(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – The first American tour of Shanren, one of China’s top indie-rock bands, brings its unique fusion of indigenous sounds and rock, funk, reggae and ska to Chameleon’s Nightclub on East Street in Pittsfield on Thursday, March 15, 2012, at 8:30. Also on the bill are Wringer, Amerikkan Citizens, and Noumenon

Formed in 2000 in the remote and mysterious Yunnan province of southwest China, the region thought to have inspired the Shangri-la of James Hilton’s classic novel Lost Horizon, Shanren, literally “mountain men,” have become one of China’s top indie bands.

With members representing some of China’s 56 ethnic groups, including the Wa and Buyi ethnic minorities from Yunnan and Guizhou, the four-piece group aims to promote and preserve the colorful and diverse heritage of Yunnan and Guizhou’s many ethnic minority tribes through original compositions and re-workings of local folk melodies.

Shanren fuse indigenous music with rock, reggae, and ska, while showcasing a variety of traditional instruments such as the xiangzi and qinqin (four-stringed plucked instruments) and xianggu (a type of drum).

Gaining popularity in Beijing’s small but vibrant alternative folk scene on the strength of their energetic live shows, the band appeared in front of 5,000 people in Cathedral Square at the Barcelona Festival Asia 2010.

In 2011, Shanren performed at MIDEM in Cannes and Liverpool Sound City, UK. They are staple headliners at China’s major music festivals and have been featured twice on Hunan Television, reaching an audience in the tens of millions. Wild, eccentric, and charismatic, Shanren are true ambassadors for China’s ethnic diversity and emerging musical creativity.

Chameleon’s Nightclub is at 1350 East St. Call 413.499.CLUB for more information.