Join National Music Centre and Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre for an evening concert with instrumental fusion ensemble XIA-3 as part of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a significant cultural event traditionally celebrated by Chinese and other Asian communities, symbolizing the full moon harvest, unity, harmony, and the gathering of family and friends. National Music Centre (NMC)’s three-day festival will capture the spirit of this cherished tradition, bringing a national perspective to a popular annual event among local Chinese and Asian communities, while bridging traditional Chinese culture with mainstream Canadian culture.
XIA-3, an instrumental fusion ensemble hailing from Newfoundland, seamlessly blends traditional Chinese elements with Western post-rock sensibilities. Established in 2022, the band is spearheaded by guzheng virtuoso Dr. Jing Xia, supported by the seasoned St. John’s punk rockers Ritche Perez on baritone guitar and Brian Downton on drums.
With an eclectic repertoire, XIA-3 has graced diverse musical stages, from the Newfoundland Folk Festival (NL) to SappyFest (NB) and DuneFest (St. Pierre and Miquelon). Their dynamic performances have earned them recognition, including the 2023 Music Newfoundland awards for “Rising Star of the Year” and “Instrumental Artist/Group of the Year.” Recently, they have garnered nominations for the 2024 ECMA awards “Global Recording of the Year” and “Fusion Recording of the Year.”