to clear and bright sunshine. 6 days out, MOMA Festival threw in the towel, postponing their event due to a typhoon (that was never actually predicted to hit Shanghai). We marched on, believing that a festival in the rain is better than no festival at all. We managed to get the site mostly set up to its beautiful best by 6pm the day before doors, but then the heavens opened and rain strafed the site for a good 12 hours. When we returned the following morning, a lot of the infrastructure was trashed, but everyone pulled together and by 1130 we were open for business (sorry to those people that arrived at the advertised opening time of 1100).
摄影：高文一
You know what though? Rain at a festival brings out the very best in people. Fiery energy crackled around the site, as people braved the elements and the brooding grey skies to come out and party. Our recently adopted house band Kingston Rudieska brought sunshine and light to the wet underfoot-Downtown field. Benjamin Francis Leftwich was the perfect accompaniment to the swirling clouds while Chinese Football played to a deservingly massive crowd. All the while, the Wooozy Dimension was boiling over – Peezy and Bloodz Boi bringing their Atlanta-via-Beijing attitude to an already raucous crowd. As predicted, Iron Mic, Father and Little Simz built to the crescendo that was A$AP Ferg. The tent was full to overflowing as Ferg and his MC’s laid waste to Shanghai’s over excited trap lovers, the rain pinning them inside to be treated to a 90 minute masterclass by the one and only Preemo.
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：李乐为
摄影：李乐为
摄影：高文一
摄影：童畅
Meanwhile, on Stage Left, a lightning storm haloed the post-apocalyptic noise of Jambinai. The Storm Was Coming. Almost as soon as they finished, the thunderclaps that had seemed so far away turned a deluge of sideways rain. Over on the Echo Stage, Miyavi took the storm head on, shredding hard as the torrents boiled.
摄影：李乐为
摄影：七仔
摄影：七仔
Stage Left was a different story – the rain was coming in front on and soaking all the gear on stage. Not wanting to risk electrocution, we huddled backstage and decided that the only thing we could do to give the Silverstein fans something to remember was to send vocalist Shane Told into the maw of the storm to perform an utterly unique and never-before-performed solo acoustic set. This image will remain etched in our souls forever.
摄影：杨枪枪
摄影：胡小杰
The only total weather casualty was the much-anticipated Zuriaake debut, but we hurriedly organized a late night show for them at the wonderfully accommodating Yuyintang, and donated a bus for their fans to get there in time. Apparently it was an amazing show!
摄影：杨枪枪
Back on the Echo Stage, drenched Edison Chen fans were unbowed, and he came on stage to the biggest scream a Split Works show has ever experienced.
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：李乐为
With the Yurt and Wooozy Dimension cranking hard, the rain became a badge of honor, worn with pride. Once you are in it, it engulfs you and there is nothing to do but embrace it.
Saturday dawned bright and clear. Not only was there no rain (and no sign of it) but the sky was that amazing combination of cloud and blue, the white, fluffy cumulus scudding across a sun drenched sky. Finally, we could prepare the site that we had imagined in our dreams. The new Jimboomba area was replete with beanbags, acoustic performances and kids playing on huge inflatable toys. Our friends from the Sunshine Home bestowed upon us a traditional drum circle. In return, our other house band, Hutong Yellow Weasels, taught them to square dance. A quick note to Chris and the boys and girls of Hutong Yellow. They played, danced and laughed for 2 days straight – from headline performances, to square dance lessons, to Appalachian music workshops, to roving performances, they were a constant ball of energy and contributed much to the energy of the festival.
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：七仔
摄影：杨毅东
摄影：Miya
Stage Left got a bit angry, starting with Pairs drummer Rhys in his new band Thug Mills. Singing partly in English and partly in Chinese, he managed to woo and rile the crowd in equal measure. Birdstriking got one of the biggest crowds of the day and slayed them, followed in the same vein by Die!Die!Die! and then the cosmic stylings of About Tess. Finally, the moment many had been waiting for, the China debut of Cribs, and they didn’t disappoint. It was the last show of their 6th album tour, and they made best use of it, leaving it all out on a sunny Stage Left.
摄影：杨枪枪
摄影：高文一
摄影：李乐为
摄影：李乐为
The Echo Stage had been buzzing all afternoon. Cosmos People brought effervescent indie pop from Taipei to an adoring crowd, shortly after Jessica Care Moore teamed up with the Iron Mic crew for a completely unique half hour of spoken word, straight outta Detroit. The Go! Team were their effervescent best, bouncing and rolling across the stage, their third trip to China proving that they have built a really solid audience here.
摄影：李乐为
The Korean Hip Hop of Drunken Tiger and Yoonmirae promised much and delivered more, but it was the arrival in China of American alt-indie legend Stephen Malkmus under a reddening sky that created genuine excitement. His songs spanning over 20 years were the perfect counterpoint to the setting sun and lifelong Pavement fans sobbed into their petticoats as guitar solos rang out across Downtown. One of our favorite moments was welcoming Dalian post rock heroes Wang Wen to the Echo Stage. With their euphoric, rolling songs, their subtle but beautiful production and the care and attention that they gave to their stage set, their sound and their performance held a massive crowd (with quite a lot of Sekai No Owari fans in there) entranced. It’s always a pleasure for us to put local, domestic artists that have worked their way up through the club circuit onto our main stage and this was no different. Huge props to Wang Wen who have done it their own way. The stage was closed by the eccentric pop stylings of Sekai No Owari – an upbeat, feel good show from Japan that polarized opinions, but made a lot of people very, very happy.
摄影：李乐为
摄影：李乐为
摄影：李乐为
摄影：李乐为
摄影：Metal Micky
摄影：杨谖
摄影：Metal Micky
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：Metal Micky
The Wooozy Dimension played host to a more electronic lineup on the Saturday. French darkwave band Future kicked it off with the last show of their extensive China tour. Jason Hou and Yider warmed things up nicely with their bizarre instruments and fantastic delivery. Local hero Conrank played live for the very first time anywhere in the world, PVT smashed it out of the park and hometown legend Ma Haiping made his Split Works debut to great acclaim with his full band performance being many people’s pick of the festival.
摄影：童畅
The Yurt was pumping all weekend, but never more so as the festival closed. Aisha Devi’s ethereal, heavy and genre bending live performance was definitely the most eye catching, but the Shanghai crew held it down and Ben UFO, Tiago and Hobbes all smashed it.
摄影：Archie Hamilton
摄影：杨谖
A final word to our closers on Stage Left. We try and plan runs of artists that compliment each other, bringing energy and contrast to their performances. The Algorithm started this final triplet, with tech metal from another dimension. Local legends Re-Tros played one of our festivals for the very first time and produced a beautifully amazing evening set to a massive crowd….. most of whom stayed for an incendiary festival closing set by LA experimental noise titans HEALTH, who shut everything down with the shortest and most magnificent 15 second encore we have ever been privileged to witness.
摄影：杨枪枪
摄影：Freddie Chien
摄影：杨枪枪
摄影：高文一
On a personal note, Concrete & Grass is a yearlong passion project. It’s sometimes amazing to think that one little 2-day party costs us so many months of insanity and pain. There were times that we thought it was all too hard – can any one thing really be worth so much stress? But then it happens, and you see how happy we make people, from our friends of the Sunshine Home, to the fans that turned up at 1130 on a day that promised to be crazy rain and typhoon weather to the kids that ran around the grass free and unbound. It suddenly makes sense, and it makes us want to do it all over again (definitely not right now, but sometime in the future :-)).
摄影：Miya
摄影：Freddie Chien
There are easier ways to make a living for sure; we could have less stressful lives, but there is nowhere that we could find a more satisfying way to live our lives, there is nowhere we could find work with a better, more beautiful collection of people. We share a dream, we want life to be better for everyone and we are all lucky enough to have a way to express that in reality. China needs every single one of you to help it to become a place where people love each other, help each other, look after each other. A place where money or looks are not the single most important things – friendship, camaraderie and belief in a better world ARE.
摄影：Freddie Chien
It would be great to take a moment to thank our amazing team, the 40+ guys and gals that work for Split Works year round, that break their collective souls to bring you all of this wonderful music. China doesn’t make this easy – permits, customs, typhoons, bureaucracy, curfews, shakedowns, but we try – we try every day to make this better, and sometimes we succeed. When the sun came out on Saturday, it felt like we were going to be OK, and the only reason for that was the work put in by the team.
摄影：Freddie Chien
To our partners at Damai Live – you worked so hard to make this a reality. Your belief, resolve and trust make this all possible. You guys rock.
To all our wonderful artists – you are the festival – without you we are nothing. Thanks for making it all so special.
To the people that join us every year to make it possible and invest their blood and sweat in the festival: Brad and his incredible team, Leon and his people, Irene, Kelvin, Eddy from Tailor Bar, the Star Events crew, the Sheraton, all of our wonderful interns and volunteers, the Hands On crew, our new friends from the Sunshine Home, Jonah, Danni, Cassie, Isa and the El Willy team, the Kick the Gong Around and Kars and Kows amazingness, Sam, Heyin, Heatwolves, Super Sophia, Timeout, the princes and princesses from the French Cultural bodies who enabled us to have 3 bands from that great place, and of course our amazing hosts, the Shanghai Community Sports Club.
摄影：Miya
摄影：童畅
To our amazing food vendors – the food was a smash hit – to our Frisbee friends, to Steph and the Fun Factory who kept the kids pumping – you guys are heroes.
摄影：Miya
摄影：Miya
To our wonderful sponsors – without you, this certainly would never happen. Topshop // Topman // Shangpin, Goose Island, Whaley, China Unicom and Absolut, you guys brought your A-Game and people loved you for it. Thanks!
摄影：童畅
摄影：李乐为
摄影：童畅
摄影：李乐为
摄影：童畅
摄影：童畅
摄影：童畅
Roll on 2017. It’s gonna be huge!
For its organizers, a festival is a funny thing. We start thinking about the next edition 2 months before the current one actually happens – we are always living in the future. Then suddenly the present presents itself in full Technicolor glory 6 weeks out: looming deadlines, all-nighters and a sudden scouring of weather forecasts become our non-sleeping lives. And then, in a matter of 48 hours, it’s done.
摄影：童畅
[:zh]对主办方来说，音乐节总是难忘而非同寻常的经历。在今年的混凝草开始前2个月，我们还目光长远地构想着下一届，等回过神来就只剩6周，无数个deadline压在眼前，开夜车加班成了常事，突如其来的台风预警更是加剧了最后关头的兵荒马乱。然后就是如梦似幻、转瞬即逝的48小时，2016混凝草的大幕终于缓缓落下。
摄影：杨枪枪
每年4月，连续两个周末，Michael Eavis在Somerset的农场会变成全英国人口最多的20个城市之一。仔细想来也觉得疯狂，付出的所有心泪血汗，只为短短一个周末的狂欢。也许混凝草（暂时）还达不到Glastonbury的级别，但某种精神却是一脉相承的。
摄影：李乐为
今年的混凝草，在很多方面都继承了英国夏日音乐节的传统。两支分别从东边和南边移动的超级台风，在音乐节第一天扫过了上海（同时为因台风受灾的人们感到抱歉），场地里Wellington长靴雨衣雨伞随处可见。最后十天工作人员都变身气象学家，每天紧盯着各种天气应用软件，根据瓢泼大雨和艳阳高照预测天气。倒计时第6天，魔马突然宣布因台风推迟音乐节（此前并没有预测到台风会波及上海），而我们坚信有雨的音乐节总好过取消，继而决定让混凝草照常举行。9月15日，音乐节前一天，我们在下午六点前布置好了所有舞台、设施，想象这里将在明天充满音乐和欢笑声，却被突然浇下、长达12小时的倾盆大雨毁掉大半。第二天，也就是音乐节当天早晨，我们返回场地，将雨水冲掉的每个角落重新搭建，终于在11点半开园前恢复到所有人期待的模样（也要对11点到达场地的观众说声抱歉）。
摄影：高文一
但雨水的到来也唤起了人们身上最美好、真实的一面。他们尽情在旷阔的草地释放能量，毫不畏缩地拥抱恶劣天气和阴云密布的天空。去年为回声公园带去重重惊喜的SKA大团Kingston Rudieska再次驾到，用音乐驱散阴霾，人们跳着舞像是忘记了脚下潮湿的泥土，Benjamin Francis Leftwich温柔的民谣变成头顶盘旋的阴云最完美的佐餐，Chinese Football在左舞台召集了大批忠实的拥泵，而人气最高的无解帐篷早已人满为患：Peezy和Bloodz Boi掀起喧闹的序幕，Iron Mic, Father, Little Simz不停歇的嘻哈节拍最终在ASAP Ferg上场后达到顶峰。伙同MC一起，Ferg的到来彻底摧毁了所有Trap狂热者的身心防线，而随后DJ Premier用一场长达90分钟的终极大师班，证明了自己是独一无二、不可复制的Preemo。
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：李乐为
摄影：李乐为
摄影：高文一
摄影：童畅
与此同时，Jambinai诡异迷人的噪音成为风暴前的魔鬼序曲，当最后一个音符落下，远方持续的雷鸣瞬间化作凶猛的暴雨，而此时在回声舞台，吉他圣手MIYAVI正迎着风暴登场，燃烧的乐音似要将雨水煮沸。
摄影：李乐为
摄影：七仔
摄影：七仔
这时的左舞台正上演着曲折却惊喜的另一幕：由于许多设施都浸泡在雨里，安全起见，为了避免任何触电的危险，我们决定带给Silverstein粉丝一场铭记永久的演出回忆：让主唱Shane Told献上前所未见的原声独奏（acoustic set），这张照片也将成为Split Works的永久珍藏：
摄影：杨枪枪
摄影：胡小杰
也许唯一受这次暴雨影响的就是备受瞩目的葬尸湖，但最终我们还是顺利在育音堂安排了同样精彩的午夜场。
摄影：杨枪枪
此刻的回声舞台已经被陈冠希的粉丝塞满，雨水完全没有冲掉他们的热情，同时还见证了Split Works有史以来分贝最高的尖叫人群。
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：李乐为
而帐篷和无解舞台在大雨中变成久经冲刷的荣耀勋章。当你身处其中，就只能被延绵不绝的乐音淹没。
周六的时候，整个场地放晴了，不仅雨停了，也没有继续下的迹象，蓝天白云晴空一片。我们预期的场地样子终于真正地浮现在了眼前。在Jimboomba区域里，你都可以看到沙包袋四处摆放，弹着原声乐器表演的音乐人，以及在巨大的充气玩具上玩耍的孩子。我们来自阳光之家的朋友们，也带来了他们的花鼓表演，而作为回馈，音乐节另一个驻场乐队Hutong Yellow Weasels则教起了他们方块舞。在这里，我要向Hutong Yellow Weasels的Chris和团队里的男孩女孩们致敬，在音乐节的两天里，从演出，到广场舞课程，到乡村音乐Workshop，他们在两天里留下了许多欢笑和舞台，用他们的能量为音乐节带来了很多很多。
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：七仔
摄影：杨毅东
摄影：Miya
当天的左舞台算得上先声夺人，前Pairs乐队的鼓手Rhys带着新乐队Thug Mills为整个舞台揭开了序幕。他们的歌词中英夹杂，既温柔又狂暴。之后的Birdstriking，则在当天最多的人群面前展示了自己的能量。之后的Die!Die!Die!也延续了这样的场面。而在日本乐队About Tess充满太空感的演出之后，The Cribs乐队众所期待的内地首演终于来了，作为他们第六张专辑巡演的最后一场演出，他们完全释放了自己，而在这之后，左舞台也正式进入了夜晚时段。
摄影：杨枪枪
摄影：高文一
摄影：李乐为
摄影：李乐为
回声舞台整个下午都是热闹非凡，宇宙人为热情的乐迷带来了地道的独立流行音乐，而在这之后，Jessica Care Moore则携手Iron Mic团队带来了长达半小时的，独特的spoken word演出，真正的底特律风范。第三次来到中国演出的The Go! Team则通过他们跳跃欢快的高水准演出，证明了自己已经在中国有了一批忠实乐迷。
摄影：李乐为
来自韩国的Drunken Tiger和尹美莱在演出之前就受到了许多期待，而他们的演出更是超越了预期。而在他们之后，美国独立音乐的传奇Stephen Malkmus登上舞台，并令现场的观众兴奋非常。他当天的演出横跨了20年来的音乐履历，而当吉他演奏响彻整个Downtown区域的时候，所有的Pavement乐迷都躲到了斗篷里暗暗擦泪。我们整个音乐节最美好的回忆之一，来自于大连的后摇滚英雄——惘闻，他们用史诗般的音乐和精确到每个细节的认真和努力，令在场的所有乐迷屏声静气地认真聆听。能把这样一个经过多年奋斗努力一步步走上来的本土音乐人放到主舞台，是我们的荣幸。我们也非常感谢惘闻用自己的方式实现了这一点。当天回声舞台的演出由非常特别的流行乐队Sekai No Owari画上了一个欢快、积极的句号， 毋庸置疑的是，他们令许多许多人感到非常开心。
摄影：李乐为
摄影：李乐为
摄影：李乐为
摄影：李乐为
摄影：Metal Micky
摄影：杨谖
摄影：Metal Micky
摄影：胡小杰
摄影：Metal Micky
无解空间舞台第二天的安排更倾向于电音。法国的黑暗后朋乐队Future作为首个演出单位登场，而这也是他们中国巡演的最后一站。而在这之后，Jason Hou和Yider则用奇特的乐器献上了一个精彩的演出。本土英雄Conrank随后登场，带来了全世界范围内第一次呈现的乐队演出。而在PVT震撼的演出之后，上海之子马海平登场，他罕见地以全乐队现场演出的形式登上混凝草，收获了如潮的好评，也成为了许多乐迷在音乐节后的最佳之选。
摄影：童畅
帐篷舞台在整个音乐节期间都在舞动着，即便是在其它舞台都结束了之后也依然是这样。Aisha Devi超然而又横跨了多个风格的重量级演出，绝对是帐篷舞台最令人印象深刻的，但所有来自本土的DJ们也都表现非常好，Ben UFO，Tiago和Hobbes的演出也是犀利非常。
摄影：Archie Hamilton
摄影：杨谖
最后要提一下左舞台晚间时段演出的音乐人。在安排演出的时候，我们一直尝试着把各种风格互补的音乐人放到一起，想以此激发出他们表演时的能量和反差。作为当天晚间时候三组音乐人里最先登场的一队，The Algorithm带来了他们结合了电子元素和金属音乐的轰鸣。而作为首次在我们举办的音乐节上亮相的国内传奇——重塑雕像的权利则在一大群乐迷面前呈现了一个非常贴切美妙的夜晚演出。这些乐迷中的大多数人之后也留了下来，继续观看洛杉矶实验噪音劲旅HEALTH在左舞台的压轴演出，可以说的是，有机会见证到他们那段只有15秒之短，但却气势恢宏的返场环节，确实是我们的荣幸。
摄影：杨枪枪
摄影：Freddie Chien
摄影：杨枪枪
摄影：高文一
对我个人来说，混凝草音乐节是一个用尽了一整年激情的项目。有时候想想，为了这样一个只有两天的派对，我们的团队承受了这么多的痛苦和折磨，这真是件很神奇的事情。连我们自己有时候都觉得这一切真的是太艰难了，真的值得你去承受那么多吗？但到最后，混凝草音乐节还是圆满完成了，我们见证了许多因它而感到幸福的人，比如我们来自阳光之家的朋友们；比如那些无惧台风和暴雨而准时在11点半出现在门口痴痴等待的乐迷们；比如那些在草地上自由自在奔跑的孩子们。看到他们之后，我们意识到这一切又都有意义了，又想再做一次音乐节了。（但肯定不是现在，而是未来的某个时候:-） ）
摄影：Miya
摄影：Freddie Chien
生活的确是可以更容易的，我们可以选择无忧无虑的生活，但对我们来说，没有什么比这样的生活方式更能满意的了，没有哪里能让和这样一群美妙的人群一起工作的了。我们都有同一个梦想，想让大家的生活都变得更好，并通过音乐节这样一个方式把它变成了现实。中国需要大家每一个人的努力，来让她变成一个互爱互助的地方，一个金钱和外表并不是最重要事情的地方，一个友情，同伴和信任让一切变得更好的地方。
摄影：Freddie Chien
我想通过这个机会来感谢我这个神奇的团队，这加起来一共40多个男孩，女孩们在Split Works大家庭里辛勤工作，努力地对大家带来美妙的音乐。尽管面对着各种各样的困难，比如护照办理，比如海关程序，比如台风，比如各种审批，比如各种演出时间的限制，但是我们每天都竭尽全力，想让一切顺利进行。当看到周六整个场地晴空万里的时候，整个团队都松了一口气，因为我们已经足够努力。
摄影：Freddie Chien
致合作伙伴——大麦国际，我要说，是你们的努力让这一切变成了现实，你们的信念，你们的努力和信任使得这一切都成为了可能，你们太棒了！
致所有在混凝草演出的音乐人，我要说，你们就是音乐节本身，没了你们，混凝草什么都不是，是你们让这一切如此特别。
我还要感谢那些每年加入我们的行列，在音乐节流血流汗，让这一切都变成可能的人——李湛和他非凡的团队；吴欢和他的伙伴们；来自Tailor Bar的Irene，Kelvin，Eddy；Star Events团队，外高桥喜来登酒店，我们卓越的实习生和志愿者；Hands On Shanghai团队；我们阳光之家的新朋友们；El Willy团队的Jonah，Danni，Cassie，Isa；神奇的the Kick the Gong Around 和Kars and Kows ； 还有Sam , Heyin，Heatwolves，Super Sophia和Timeout杂志；来自法国驻华大使馆文化教育合作处的公主和王子们，他们促使了三组来自那个美丽国家的乐队来到这里演出；当然最后还有我们杰出的东道主——上海滩运动公社。
摄影：Miya
摄影：童畅
致我们卓越的食物提供商，你们的工作非常棒！对我们的飞盘伙伴们，对Steph和Fun Factory，我也要感谢他们让孩子们玩得如此尽情，你们都是英雄！
摄影：Miya
摄影：Miya
致我们卓越的赞助商们，没有你们，这一切都不会成为现实，Topshop/Topman/尚品网，鹅岛精酿啤酒，微鲸电视，中国联通，绝对伏特加，你们用最高的品质赢得了大家的热爱，非常感谢！
摄影：童畅
摄影：李乐为
摄影：童畅
摄影：李乐为
摄影：童畅
摄影：童畅
摄影：童畅
来吧2017年， 这一切都会变得更好的！
Roll on 2017. It’s gonna be huge!
摄影：童畅
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