Shake it, Caribbean style

Spanish pop-folk band Els Catarres is among the visiting performance groups that celebrate Caribbean culture in Beijing.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Few regions have more joyful music than the Caribbean, and its sounds are coming to Beijing this weekend, Chen Nan reports.

The annual Latin American & Caribbean Music Festival returns to Beijing from Saturday to Tuesday, offering fans multiple performances by reggae, rock and folk artists and a cast of all-star DJs to keep the party going throughout the May Day holiday.

Since 2014, the free music festival has become an event not to be missed in the capital.

As an important part of the annual Meet in Beijing Arts Festival, which turns 16 this year and continues through May 30, the music festival has attracted nearly 300,000 fans so far, according to China Arts and Entertainment Group, the event organizer and one of the country's first performing arts groups to engage in cultural-exchange programs.

This year, 16 bands from 15 Caribbean countries will perform at different live-house venues, such as the Bud inside 798 Art Zone, Yugong Yishan and Modernsky Lab.

The headliners including award-winning reggae singer and producer Everton Blender, Mexican pop-rock group Moderatto and Brazilian instrumental quintet Dibigode.