DESPITE the rain Friday evening, music enthusiasts eagerly gathered at B10 Live in OCT-LOFT for the annual Tomorrow Festival. The event, in its eighth edition, opened with a gig presented by U.S. synth pioneer Suzanne Ciani.

It was Ciani’s debut show on the Chinese mainland, where she showcased her unique sound using the Buchla modular synthesizer. B10 Live even installed a quadraphonic system to enhance the impact of Ciani’s music.

Known as the “diva of the diode,” Ciani is a five-time Grammy award-nominated composer, electronic music pioneer, and neo-classical recording artist with over 20 solo albums. Her work has left a significant mark in films, games, and numerous commercials.

Also on the opening night, music lovers savored the heavy psychedelic sound of Swedish space rock band Yuri Gagarin, featuring powerful riffs, intense lead guitar, heavy drums, overdriven bass and oscillated synth noises.

The Tomorrow Festival spanned the whole weekend, incorporating live performances, a lecture and a documentary screening. Eight live performances covered avant-garde, experimental, noise and ballad, providing diverse music experiences from various countries.

Other notable musicians or bands included Noor Zehra Kazim, Mekrop, Dwarfs of East Agouza, Emmanuelle Parrenin/Quentin Rollet/Jerome Lorichon, and SORA — Otomo Yoshihide’s New Project.

Kazim from Pakistan showcased the unique charm of the Sagar Veena instrument to the Shenzhen audience through a performance and a lecture. She is the world’s sole Sagar Veena player, inheriting the instrument from her father Raza Kazim.

The Sagar Veena is characterized by its intricate design, resembling the Vichitra Veena and Chitra Veena, offering a wider tonal range capable of producing deep and warm tones. Often evoking profound emotions, it is also known as the “Sea Veena” (Sagar meaning “ocean” in Hindi).

At the screening event, attendees enjoyed a documentary on Sumatra — a fascinating island featuring a variety of street musicians, nightclub acts and folk groups. Alan Bishop, one of the documentary directors, shared behind-the-scenes stories with the audience. His Dwarfs of East Agouza trio also delivered a gig blending jazz, krautrock, and influences from Arabic and Egyptian Shaabi music.

The Tomorrow Festival, known for its avant-garde style, has attracted over 160 musicians from more than 20 countries and regions since its inception in 2014. With a total of over 70 gigs and 20 activities in the past editions, this event fosters cultural exchange and nurtures local music scenes, drawing music enthusiasts from across the globe. (Cao Zhen)