Weekend Live Music Roundup: Helloween, Ef, Andy Fletcher and Rumors about Avril Lavigne

Beijing's live music scene explodes this weekend, but compared with what we might see in the coming weeks it seems like nothing.
First, let's have a look at the rumors we've heard. Maroon Five will most likely go around China on their Asian Tour, but there won't be lack of international pop stars. As reported, Avril Lavigne will be playing in Beijing, well, not really, she'll come to Pinggu – a district set at the edge of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province – but it's still Beijing, right? The local government is not only planning to organize the Niubiest (most awesome) music festival in China, it is also ambitious to build a music town which will cost approximately RMB 15 billion.

The Bob Dylan rumor is still rumbling on.

In the past week, news of his Beijing concert being approved by the government has run wild on Chinese websites. We even have a screen capture to prove it. Neither Beijing nor Shanghai has yet made it onto Dylan's tour calendar on his official website. Here's what's happening: approval so far is from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture, but to have an international star playing in China legally we need to hear what the National Ministry of Culture will say. And they say that Dylan's application is still under examination. Don't loosen your crossed fingers yet.

Getting back to what we can expect for this weekend. We will have Depeche Mode's Andy Fletcher pulling off a party at Yugong Yishan, melodious metal leaders Helloween agitating the metalheads at The One Club and Scandinavian multi-instrumentalists Ef leading a mind trip at MAO Livehouse. And they are all happening tonight.

On Saturday, on Zhangzizhong Lu influential local brit-rockers Convenience Store has a ten-year anniversary to celebrate and over in Wudaokou, there's an indie/electro rock gathering to catch.

If you have a look at our March issue, you'll see that exciting events are scheduled one after another across the whole month. Let's consider this weekend as the first round of warming up.

Like Depeche Mode says, "just can't get enough." So here comes more: (For venue details, check the Beijinger Directory):

Friday (March 4)

Andy Fletcher & Infected Mushroom
Depeche Mode man DJs, with a live set from Israeli trance band. Tickets at Clubzone.cn. RMB 300, RMB 200 (advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Big Fish, Fruit Salad
The weekend's rock party at Fangjia Hutong. Free. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Chaos, End of the World, Zebra Run!
New generation of pop-punk takes over. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Ef
Swedish instrumental post-rockers come to probe your emotions (see Have You Met, p41). RMB 80, RMB 60 (advance). 8pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Fabão
Samba and Bossa-Nova bring your mind to Brazil. Free. 9pm. Alanting Bar & Café (8571 5168)

The Hot Club of Beijing
The half-Chinese/half-French band aims to give the audience 100% swing with gypsy-jazz standards. RMB 30. 9.45pm. VA Cafe and Bar (5844 3638)

Helloween, Stratovarius
Pioneering metalists present a melodious metal feast. RMB 290-700, RMB 255-660 (advance). 7pm. The One Club (5914 8087)

Xia Jia Piano Trio
Original jazz tunes with feelings of electro, drum & bass，funk. Free. 10pm East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Saturday (Mar 5)

The Beijing Alchemists
Folk and blues to calm down your night. Free. 9.30pm. Alanting Live Bar & Café (8571 5168)

Christmas
Original Chinese pop songs from the future. RMB 30. 9.45pm. V.A Bar (5844 3638)

Convenience Store
Significant local Brit-rockers celebrate their tenth birthday. RMB 100, RMB 80 (advance). Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Hoochie Coochie Gentleman
Take it easy and swing with HCG. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance, students). 9.00pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (136 9368 2191)

Lighting of Tomorrow
Pilot Records release a collection of its young powers' works. line up includes Alt Senior, Larry's Pizza and Summer Sunshine. RMB 60 (the first 150 get a free CD). 8pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Liu Yuan Jazz Quartet
Saxophonist Liu Yuan brings his jazz regular. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

O.N.E.
Let's swing with the ska beats. Free. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Streets Kill Strange Animals, CAssette, The Redundant Seconds
An electro-pop gathering. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Sunday (March 6)

Drummers' Party
Drummers from Buyi and Brain Failure present the beats. Free. 3-5.30pm. 2 Kolegas

Folk Night
A folk night with punk band SUBS' front-lady Kangmao and some folkier musicians. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance, students). 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Zhang Yide
Local folk musician shows some simple happiness. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance, students). 9pm. Juang Hu Liveshow Bar (186 1008 7613)