Alright, folks – special holiday edition coming at ya. Seven days of gigging is a bit much but I’ll try to include as many as the gigs as possible here – so yeah, instead of getting stuck in the human traffic that will surely be Beijing this week, why not rest your body during the daytime and find solace in the venues at night.
Monday, Oct 2
Knxwledge (USA), itsogoo, J-fever, Major, DJ 4TAEL, KOTA at Yue Space
After a successful outing last year, Stone Throw Records, one of the world’s most revered independent hip-hop labels, returns and they have quite the catch – the prolific and essential LA-based beatmaker Knxwledge, whose work on Kendrick Lamar and Joey Badass led him to join the Stones Throw family, working closely with Mndsgn and with Anderson Paak in an R&B/hip-hop collaboration as NxWorries. He’ll be sharing classic and original work with an array of Chinese DJs and musicians, including hip-hop group itsogoo, offbeat rapper J-fever, producer Major and more. Gonna be a big one. RMB 150
Discord, Shochu Legion, The Flyx, Uncle Bad, Duff Beer at School
For what will surely be a evening of ‘punk rock and beer guzzling’ School goes in deep with a punk card featuring seasoned veterans and new scrappers alike – from prominent five-piece Discord, punk rock with Chinese characteristics trio Shochu Legion, China's answer to Anti-Flag and one of the scene’s most underrated groups, The Flyx, newly formed skinhead punk troupe Uncle Bad, and finally skate punk trio Duff Beer. A lot to take in – but hey, it’s the holidays. RMB 70
Tiszta Forrás (Hungary), YellLOW (Romania) at DDC
DDC’s European Music Festival goes into its second day, bringing together artist and tropes from all over Europe. Hungarian folk ensemble brings their homegrown tunes alongside jazzy electronic pop outfit YellLow out of Romania. RMB 80
Xile (NZ) at Temple
New Zealand hardcore outfit Xile, who blend in flavors of European beatdown (Nasty, Malevolence, Desolated) to create their own guttural, yet polished, bring the pain to Temple Bar courtesy of Hotpot Music. FREE
C-Block, Dirty Twinz, Pact, Creamd, Simba, Coast2Coast, Nasty Ray, Saber, N-Bomb, Rtsunami, Loft The Star at Tango
It’s a hip-hop extravaganza at Tango, presented by STA, and featuring an all-star lineup of pretty much every big name hip hop artist – from Nasty Ray to Saber to Dirty Twinz – it’s a stacked evening that’ll surely be packed to the brim. 300 RMB
Hang Em High (CH/AT/PL), Wang Chongxing Quartet at Omni Space
The Omni International Jazz Fest continues today at Omni Space featuring some top-notch talent in the form of the multinational rock jazz-punk trio Hang Em High and the Chinese free jazz outfit Wang Chongxing outfit. RMB 150
Zhizhi at Rockland
The folk artist Zhizhi has performed around China, playing in Xi’an, Hangzhou and many other places. In 2016, she traveled to Seoul to record an album, and in 2017, independently released an EP of singles. RMB 80
Tuesday, Oct 3
Dirty Fingers, Lonely Leary, secret band at School
Maybe Mars kick off their week-long 10 year celebration with a slew of killer lineups featuring the label’s cream of the crop – tonight brings the ‘spastic and sincere’ Shanghai punks Dirty Fingers, the volatile post-punk ruffians Lonely Leary, and introducing a secret Maybe Mars band made up of the some of cats from behind the scenes at the label. Gonna get cray cray. RMB 60
Mathias Heige Quadrillion (DK), Dream Julie at Omni Space
The Omni International Jazz Fest continues today at Omni Space featuring some top-notch talent in the form of Danish fusion jazz outfit Mathias Heige Quadrillion known for their innovative use of the harmonica, as well as pioneering experimental jazz Dreaming Julie. RMB 150
Ko, Jordan Darling, Death From Abba 89, Nathan Borofka, Jukka Ahonen at Temple
An experimental showcase from a slew of diverse artists and singer-songwriters including Ko, Jordan Darling, Jukka Ahonen and some other crazy cats. FREE
Wednesday, Oct 4
AV Okubo, Dream Can, Backspace at Yue Space
Maybe Mars multi-venue, week-long celebration continues with a killer lineup at Yue Space featuring longstanding electro-punk outfit AV Okubo (who I hear are in fine form these days), upcoming psychedelic gazers from Shanghai, Dream Can, and perhaps the label’s newest acquisition the jangly noise rock quartet Backspace. RMB 100
Default, Tydi Knots, By Dream, Nick Parsons, DJ Brahms at School
Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and fly to the moon with this diverse evening of music from a variety of bands including fast-rising shoegaze outfit Default, experimental post-rock trio Tydi Knots, Neil Young-inspired singer-songwriter Nick Parsons and post-rock soundsmiths By Dream. And if that wasn’t enough – get in your late night licks with DJ Brahms. RMB 50
Cara Dillion (Ireland) at Tango
Irish folk singer, Cara Dillion, a staple of the UK folk scene since her big break in 2001, when she released her first solo album, and since then has garnered acclaim across the world, returns to China with a performance at Tango. RMB 180
Yan Baizhou, Rudra’s Sage at Mogu Space
Sitar playing maestro Rudra’s Sage joins folk singer Yan Baizhou for a mellow holiday special in Xizhimen. RMB 66
Thursday, Oct 5
Wake Up Call (Italy), Russian Roulette at School
Wake Up Call - the young group of mainstays of the Italian underground scene, who over the past seven years released countless albums, reached number 3 on the Italian music charts, and toured Russia are now are looking to venture into China. Their music is rock n' roll with different shades of alternative, punk, and even some pop. Tonight they’re joined by the happy-go-lucky punk trio Russian Roulette. RMB 80
Holy Shit!, Sardine is Back and The Wheel is Broken at Temple
Zhong of The Sino Hearts and Holy Shit! celebrate his birthday with an evening of punk rock covers with support from schizoid improv rock trio Sardine is Back and The Wheel is Broken. Expect a glam rock, power pop, new wave DJ party afterward and plenty of special guests. FREE
Tjoe Man Cheung and NTBM at Jianghu Bar
Tjoe Man Cheung is a Hong Kong born and bred guitarist and composer. He started NTBM (Not To Be Missed) when he was spending two years in Britain. It is a jazz collective aimed at creating original jazz with different international musicians. Catch them at the cozy hutong spot. RMB 60
Dreamshade (Switzerland) at Yugong Yishan
The contemporary Swiss metal outfit Dreamshade bring their bombastic brand of European melodic death metal to Yugong Yishan as the band tours the country in support of their forthcoming album, Vibrant, out on Artery Records next month. RMB 160
Saber, #TACE, Martin Wu, Sun Xu, J-White, G.G. at Yue Space
Some of hip-hop’s rising stars take the stage at Yue Space this evening including Saber, #TACE, and many more. RMB 100
Soul Band at Blue Note
The jazz and classical ensemble Soul Band, whose repertoire ranges from chamber music to Argentine tango to contemporary jazz, bring the history and roots of jazz to Blue Note. 200 RMB
Yezi, Pu Han, Chen Linhan, Yuan Lei at Mogu Space
Singer-songwriters Yezi, Pu Han, Chen Linhan, and Yuan Lei get down at Mogu Space for a night of folk music with influences that range from Leonard Cohen, Joan Baez, to Damien Rice and even Kazakh folk music. RMB 60
Friday, Oct 6
Carsick Cars, Hiperson, Birdstriking at Yugong Yishan
Maybe Mars multi-venue, week-long celebration continues with a killer lineup at Yugong Yishan featuring Carsick Cars (who may be in their original lineup playing just maybe their debut album), the emotionally resonate female-led post-punk outfit Hiperson from Chengdu, and the always relatable (and fresh off their sophomore release) Birdstriking. RMB 120
Fu Sha, Xie Yuchi at Yichang Café
Influenced by Guizhou's ethnic minority culture, musician Fu Sha will be performing some of his original songs at Yichang Café, which has been killing it as of late. He has spent the last few years recording sounds and songs from various villages all over Guizhou, with a quasi-anthropological approach. Supporting him with a delicate touch on the guitar will be Xie Yuchi. RMB 60
Rhonda, The Harridans, Starrr69 at DDC
Hard-hitting instrumental rockers Rhonda return to stir up trouble at DDC alongside The Harridans and up and coming electro-pop outfit Starrr69. RMB 60
Here We Stand (Germany), All Unknown, Royal as Purple, Bobby's Satellite, Get Better at School
It’s indie pop, pop rock, and other high-spirited rock and roll converges on School with female-fronted pop-rockers All Unknown, electro-rock Royal As Purple, folk rock with psychedelic undertones Bobby's Satellite, and emo rockers Get Better. And a special last-minute addition, alternative art rock outfit Here We Stand from Germany. RMB 70
Helen Sung Quartet at Blue Note
Having honed her craft with ensembles ranging from the Mingus Big Band to the T.S.Monk Sextet to Terri Lyne Carrington’s Mosaic Project, pianist/composer Helen Sung now leads a Quartet comprised of some of this generation’s finest artists. They have been delighting audiences everywhere (stay tuned for a new album release in 2018). Catch her musical love letter to Thelonious Monk’s centennial at the Blue Note. RMB 260
Zhang Qianqian at Jianghu Bar
Veteran sing-songwriter Zhang Qianqian, a staple of the folk scene since her debut in 1996, gives a special showcase courtesy of Jianghu Bar. RMB 80
Saturday, Oct 7
P.K.14, Chui Wan, Fazi, White+ at Yugong Yishan
And closing out Maybe Mars ten year anniversary is this juggernaut of a lineup featuring the post-punk godfathers themselves P.K.14 who’ll be joining the psychedelic favorites Chui Wan (fresh off their latest LP), affecting Xi’an post-punk outfit Fazi (fresh off their latest LP as well) and live electronic veteran duo white+. Good lord is this one going to be rammed. RMB 120
Su & The Paramecia, Macondo, The Harridans, The Peppercorns, Li Eryang and 1969, MC Daiwei at Omni Space
‘No Gulou’ – is the latest concept from Su & The Paramecia – the sprawling, psychedelic-tinted folk rock trope – which is geared toward getting some of Gulou’s most prolific bands out of their comfort zone and setting them up at Tianqiao’s Omni Space (a great space mind you and definitely worth the short journey to). From 6pm to midnight, with various genres from rock to rap, from classical to pop – Omni Space will host The Harridans, Macondo, MC Daiwei, The Peppercorns, Li Eryang and 1969, and Su & The Paramecia, who will also be releasing their first studio album ‘Out of the Labyrinth’ that evening. RMB 150
KO, Tydi Knots, Death Fxxk Abba 1989 at DDC
DDC’s holiday specials continue with this intriguing lineup featuring some of the hottest new players on the scene – from singer-songwriter KO, to the experimental post-punk trio Tydi Knots to finally Death Fuck Abba 1989 aka. Death From Abba Eight Nine aka. Deaf Funk Abdul 1889 – a drone noise collective that summons summoning ‘relentless walls of noise in order to ram open doors of and awaken human consciousness in pursuit of a higher path, mostly consisting of robes, gas masks, and cats’. Huh. RMB 60
The Spice Cabinet at Modernista
Named Editor's Choice for Best Local Band of 2016 from CityWeekend, The Spice Cabinet is the instrumental jazz machine that slices, dices every pop number into the frenzy of a pop modern dance beat of wonder. It's pop according to jazz, sprinkled with funk, hip-hop, bebop, and rock. 10/7 Pumpkin Spice lands at Modernista with new tunes and grooves from bandleader Terry Hsieh. Dance the night away to some instrumental deconstructed/reconstructed pop with a "Spice'd Cabinet," the bourbon-based cocktail special designed by the geniuses behind the bar at Modernista. FREE
Tjoe Man Cheung & NTBM at Fruityspace
Tjoe ManCheung is a Hong Kong born and bred guitarist and composer. He started NTBM (Not To Be Missed) when he was spending two years in Britain. It is a jazz collective aimed at creating original jazz with different international musicians. Catch them at the cozy hutong spot. RMB 50
Rudra’s Sage at Rockland
Philippines born sitar player Rudra’s Sage, a scene regular since the heydays of River Bar in Sanlitun, returns to Beijing with his sitar for an intimate performance in Rockland in Houhai. RMB 80
Farewell Dear Ghost (Vienna) at School Bar
The power-pop foursome out of Vienna, Farewell Dear Ghost, return to Beijing with their latest album, Neon Nature, in tow as the band who has been on a hot streak as of late cap off their Asia tour. RMB 80
Eluvia at Jianghu Bar
Playing rock and roll, with country, reggae, and modern Chinese folk elements, Eluvia brings together the best of Western and Chinese traditions. RMB 60
Sunday, Oct 8
Wax Chattels (NZ), Division Control at Yue Space
New Zealand post-punk outfit Wax Chattels, ‘likened to the musical equivalent of being hit by an Auckland bus’, have taken their homeland by storm. After playing events such as Cupa Dupa Festival in Wellington, as well as playing with Acid Mothers Temple, the band has been on a tear and look to bring their lively chaotic set to China. RMB 60
Finger Family at Omni Space
One of the band’s to really hit their stride has been pop-punk outfit Finger Family, who despite starting when they were in high school, have managed to hold onto their musical integrity and gain a huge following, which resulted in the band touring and recording their latest album in Japan. The band kicks off a China tour with a special showcase at Omni Space. RMB 100
Swarm, Sha!, 1969 at DDC
DDC finished off its merry exhibition of some of the rock scene’s newest additions with a lineup featuring post-rock mood shifters Swarm, blues rock impro duo Sha!, and the newest psychedelic rock project from Li Eryang, 1969. RMB 60
Javiera Mena (Chile), Justin Culkin at Yugong Yishan
Revolutionary songwriter and producer Javiera Mena, from Chile, brings her Latin Grammy-nominated international beloved electro-pop stylings to Yugong Yishan alongside the eclectic and charismatic UK producer and DJ Justin Culkin aka Juhstynn. RMB 70
Phew! Still hungry for more? Check out all of our live music listings here. Alternatively, if it's nightlife that you're sprightly little legs are after, there's plenty of that too.
Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers