Weekend Live Music Roundup: The Eagles, Anberlin, JUE Festival

How long have we waited for the music festival season? We missed it so much during its hibernation that we even made a graph about its history. Anyway, it's back.

JUE Festival kicks it off this weekend. Though it's more like a citywide music & art movement than a proper music festival, it has the festival spirit. The music starts on Saturday with indie pop We Save Strawberries from Taiwan. Too bad I couldn't make it past their third track on their Douban site, but that's just my terrible taste. Let me know if they pulled it off at MAO Livehouse on Saturday. There's actually a lot more to look forward to during the festival - have a look at its full lineup here. We'll talk about it more next week.

Also on Saturday night, Wudaokou's metal and punk tradition continues. 13 Club celebrates the one-year anniversary of local metal label Dime Records; The Instigation from Shanghai joins the punk party at D-22. Then on the east side of the city, some pioneering rockers in Tongzhou continue to insist on spending their Saturday nights making "noise" at Raying Temple.

I didn't forget about the Eagles. I just assumed that you already have the tickets in hand. If not, I hear that scalpers outside the arena will be offering mad cheap tickets once the band starts playing. Or you can take it easy on Saturday and save some energy for American rockers Anberlin at MAO on Sunday.

And there's plenty more options:

Friday (March 11)

Bottlesmoker
Indonesian twee-pop band bring the joy. RMB 40. 9pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430)

Big Pink, Poshangcun
Have some youthful British rock and some funky ska beats. Free. 9pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Christopher
You think you know John Lennon? Think again - Christopher revisits lesser known repertoire of the '60s and '70s. RMB 30. 8.29pm. Tushuguan 98 (8400 1532)

Double Long, Miss Freak, Los Crasher
Young rockers get old school. RMB 40 (include a free drink). 9.30pm. What Bar (133 4112 2757)

Me Guan Me, The Ghost Spardac, Christmas, Dude
Four bands, one goes for awesome rock tunes, one brings emo-core spirit, one plays original Chinese pop songs, one converts them into punk. RMB 50, RMB 40 (if your zodiac sign is Pisces), RMB 70 rmb (2 tickets for a couple in the same outfit). 9pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Mademoiselle et son Orchestre
Have a soothing night with gypsy jazz. RMB 30. 9.45pm. V.A Bar (5844 3638)

Old Fashion, Yes No Break, Replica
Youngsters party for rock & roll. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Xia Jia Piano Trio
Jazz pianist on the keyboard. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Amazing Fabão
Brazilian singer and guitarist interprets bossa nova, samba and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) tunes. Free. 9.30pm. Alanting Live Bar & Café (8571 5168)

Anna Stamburg Group
Live soul and R&B for the weekend. Free. Time TBD. Ciro's Pomodoro (5208 6008)

Saturday (March 12)

Dime Records' Anniversary
The local metal label turns one. Lineup includes Ego-Fall, Saw and Ordnance. RMB 60, RMB 50 (bring a Dime Records album). 10pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Big Fish, Fruit Salad, Tiny Headphones
Another night of rock & roll down in the alley. Free. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

The Eagles
It's The Eagles. If you need an explanation, don't bother going. Tickets at 400 610 3721. RMB 350-2,580. 7.30pm. MasterCard Center (formerly known as Wukesong Arena; 6828 6386)

Gangzi Tuliguer
Mongolian khoomeis at Guitar Bar. RMB 40. RMB 30 (advance). Guitar Bar (6406 3937)

The Instigation, Flyx, Gum's Bleeding, No Words
Rockers from Shanghai (The Instigation) join the punk party at Wudaokou. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Love's Tourettes
From punk to hip hop, from neo-soul to Aussie “pirate rock.”RMB 30. 9.45pm. V.A Bar (5844 3638)

Mr. Dadado & We Save Strawberries
Folk and indie-pop goodness. RMB 120, RMB 80 (Advance). 7.30pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Liu Yuan Jazz Quartet
China's jazz forefather keeps the Houhai shores smooth. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Noise Continues
Noise rock night in Tongzhou. Free. 8pm. Raying Temple

Taste of Soul
Live blues and rock. Free. Time TBD. Ciro's Pomodoro (5208 6008)

Tian Meng, Bai Ruoxi
A night with fresh girl vocals. RMB 40. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Sunday (March 13)

Anberlin
The alternative quartet topped Billboard's Christian rock chart with their last album, but stop labeling them – just listen. RMB 160, RMB 120 (advance). 8pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

BINKABI Band
Get some "High Life Music"? Five-piece Afrobeat band blends Afro funk with roots rock reggae. RMB 50. 9pm. CD Blues Cafe and Bar (6506 8288)

Mr. Miss
A lazy Sunday night with indie jazz. Free. 8.30pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Wang Chenhuai
A jazz night at Wudaokou's punk base. What do you think? RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 9pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

For venue details, see the Beijinger directory.