Greg Baker / AP

The Party's Over: Chinese music fans rocked out last year's Midi festival, but authorities have canceled the 2008 event

To Chinese authorities, the prospect of a cheeky European rocker yelling "Free Tibet!" must be frightening enough right now  -- and that of thousands of Chinese rock kids reacting emotionally to it, scarier still. No shocker, then, that Beijing police are scuttling the May installment of the Midi Fest, China's only legitimate annual Rock festival, out of concerns over "security". Police won't provide it, and without them the show can't go on.

Now nine years old, this year's Midi was supposed to be the biggest on record, comprising 100 local bands and 30 visiting acts. Just last week, all 30 got their performance permits from the local culture bureau. But on Tuesday, Midi came unraveled. Several of the headline acts from Europe, just having processed their visas, got word that the upcoming Midi is off for now, according to two Beijing-based promoters working with them.