Weekend Live Music Roundup: The China Music Valley Festival Has Landed, and Acid Live Celebrates Turning Three

Time for another rundown of what to see and where this weekend. We've been getting pretty excited for a while now about the China Music Valley Festival. The wait is finally over. If you can handle the journey north to Pinggu District (the organizers are laying on transport from various downtown points in the city, so you really have no excuse not to), then you will be rewarded with a bevy of major international acts, and one or two top domestic turns as well.

It's been dubbed as a three-day event, which is technically true, though Friday's opening exchanges are limited to DJ sets on the Yuan Sheng dance stage. Kicking the event off at 8.30pm is DJ Youdai. DJ A.M.U will bring the opening night to a close at 11.30pm.

But the action really gets going on Saturday. Day #2 (or Somber Shoegazing Saturday, as I've dubbed it) sees Glasvegas, White Lies and The Jesus and Mary Chain performing in China for the first time. Maybe not the happiest bunch of Brits you're likely to come across, but sterling musicians to a man.

Sunday in Pinggu is much more upbeat. Helen Feng's Nova Heart kick matters off with their psychedelic disco rock stylings at 2.50pm for those who manage to make it up to Pinggu for the early start. They're followed by Hong Kong pop starlet Kay at 5.10pm before Chinese rock legend Wang Feng takes to the Gu stage at 7.30pm.

On the other stage, Finnish electronic group Husky Rescue precede British pop princess Pixie Lott before Friendly Fires take to the Yue stage for an hour of perfectly crafted indie disco. Don't miss Friendly Fires if you're at CMVF. I predict they'll be the highlight of the weekend. And as their show winds down, revelers can pop over to the Gu stage to see R&B behemoth Joss Stone bring proceedings to a close.

Today is the last day of a special deal on tickets for the festival being run by Sendmetickets.com. Get your tickets quick.

Elsewhere this weekend, Friday night sees the third birthday party for Acid Live. The acid jazz ensemble kick off their celebrations at Yugong Yishan at 9pm, and those tickets are sure to be some of the hottest in town on Friday night. Meanwhile, Not There provide a night of psychedelic post-rock over at Mao Livehouse.

On Saturday, if you're not up in Pinggu, there's still plenty going on around town. Not least at 2 Kolegas where you can see Li Dong, Buyi Band and Hanggai at the launch of the Ningxia folk outfit's new album.

And you can bring your weekend to a high-octane close on Sunday with a mosh night at MAO Livehouse, or a slightly lighter ending with jazz from Qingdao outfit Maxine Zhan + Friends.

It's set to be a weekend of top music. Do get out and enjoy it.

MAY 17

Byga
A night of French folk at Jianghu Bar. RMB 40. 9pm. Jianghu Bar (6401 4611)

MAY 18

Acid Live 3rd Anniversary Party
Beijing’s premier funk-acid-jazz-electro outfit celebrates their third birthday. RMB 80, RMB 60 (advance). 10pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

China Music Valley Festival 2012
A lineup of top international acts garnished with a pinch of top Chinese talent makes Pinggu the place to be over the weekend. RMB 580 (three-day ticket), RMB 350. Yuyang International Ski Resort (400 620 6006)

Not There
Guitars and grooves collide on a night of livetronica with a funky twist. Support is provided by an eclectic ensemble including folk rockers Po Shang Cun. RMB 60, RMB 50 (students). 9pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

The New Vibe
Funk outfit ably supported by Canadian one-man electro band Rekjavictim out of Shanghai. Free. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

The Randy Abel Stable
Join the fun as the raucous bluegrass rockers play to their loyal fanbase. RMB 50. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6435 8998)

The Stanleys
Pop punk from Australian outfit touring China. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 8.30pm. What Bar (133 4112 2757)

Toy Head Band
Ska outfit put their game faces on. Free. 9.30pm. Temple (131 6107 0713)

May 19

China Music Valley Festival 2012
See May 18 entry. RMB 580 (three-day ticket), RMB 350. Yuyang International Ski Resort (400 620 6006)

Devils at the Crossroad
The Devils look to fire up a ballsy night of rock & roll at Temple. Free. 9.30pm. Temple (131 6107 0713)

Jazz Land
Four of Norway’s most prominent jazz musicians (Kjetil Moester, Frode Haltli, Per Zanussi and Per Oddvar Johansen) bring their collective improvisations. RMB 80, RMB 60 (advance). 9pm. Zajia (8404 9141)

Li Dong
The Ningxia folksters launch their latest record with a little help from Buyi and Hanggai. RMB 100 (includes a copy of new album). 10pm. 2 Kolegas (8196 4820)

Madamoiselle et son Orchestre
Original material from French gypsy jazz outfit. Free. 9.30pm. Modernista (136 9142 5744)

May 20

China Music Valley Festival 2012
See May 18 entry. RMB 580 (three-day ticket), RMB 350. Yuyang International Ski Resort (400 620 6006)

Maxine Zhan + Friends
Qingdao jazz outfit over at Jianghu Bar. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9pm. Jianghu Bar (6401 4611)

Rush Hour Mosh Night VI
Get down to Gulou to mosh amongst the hardest of hardcore punks the capital has to offer. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 8pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)