Weekend Gig Guide, Sep 14-17: A$AP Ferg, Die! Die! Die!, Hanna Turi, Nova Heart

We here at the Beijinger are pleased to present Live Beijing Music's weekend 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 ...

Things get a bit hectic this week as the Mid-Autumn Festival kicks off. Essentially Wednesday night becomes your new Friday night whilst Sunday gets the Monday treatment and all us working class stooges head back to the office. Not too shabby at all. And while there are festivals galore going down at every imaginable location (i.e. the Great Wall, The Bird’s Nest, a friggin' cave!) there’s plenty of goodness going down here in the city. So shovel down some mooncake, and go forth music lovers! Here’s your special Mid-Autumn Festival gig guide.

Wednesday, September 14

Steely Heart, The Hotline, Secret Club, Pacalolo, The Reason at School
Local label and promoters D.O.G celebrate four years of outrageous parties and bands finding their voice under their wing, with a three day rager at their homebase, School Bar – night one brings out some old favorites including dance punks Steely Heart, screamos The Reason, electro quirksters Pacalolo, and more. RMB 80 (RMB 150 three-day pass)

A$AP Ferg (US), Little Simz (UK), MC Dawei at Yugong Yishan
While local tastemakers Split Works are busy getting ready for their massive Concrete & Grass Festival in Shanghai (still train tickets available …), the organizers have gone ahead are given us Beijingers a taste of what to expect down there with this special gig featuring A$AP Ferg, pope of the ‘hood, lord of the wordplay, and Little Simz, the "UK hip-hop prodigy with rapid-fire delivery and astonishing imagination." Kicks off at 11.30pm so bring your game face – looks like another trailblazer of a show. RMB 300

The Dice!, december3am at Fruityspace
Noise rock outfit The Dice return after a really long hiatus and they’re joined by the hauntingly powerful duo decmeber3am, who are starting to brand out and receive recognition from folks of all music circles. RMB 40

The Power Powder, The Guzzlers, Miss Mix, Longjin at Mao Livehouse
I’m not gonna bother verifying this but Mao Livehouse is throwing a double whammy celebration for both the Mid-Autumn Festival as well as the eve of Valentine’s Day. Not sure if we really needed another holiday but they’ve rounded up some veteran indie pop bands including The Power Powder, Miss Mix, Longjing, and The Guzzlers. RMB 90

Future (FR), Last Goodbye at DDC
A mix of coldwave, noise pop, post punk and shoegaze, the French trio looks to get under your skin with their performance at DDC this evening – support from up and coming indie rockers Last Goodbye who surprised the hell out of me a couple weeks back. RMB 80

Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen, Toy Soldiers, Lu Liang, Football Hooligans, Yang Chen at 798 Livehouse
Pop punk, bluesy folk, and indie pop melodies all gather at the art district’s livehouse, which as been seeing a bit of a resurgence as of late. Some solid artists on the bill including veteran blues group Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen. RMB 80

I Hear Sirens (USA) at Yugong Yishan
It wouldn’t be a weekend without another international post rock outfit coming through the capital – this week hosts American instrumentalists I Hear Sirens as they blaze through China. Post rock diehards aplenty at Yugong Yishan. RMB 100

Black Lotus, Abnormal Infected, Ready To Die, Hellgates at 13 Club
A family gathering of sorts at 13 Club for the holiday – if your family was a die hard group of death metal lovers that is – lineup includes Black Lotus, Abnormal Infected, and more. Pick up your rage at the door. RMB 80

Hind Brain, Redundant Seconds, Pati, DongChang at Temple
Grunge, blues, covers, and more this evening as Temple as they kick off the holiday in glorious rock and roll fashion. Free

Hanna Turi (Sweden) at Caravan
The ‘immensely talented’ Swedish singer-songwriter brings emotionally laced lyrics and piano based indie pop to the Moroccan eatery/venue Caravan. RMB 50

Ah-Q Jazz Arkestra at Jianghu Bar
Since their formation in 2003, the Ah-Q Jazz Arkestra has weaved an eclectic mix of straight-ahead, modern, funk, and Latin jazz compositions, including quite a few originals. RMB 60

Nanci & The Delicatessen at Modernista
Nanci & The Delicatessen led by the golden swing era voiced Nanci bring their upbeat ‘rhythms of a bygone era to the endless dance of Beijing vintage fans’ at Modernsita for their Jazz Sunday. Free
 

Thursday, September 15

Ouch, Laisee, The Diders, Gum Bleed, Multi-Ego at School
Local label and promoters D.O.G celebrate four years of outrageous parties and bands finding their voice under their wing, with a three day rager at their homebase, School Bar – night two brings out the punk fanbase with showcases from ska vets Ouch, anti-establishment favorites Gum Bleed, hardcore swingers Laisee, and more. RMB 80 (RMB 150 three-day pass)

Rodolphe Coster (Belgium), Guiguisuisui, Xu Ming at DDC
Rodolphe Coster, a well-known in the Belgian indie scene brings his new solo performance to China, ‘crossfading atmospheres close to inner feelings with images inspired by current and old soundscapers’. He’ll be joined by Beijing’s own soundshifting duo Guiguisuisui, back recently from a tour, and Xu Ming. RMB 40

Asian Dope Boys feat. Aïsha Devi (Sweden), Justin Shoulde (AUS), Love Cult (RUS), Vagus Nerve at Modernsky Lab
New art-world party label Asian Dope Boys whose music moves effortlessly ‘between club-ready, slowed-down Trap bangers, ambient electronica and pared-down avant-garde minimalism’ perform at Modernsky Lab alongside Nepalese-Swiss musician Aïsha Devi, Sydney-based artist Justin Shoulder, Love Cult, an occult techno duo from Russia; and Vagus Nerve, the heavy psychedelic supergroup featuring Li Jianhong and Josh Feola. RMB 120

Ramblin’ Roze, Need A Name, Electric Lady, Three King, Down_D at Temple
Vintage Rock Night as stoner rock outfit Electric Lady joins Taiyuan’s Three Kings and more for some mischievous fun. Free

Al Rocco (HK), Blow Fever at Yugong Yishan
Big names in the Chinese rap scene, Blow Fever and Al Rocco, the latter being from Hong Kong, whose stylings are rooted in trap, hip hop, and r & b, are ready to spit fire at Yugong Yishan as apart of their ten city China tour. RMB 140

Hong Qile, Liquid Palace, Gabriel Duceppe at Aotu Studio
It’s a psytrance party and along with the brand’s usual suspects, they’ve tapped live audio-visual artists Hong Qile, known for his mesmerizing glitch art, as well as the Mengqi-led Liquid Palace and Gabriel Duceppe. RMB 50

N&Y, Goodbye Sunset, Spirit Trace, Equal Temperament at Mao Livehouse 
Black metal, screamo riffs, and hardened to the bone rock 'n' roll, Mao Livehouse doesn’t want to waste any time this season to be you swinging your head in a circular motion. RMB 80

Liu Donghong, Football Hooligans, Dafay at Jianghu Bar
Esteemed folk and blues artists Liu Donghong and Dafay join others for a storytelling evening of acoustic set tunes at the cozy Jianghu Bar. RMB 80

Ding Yuan at Mogu Space
Up and coming singer-songwriter Ding Yuan brings her sunny demeanor and pristine voiced melodies to the new Xizhimen venue, Mogu Space. RMB 70

The Hunters at Modernista
Pop meets soul in the lively stylings of The Hunters who look to get the Baochao Hutong favorite Modernista tapping their feet. Free
 

Friday, September 16

Die!Die!Die! (New Zealand), Birdstriking, Lonely Leary at Yugong Yishan
Veteran New Zealand noise rockers, with ten years under their belt and stockpiles of critical acclaim alongside it, hit up Yugong Yishan as part of their first ever China tour. Fast and furious, these guys are no slouches. Support from Beijing’s own noise rock stalwarts Birdstriking, on the verge themselves of releasing their much anticipated sophomore album, as well as one of my favorite bands at the moment, Lonely Leary. RMB 100

Penicillin, The Twenties, Daydream, Solaris, L-Gentlemen at School
Local label and promoters D.O.G celebrate four years of outrageous parties and bands finding their voice under their wing, with a three day rager at their homebase, School Bar – night three brings out some indie rock faves, old and new, including The Twenties, Solaris, and Penicillin. RMB 80 (RMB 150 three-day pass)

Never Before, Electric Lady, Vinehouse, Platypus, Nous, Funeral Moth at 13 Club
Hard rock show of the holiday season – a exotic mix of sludge metal, 70s era psychedelic rock, and go old fashioned melodic metal – Wudaoku’s 13 Club has got all you looking for something a little more dangerous covered. RMB 80

Los Crasher, Hell City, Ramblin Roze, Never Before, Tumour Boy at Mao Livehouse
An old school evening of hard rock that’ll have you cutting loose and letting your hair down, as Los Crasher, Ramblin’ Roze, and Tumour Boy bring the heat alongside mohawked punk outfit Hell City and stoner metal group Never Before. RMB 100

Rodolphe Coster (Belgium), Noise Arcade, Chinese Prickly Ash at Fruityspace
Rodolphe Coster from Belgium whose eclectic range of influences from Autechre to The Jesus And Mary Chain will be on display alongside the newly formed Chinese Prickly Ash which features Li Siwei of AK47 as well as drone fanatic Noise Arcade (with visuals from Alkeshka). RMB 40

Final Impact, Skin Bad, Clamrod at Temple
It’s a punk-filled celebration as Shanghai rockers Clamrod join old school punk regulars Skin Bad and Final Impact. Free

Goodbye Sunset, Balance Seat, Hex Object, Pathogens at Hot Cat Club
Fangjia Hutong venue gets nice and loud for this metal, hard rock lineup featuring Goodbye Sunset, Pathogens, and more. RMB 50

Scary Honey, Time Street at Blessing Livehouse
8-bit emo rock and J-pop stylings with these feisty female-led bands that’ll be performing at the Shuangjing livehouse for a massive pillow fight concert, which is evidently still a thing. RMB 130

Yewaihezuoshe at 13 Club
Combining blues, folk and rock and roll, the Nanjing quartet swings by Wudaoku as apart of their china tour. RMB 100

The Plum Trees at 69 Café
Indie folk outfit The Plum Trees, fresh off a new single release, bring their lovely tunes to the NLGX staple. RMB 60

Ma Xiao, Liu Renjie at Jianghu Bar
Two on-the-rise folk-pop singer-songwriters belt out their latest gems at Jianghu Bar among their hardcore fans. 60 RMB

Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies at DDC
Inspired by all things classic, pop, and big band, Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies bring ‘a vintage approach to contemporary music’. Enjoy classic reimaginings from the ever-expanding trope at DDC. RMB 50
 

Saturday, September 17

Wan Xiaoli at Yue Space
The new Beixinqiao venue, Yue Space, which I had the pleasure of checking out last week, are already prepping to be a major contender on the scene with this monster booking – renowned Hebei folk artist who became apart of Modern Sky’s “Badhead” label in 2002 and has been a staple of the urban folk scene (alongside Xiao He) since then. RMB 150

Nova Heart, The Hormones, Penicillin at Yugong Yishan
Yugong Yishan celebrates an amazing 12 years of remaining a venue (a milestone for any establishment at this point) with once again a stellar lineup that includes dark disco queen Nova Heart, Chengdu indie rock female group The Hormones, and britpop faves Penicillin as well as a score of some of the cities most beloved DJs. RMB 100

Lonely Leary, Death Narcissist, Noise Arcade, DJ Wujing at School
The Vintage Music Fair returns! Finish off the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday weekend with the help of some great artists and talented people, slinging vinyl, tapes, USBs and whatever the kids are using these days – before the music gets underway with indie rock crunchers Death Narcissist join post punk groovers Lonely Leary, Noise Arcade, and DJ Wujing. RMB 50 (8pm start)

Rock Against Jams! Vol. 3 at Temple
Temple celebrates the end of the Moon Fest with the next volume of ‘Rock Against Jams’ in which bands form for the first time, and after a 90 minute studio practice, strut their stuff onstage for the ultimate judgement! Free

Alchemical Chaos and the Instruments of Light, Zhu Wenbo, gogoj, Liquid Palace at Fruityspace
Experimental film faces off with experimental music as Alchemical Chaos and the Instruments of Light, a project from artists Simon Liu and Josh Lewis join a host of Beijing’s experimental scene for some visual audio fun. RMB 50

Wang Wu at Mogu Space
Northeastern Chinese singer-songwriters, Wang Wu, whose loose hair and vibrant voice made him one of the finalists on one of the country’s top rated American Idol clones, performs at the Xizhimen space. RMB 70

Jurat & Dark Mermaid at 69 Café
Xinjiang flavored psychedelic folk tunes from Jurat and friends at the couch-filled NLGX space, 69 Café. RMB 60

Way5, Missile Pigeons at Jianghu Bar
Pop funk outfit joins inspirational rockers and then some for an upbeat faux-Sunday night evening at Jianghu Bar. RMB 60

EA$Y BOYZ, A-Mac, Boom at DDC
It’s a hip-hop-athon at DDC as Beijing based Xinjiang rapper BooM joins others for a night of rapping. RMB 100

Phew! Still hungry for more? For events, videos, and photos from Beijing's thriving music scene, head over to Live Beijing Music or check out all of our live music listings here.

Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers