Seven years after a spontaneous decision between three university freshmen to start a band, Racing Mount Pleasant is making its China debut. Blending indie folk, chamber pop, Midwest emo, garage rock, and orchestral arrangements, the seven-piece ensemble brings an immersive live show where layered instrumentation, visuals, and storytelling come together.

About the Band

Racing Mount Pleasant began in 2019 when three freshmen at the University of Michigan decided to start a band after meeting during orientation. Originally performing under the name Kingfisher, the group set out to create expansive music inspired by large-scale arrangements, featuring brass instruments, dynamic compositions, and collaborative songwriting.

The band's debut album, Grip Your Fist, I'm Heaven Bound, was released in November 2022. The Michigan Daily described it as "remarkable" and "surprisingly mature" for such a young band. The album showcased dramatic shifts between intimate moments and orchestral climaxes.

In April 2025, the band adopted the name Racing Mount Pleasant, inspired by a highway sign near Chicago reading "Racine / Mount Pleasant." The same day, they released the single Call It Easy, marking the beginning of a new chapter.

Their self-titled second album, Racing Mount Pleasant, followed in August 2025. Written over three years and recorded across six different studios and recording spaces, the album explores an intimate and uncertain relationship through richly layered arrangements. It combines indie folk, post-rock, Midwest emo, and baroque pop into a distinctive sound.

Performers

The band currently performs as a seven-piece ensemble featuring:

• Sam DuBose – vocals, guitar
• Callum Roberts – trumpet
• Connor Hoyt – alto saxophone
• Kaysen Chown – strings
• Samuel Uribe Botero – tenor saxophone
• Tyler Thenstedt – bass
• Casey Cheatham – drums

Originally formed with twelve members, including musicians, visual artists, and photographers, the group later streamlined its lineup while maintaining its signature combination of expansive instrumentation and visual presentation.

Special Guest

Default

Default is an independent band from Beijing. Their early work leaned toward shoegaze before evolving toward indie folk and atmospheric pop. Drawing inspiration from everyday life, memory, and the passage of time, the band has developed a natural and understated musical style.

About the Music

Racing Mount Pleasant's music draws from indie folk, chamber pop, Midwest emo, garage rock, shoegaze, jazz, and classical music. Rather than following conventional loud-and-quiet dynamics, their songs develop gradually through layered instrumentation and evolving emotional textures.

The seven-member lineup allows the band to combine trumpet, strings, saxophones, intertwined guitar lines, and multi-part harmonies into arrangements that resemble chamber music while retaining the energy of an indie rock band.

Their self-titled album also explores the idea of "time folding," connecting memories, places, and changing relationships across different moments. Songs such as Your New Place and Your Old Place reflect this concept through recurring musical themes and mirrored melodies.

Live Experience

Racing Mount Pleasant is known for immersive performances that combine music with synchronized lighting and visual projections. Their concerts emphasize gradual emotional build-up rather than constant intensity, allowing arrangements to unfold naturally before reaching powerful climactic moments.

Why Go

This tour marks Racing Mount Pleasant's first-ever performances in China, offering audiences the chance to experience one of North America's emerging indie bands live. For listeners who enjoy emotionally rich songwriting, cinematic arrangements, and music that blends multiple genres into a cohesive sound, this concert presents an opportunity to discover a band whose live performances are as visually engaging as they are musically ambitious.