Dawan News A graffiti wall appeared on a train bridge in Huaibei and became a check-in point for Internet celebrities. It attracted a group of rock fans with different identities to gather and hold a free concert, and gradually became popular on the Internet... Located in Sulu, Henan, and Anhui Huaibei, at the junction of four provinces, is famous for its developed coal mining industry, but what few people know is that it is also the place where "Mountains and Flowing Waters", "Guangling San" and "Three Plum Blossom Lanes" were created. Recently, the railway culvert bridge pedestrian passage opposite Huaibei Jiuxing Wholesale Market has become popular. Next to the graffiti-covered wall, a rock band performs live here every Saturday night, attracting audiences from all over.
performance scene.
On April 27, the "Graffiti Bridge" band started singing again. Dawan News reporters broadcast the entire performance live. In a hearty rock carnival, they saw the tolerance and delicacy of the city of Huaibei.
Young rock band sings freely
html At 3 pm on the 27th, there were still 3 hours before the "Graffiti Bridge" band's performance. Lead singer Xiaozhi came here early to set up the scene. He took out the stereo, drum set, etc. from the trunk of the car, and Yang Hongyu rode an electric car to help carry them.As the performance time got closer, other members of the band arrived one after another, and a small performance venue was slowly set up in a passage less than five meters wide.
A train passes over the bridge during the show.
Dawan News reporter learned that most of the members of this grassroots band established under the graffiti bridge are "post-00s". The lead singer is 23 years old, the bassist is 20 years old, the oldest drummer is 27 years old, and the youngest guitarist was born in 2007, and their careers are also diverse.
"I used to study computers, and now I work in a network operation and maintenance company." Lead singer Xiaozhi told reporters that since the band members are relatively young and several of them are in school, "Bass Zhongjian is a freshman at Huaibei Normal University." Student, backup vocalist Yang Hongyu is a sophomore, guitarist Zi Heng just graduated this year and just found a job not long ago, and the youngest one is still in school. "
In addition, there are music teachers and lighting from a wedding company in the band. teachers, furniture factory staff, etc. Although everyone has different careers and identities, they all have one thing in common: they love rock and roll.
band member (picture provided by the interviewee)
Xiaozhi told reporters that as early as a year ago, he and a friend performed under the Graffiti Bridge. “At that time, it was just the two of us, with a guitar and a drum, and we could perform under the Graffiti Bridge. Singing under the bridge one night." Slowly, Xiaozhi got to know more and more like-minded people in the local area. In March this year, the Graffiti Bridge Band was officially established and performs under the Graffiti Bridge every Saturday night.
Graffiti Bridge has gradually become popular on the Internet. The relevant video has nearly 10 million views and more than 300,000 likes. This group of young people who love rock and roll do not have many secular ideas about the future. "Our dream is to always be free like this." Singing, this kind of spirit is enough to rock and roll."
At 5:40 pm, more and more audiences gathered here, and the performance started early. During the passionate rock songs, the audience held up their mobile phones and followed the rhythm. Groove to your heart’s content. The keyboard player of
band and foreign friends watching the performance.
"Every time the guitar noise sounds again, electricity passes through me and you." With the song "Do You Want to Dance", the audience started dancing again. "The train on the bridge passed by in a hurry, and the people under the bridge sang their ideals." This sentence was written directly opposite the band performance venue. At this time, the open space under this line and the overpass above the words were full of people. The audience was beating to the music. At 6:40, a green train slowly passed over the bridge. The shouts from the crowd almost drowned out the roar of the train. A line of words on the wall was a true portrayal of this moment.
The graffiti bridge has become a "rock mecca", attracting a large number of tourists.
At the performance site, a young mother and a little boy attracted the attention of reporters. They were the first viewers to arrive.It is understood that Ms. Yan, who brought her six-year-old son with her, came from Suzhou by train and arrived in Huaibei at 12 noon. "She came specifically for the performance. She had to catch the train back after seeing it halfway."
Yan The lady said that she and her friends both like rock music. They saw the performance atmosphere here was very good online, so they took their children to experience it. She believes that this kind of performance is more popular than a concert. "With only a few meters away from the band, people can have close contact with the singer, and it is easier to feel the passion in the song." Xiaozhi, lead singer of
band (center in the front row) with audience fans.
Right in front of the band, A Dong, a young man wearing white short-sleeved shirts, showed the most enthusiasm. He would dance and sing along with the music from time to time, creating a great atmosphere for the audience. Adong told the Dawan News reporter that he calls himself the "ninth member" of the Graffiti Bridge Band. He has been supporting the band at the scene since its inception, and everyone in the band can sing the band's original songs. A Dong said that he can always draw positive power from the rhythm and lyrics of rock music, "making people want to be free and do whatever they want, and at the same time be passionate about life."
Two ladies with foreign faces also Enjoying the performance in the company of friends, Dawan News reporters communicated with their friends and learned that the three came from Xuzhou, Jiangsu. “They are international students from Mexico. This time, they were specially brought to experience China’s rock culture. Regarding this performance, the two also expressed that they had a good experience, "The graffiti here are very beautiful and the atmosphere is very good."
Among the many spectators watching by the Graffiti Bridge, there were not a few outsiders, because Huaibei is located between Sulu, Henan, and Anhui. Located at the junction of two provinces and with convenient transportation, many tourists from other provinces are considering Huaibei as a popular choice for short-distance travel. This is also due to the openness and tolerance of Huaibei, a "city of good people", and the attention and guidance of relevant departments.
Graffiti walls have evolved into a form of urban culture.
The walls of the Graffiti Bridge were originally filled with small graffiti, but also some random spray-writing, including many uncivilized terms, which aroused the resentment of surrounding residents. Compared with the current band "Utopia" , the graffiti wall at that time was more like an urban "psoriasis". "We didn't draw it here first. Someone drew Stitch and it was unfinished. We found it and added it, although now Stitch has been buried under other graffiti." Liao Hengkang told reporters, Liao Hengkang and his partners covered some of the polluted walls with graffiti, transforming the place into an art district.
The name Liao Hengkang may not be as well-known in Huaibei as "Liang Shanbo". Many large-scale works on the Graffiti Bridge, such as "Zhizunbao" and "Nezha", including the band's logo on the background wall of the Graffiti Bridge Band performance venue, are from Hands of Liang Shanbo Studio.
"The train on the bridge is passing by in a hurry, and the people under the bridge are singing their ideals" graffiti.
Liao Hengkang is an oil painting teacher by profession, and most of the members in his studio are art teachers. A group of painters with "Ma Liang's Hands" come together to give the beauty of art to every corner of the city. Liao Hengkang said: "My dream is to light up my hometown with color."
"In a few days, this will be the place for Internet celebrities in Huaibei to check in." On August 21, 2023, a netizen worked in Liangshanbo He left a message under a graffiti video posted by his room, and this message became a “divine prophecy.” With the completion of the graffiti wall painting, Xiaozhi, the lead singer of the Graffiti Bridge band, came here to sing, attracted other band members to gather, and attracted more and more audiences to watch. The graffiti painted on one wall eventually evolved into a city culture.
This graffiti wall has also been protected by relevant local departments. "We deal with uncivilized graffiti and have a professional graffiti team draw some beautiful patterns here, so that citizens will subconsciously care for these graffiti." said Li Guangming, chief of the External Exchange and Cooperation Section of the Huaibei Municipal Bureau of Culture, Tourism and Sports. : "Who hasn't been young? We used to like to listen to rock music, like Beyond and Cui Jian. Today's young people have some hobbies, and we should guide them rather than stop them."
Huaibei City Culture, Tourism and Sports also issued an initiative to the public; "We hope that the general public can give more understanding and tolerance to young people, love Huaibei, protect Huaibei's local culture, and not destroy Huaibei's check-in place. ”
People from all walks of life escort
After the band “Graffiti Bridge” became popular, as the number of audiences increased, the already narrow pedestrian passages became more and more crowded, and the pressure brought by the performance was traffic diversion and public security. It is getting bigger and bigger.
html In early April, a local netizen left a message on People's Daily Online "Leadership Message Board" that the gathering of people caused by the performance also poses a considerable safety hazard, and suggested that it be used to create an open space and snack street for container graffiti. .
Performance scene
Huaibei Municipal Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau responded that it will actively satisfy young people’s musical dreams, enhance urban cohesion, and create a new image of the city, in conjunction with the Municipal Public Security Bureau and Municipal Transportation. The Bureau, the Municipal Urban Management Bureau and the Xiangshan District Government have formulated safety plans and continued to maintain order and traffic control at the Tuya Bridge Band performance to ensure a safe and orderly performance.
A Dawan News reporter noted that near the Tuya Bridge. , after the performance started, police cordoned off the pedestrian passage and temporarily prohibited electric bicycles from passing under the bridge. There were staff on duty at each intersection, and traffic police were at nearby traffic lights to maintain traffic order.
Regarding the band’s next development, The Huaibei Municipal Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau responded that after communicating with the Municipal Construction Investment Group, it plans to use a site on the north side of the Huaibei Industrial Heritage Museum under construction to provide it with a new performance venue. At the same time, Huaibei is still performing open-air performances. In addition, it provides these young people with more performance opportunities.
html On the evening of April 13, the "Youth Yeah Huaibei" music festival, jointly sponsored by the Huaibei Municipal Government and Huai Normal University and hosted by the Municipal Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau, invited the Graffiti Bridge Band. Participated as a guest singer. On April 20, the Graffiti Bridge Band was also invited to perform at the Chinese National Football Veteran Star Team Invitational Tournament held at the Huaibei Sports Center.In this regard, Li Guangming lamented that these music activities were collectively participated in. With a strong sense of humor, it is a port for young people to yearn for freedom and release their nature. The Graffiti Bridge Band combines street art and rock culture, not only showing the youth and vitality of Huaibei, but also bringing more possibilities to urban development.
27, 8pm. At 40 minutes, the performance of the Graffiti Bridge Band came to an end. The audience reluctantly left the venue, and some fans rushed to take photos with the band members. Passenger and freight trains passing through the city on the
bridge were passing by at high speed from time to time. It belonged to the Graffiti Bridge. The band’s story continues to be written.
Dawan News reporter Gong Runze and Yu Yuanqi’s photo report.
Editor Xu Dapeng
.