Talking Tunes: The Rebirth of an Old Friend and Making New Ones

Paul Ryding | Oct 18, 2012 6:00 pm | Add a comment | 1009 reads

An all new and improved CD Blues is back on the scene, and they're marking the rebirth with a celebratory opening which includes some good deals on drinks and food from the new restaurant. Get along to the new Ritan Park venue to check it out if you haven't already.

John Lennon would have been 72 this month. VA Bar is having a celebration of his life with a birthday cake, a live performance from The Beijing Beatles and a showing of "Nowhere Boy", the Lennon biopic tomorrow night (Friday).

We got exciting news recently that Beijing punk rockers Brain Failure are preparing to launch their new album Dare To Be Tous Les Jours at Tango on November 10. It's to be their first release since 2009's Downtown Production and RMB 100 will get you in on the night to sample their new material first hand.

Split Works have announced some more great upcoming shows. Not content with bringing The Fray to town in November, they'll also be bringing English R&B star Jamie Woon to town. The MOBO nominated Londoner performs at MAO Livehouse on November 9 as part of the quite excellent UK Now concert series. Also, Split Works will be kicking off a Woozy Community Films series with a screening of the superb "Do It Yourself: Story of Rough Trade" on November 3 at XP. Rough Trade is an independent record label based in London which helped launch the careers of seminal artists like The Smiths, Buzzcocks and more recently The Strokes and The Libertines.

A little closer to the here and now, BEME 2012 (Beijing Electronic Music Encounter) kicks off tomorrow (Friday) at XP. A festival of electronic music held over three days at three venues (XP, Dada and Zajia Lab).

We also got wind that Boston ska punksters Big D and The Kids Table are to make it to Beijing as part of their China tour. They'll take in Temple on November 23.

Finally, Not There survived a hairy trip to Harbin to return in time for a gig over at 4corners on Saturday night, they get going at 10pm.

To play us out this week we have the aforementioned Jamie Woon with his hit single "Night Air".

P.S. Get your glad rags on and get along to Elements tonight to help us celebrate our 11th birthday! We like Transformers, Buckaroo and iPhone 5s if your stuck for gift ideas.

Whatever you get up to before next time, have fun doing it.