Live Beijing Music's Ultimate Weekend Gig Guide

We here at the Beijinger are happy to present the first installment of Live Beijing Music's gig guide, written by head honcho Mr. Will Griffith. Will has been running around Beijing for over four years, documenting the city's shows and the requisite onlooking drunkards with various cameras/sound recorder setups, losing plenty of equipment along the away in his attempt to capture Beijing's aural spirit. You'll occasionally catch him pogoing like a madman when he's not got a camera in hand. Take it away, Will ...

RELATED: Check out the most recent Weekend Gig Guide here

Hello fellow gig goers – welcome to the Live Beijing Music Weekend Gig Guide. I’m head editor for livebeijingmusic.com – the go-to site for all music in Beijing and beyond – listings, reviews, videos, and what have you. You’ve may have stumbled onto the site before, or attended one of our many showcases about town, but I’m here now to give you the lowdown on all the gigs happening across the city this weekend. Indie, punk, folk, pop – you name it – it’s all covered here. So let’s get right into it and be sure to check out our website for more music-related news. 
 

Friday, January 29

Tulegur at Caravan
Moroccan food heaven Caravan continue giving music lovers the perfect excuse to head down to Jiangguomen. Tonight, they host Tulegur, the veteran Mongolian folk rock duo whose grungy revisionist take on Mongolian music has won acclaim here and aboard. RMB 50 (includes one drink) 
 

Wenliang, Punx, Lisiwei, thruoutin at Old What? Bar
If you’re in the mood for some offbeat electronica next door to the Forbidden City, then the Old What? Bar is the place to be where a host of the experimental and electronic scene’s renegades, including Wen Liang and thruoutin, will perform. RMB 40
 

Rhonda, Da Lei Yin, Ji Ti at Temple
Math rock enthsuiast Rhonda, one of 2015’s great finds, return to the always dependable Temple for a righteous evening of rock n roll with support from grunge outfits Da Lei Yin and Ji Ti. Free

Macondao, Paper Tiger at Hot Cat Club
Fangjia Hutong veteran venue Hot Cat Club hosts two up and coming rock and rollers looking to "rock the cold out," including psychedelic electro rock heavyweights Macondo. Free
 

Bull at Yugong Yishan
Not exactly a gig per say, but it’s too intriguing to pass over, and does include live music. Bull is the award-winning play from Mike Bartlett which follows three office employers desperately fight to keep their jobs amidst the economic recession. The play, directed by Chen Minghao, will be performed in Chinese and will have both Chinese and English subtitles. Live music (they it is!) will be provided by none other than rising star MC j-fever as well as ZhaiJiaji, Han Shuo, and Chu Zhiyong. RMB 200, RMB 150 (advance)
 

Bye Bye Noise, Secret Club at School
Looking for that garage rock new wave sound that was all the hype in 2000? Then look no further than Bye Bye Noise, the Strokes-esque rock and rollers who are in the midst of a nation-wide tour. Catch them at School, alongside brit-pop swooners Secret Club. RMB 60
 

Black Mint, Brozzers, Next Door Band, Mr. Honey, FTKMS at Mao Livehouse
Mao Livehouse lives on! After months of rumors and semi-confirmations, the Gulou hub stands tall. At least for now. Tonight sees the end of three-day festival highlighting some of the indie pop’s world hottest catches including Black Mint, Next Door, and Mr. Honey. RMB 100
 

Zhenren at Jianghu Bar
Old-timey blues to ease away the pain at the cozy laid-back Jianghu Bar, catch Zhenren perform that deep rural American South blues from before the Chicago era. RMB 60 

Saturday, January 30

The Diders, Gate to Otherside, The Hotline, The Twenties, Heat Mark at School
As per usual before CNY, School is going all out with a massive (free) night of rock and roll. The night doubles as the christening of the newly renovated space – dubbed School 3.0 – as well the first School Bar. Such make for an exciting night. Lineup includes psych indie rockers Gate to Otherside, 90s alt faves The Twenties, and other School regulars such as The Diders, Heat Mark, Laisee, and The Hotline. Gonna be a rowdy one. Free
 

Residence A at Mao Livehouse
Indie rock veterans Residence A give a special CNY send-off at Mao Livehouse where they’ll utilize various shadow puppets during their performance. Color me intrigued. And if their show write-up speaks the truth, Guinness Book of World Records will be on hand. Which begs the million dollar question – how many friggin' puppets to they have on hand. RMB 150
 

Joe & CC at DDC
Indie pop duo, Joe & CC, fresh off a simultaneous album debut in Taiwan and China, return to Beijing for a special Chinese New Year show. RMB 80
 

Tulegur at Jianghu Bar
Inner Mongolain ‘grasslands meets rock’ duo swing by Gulou for a performance at Jianghu Bar. RMB 80 (includes their EP)
 

Anan, The Plum Trees, Cui Longyang, Bianyuanxingzou at 69 Café
Snug Nanluogu Xiang venue 69 Café throws a two-day ‘Year of the Monkey’ folk fest featuring a mass of the scene’s most pristine performers. RMB 30
 

Mr. Honey w/ Bluso at Temple
Big band swingers Mr. Honey, throw down their upbeat dance rhythms at none other than Temple. Expect some good ol’ fashion fun. Free
 

Sound Sculpture, Rhonda at Hot Cat Club
Math rock power slammers Rhonda release their debut at the Hot Cat along with the help of The Sound Sculpture, a crew of musician misfits who improvise soundtracks over various films. FREE 

Sunday, January 31

Never Before w/ Demerit, Renegade, Vine House at Mao Livehouse
Stoner rock annihilators Never Before return from a epic nation-wide tour and they’re bringing along their latest release, King of Worms, as well as their fellow rock-minded buddies. 80 RMB  
 

Uncle Hu at Snail Club
Indie folk artist Uncle Hu, originally from Chengdu, charms over at the Snail Hostel, the Daxing Hutong space that has provided a outlet for Beijing’s budding folk scene for years. The singers hit it big last year with his debut, When Memories Collide, even landing gig opening for Destroyer later this year. RMB 30

Bian Yuan, Liu Donghong, Nathan Borofka x Nick Parsons, Dahe at 69 Café
69 Café throws a two-day ‘Year of the Monkey’ folk fest featuring a mass of the scene’s most pristine performers, including veterans Liu Donghong and Bian Yuan. RMB 30 

Phew! Still hungry for more? For events, videos, and photos from Beijing's thriving music scene, head over to Live Beijing Music.

Images: Chris Stech, courtesy of the organizers