Weekend Live Music Roundup: Usher, Abigail, Jets Overhead and Birdstriking

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard that the big show this weekend is Usher at Wukesong Sunday night – his first-ever show in Mainland China. But if mainstream R&B just ‘aint your thang, there are, as always, a host of other live gigs this weekend.

The one-and-only Abigail Washburn brings her sweet bluegrass stylings to The One tonight, and D-22 hosts a night of noisy indie-rock featuring Birdstriking from Taiwan, Boyz & Girl and local Canadian-born experimental duo Hot & Cold on Saturday night.

Meanwhile The Star Live gets back on track with new management an interesting gig – singer/songwriter Natti Vogel from New York, Long Shen Dao plays reggae, Chinese style, at Jiang Hu tonight and Canadian rock quintet Jets Overhead play 2 Kolegas on Saturday. Read on for many more options:

Friday (July 9)

Saw, Nuclears Fusion – G, Ordance, Chinatown
Metal mayhem. RMB 50. 10pm. 13 Club (826 9267)

Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen, Jaco, Skyscraper
Blues with a bit funk groove. RMB 40. 9.30pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Bigger Bang, Old Fashion, BedStars
Pop punk boys and girls meet old-school disco rockers. RMB 40, RMB 30 (in advance). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Long Shen Dao, Ember Swift
When reggae goes acoustic. Long Shen Dao’s first acoustic gig ever. RMB 50, RMB 40 (in advance, students). 9.30pm. Jianghu Liveshow Bar

Misandao
These Chinese skinheads play with attitude. Oi! RMB 50. 9pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Liu Dongming, Wan Xiaoli, Lao Lang
A too good to be true line up for the folk lovers. RMB 120-380 (Tickets at 400 810 3721). 7.30pm. No. 46 Theater. (8403 3799)

Abigail Washburn & Friends

The bluegrass babe re-unites with members of Hanggai and other local traditional instrumentalists. RMB 100, RMB 80 (in advance). 9pm. The One (5914 8087)

Natti Vogel
Playfully menacing cabaret meets romantic yearning. RMB 200, RMB 160 (in advance). 9pm. The Star Live (6425 5677)

Buyi Band
Buyi brings you the freshness from their hometown Yinchuan at V.A Bar this Friday. RMB 50. 9.45pm. V.A Bar (8544 3638)

Jay-Jay Johanson, Silkfloss
Johanson, once voted "most beautiful man in the world," plays everything from jazzy breaks to electroclash. RMB 200, 150 (in advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Saturday (July 10)

Jets Overhead
Following their 2009 China Tour Canadian rock quintet Jets Overhead return to China again. RMB 40. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Jess Meider
Jessica Meider explores the art of improvisation in her new project. Free. 8pm. The Bookworm (6586 9507)

Boyz & Girl, Birdstriking, Hot & Cold

Taiwanese noise-rock hipsters play alongside local experimental musicians. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Early Bus
Ska that you can dance to. RMB 30. 9pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Jianghu Jazz Septet
Local jazz scenesters band together. RMB 50. 9.30pm. Jianghu Liveshow Bar (132 6922 7168)

Shanren, Chuanzi
Yunnan folkies with soft choruses and indie rock. RMB 80, RMB 60 (in advance). 8pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112)

Hummingbird
Salsa from Xinjiang. RMB 80-120, RMB 50 (students), tickets at 8599 1188. 8pm. Nine Theater Chaoyang Culture Center (8599 6011)

Sandee Peng, Zhong Lifeng, Shao Xiaomao
The folk session continues with piano and guitar ballads. RMB 120-380, tickets at 400 810 3721. 7.30pm. No. 46 Theater (8403 3799)

Waqiyige
Hailing from China’s great southwest, this band performs with a traditional Yi-minority influence. RMB 100, RMB 80 (in advance). 3pm. The One (5914 8087)

Demerit, The Flyx, The Discord, Cold Case
Punk mainstays bring the “Tongzhou Generation” back home. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 9pm. Raying Temple (137 1698 0276)

Skarving Orchestra
Pure Jamaica Ska performed by this 8-piece band. RMB 30. 9:45pm. V.A Bar (8544 3638)

Tang Xu
Female folk singer blows away the summer fever with her ballads and acoustic guitar. RMB 40, RMB 30 (in advance). 3pm. Weibo Zhiyan (5900 0969)

Dafay & Skycraper, Shan Xiaofan, Huang Shaofeng, Kaize (Retro-Dance), Ivan Zhang (Acupuncture Records) Retro-Dance Party Vol. 27. RMB50, RMB30 (in advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Sunday (July 11)

Zhu Guangyu
Can folk calm the metal fever? RMB 30. 10pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

SambAsia
Brazil may be out of the World Cup, but this troupe keeps the Brazilian beat going in Beijing. RMB 50. 4pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

The Toy Captains
Unknown Chaoshan folk from the south performs at D-22’s regular folk night. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 9pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Moreno Donadel
Fusion jazz from this mainstay of the Beijing music scene. Free Entry. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Lo Mo
Female folk musician cools you off with her acoustic ballads. RMB 30. 9.30pm. Jianghu Liveshow Bar (132 6922 7168)

Usher
The R&B star comes to China for the first time, supported by Taiwanese superstar Leehom Wong. RMB 280-1,080. 8pm. Wukesong Arena (400 610 3721)