Folk singer-songwriter Zhang Tongfei took to the stage first in this dark London basement to sing a selection of his own songs. Zhang's one-man show on an acoustic guitar was moving, mixing hushed tones and slow melodic music with moments of emotion filled loud singing that gave people goose bumps whether they understood Mandarin or not.

 

A main attraction for the afternoon was acclaimed Hong Kong musician -- "Jimi Hendrix of the erhu" -- Wan Pin Chu, who wowed the audience with renditions of Chinese classics on the erhu.

Besides Chinese classics, Wan also played a rendition of Russian classical piece "Flight of the Bumblebee." The oft heard interlude sounded equally frantic on the Chinese two-string fiddle as it has on any other instrument.

 

Wan also played piano as part of the Will Li and Beat Nations Band performance. Singer Will Li -- a finalist from "The Voice of China" European finals -- played with a backing band made up of musical talent from the British born Chinese music scene, playing pop covers such as The Scripts "The Man Who Can't be Moved".

 

Will Li was also joined on stage by the event organiser and one of the UK's most promising young Chinese artists, Andy Leung. The two performed a "mash up," seamlessly mixing 1127 by Cantonese hip-hop band LMF with Wiz Kalifa's "See You Again."

 

The final big name performance for the night was the outstanding guitar talent Tjoe Man Cheung. Tjoe was accompanied by Leo Chan, finalist of Taiwan's singing competition "One Million Stars." The pair and Tjoe's band played covers of jazz and blues classics with a smattering of modern pop. The highlight was a jazzed up version of Ray Charles "I don't need no doctor." Leo Chan had the stature, presence, and voice that made one shiver, and Tjoe looked so casual on stage that you might be forgiven for thinking the guitar is an extension of himself.

 

Each band and singer was as talented as the next so it is wrong to say that any one artist or group headlined the afternoon, but mention should be given to the multi-instrumental musical talent and entrepreneurial spirit of Andy Leung. Not only did Leung play with many of the afternoon's artists, he is also one of the organisers of the event. Andy's company, Beat Nation, provides event management and artist management for emerging Chinese music artists in the UK. Without Beat Nation's and Leung's hard work, such an excellent Saturday afternoon could not have happened.