Weekend Gig Guide Apr 29-May 2: Dream Sonic and Folk Festivals, Nova Heart, Egopusher
We here at the Beijinger are happy to present Live Beijing Music's weekend gig guide, written by head honcho Mr. Will Griffith. Will has been running around Beijing for over four years, documenting the city's shows and the requisite onlooking drunkards with various cameras/sound recorder setups, losing plenty of equipment along the away in his attempt to capture Beijing's aural spirit. You'll occasionally catch him pogoing like a madman when he's not got a camera in hand. Take it away, Will ...
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A special Mayday holiday edition of your weekend gig guide. While there’s a lot of you heading down to Grand Epoch City in Xianghe (just outside of Beijing) for Strawberry Festival (check out the complete lineup here) so of us will be soaking in the long weekend back at homebase. And what better way to reel it in then to soak in some gigs. Here’s what’s in store.
Friday, April 29
Cat Learned Dog, Lattice, Renegade, Death Penalty, Sophie’s Garden at 13 Club
13 Club picks up the slack this weekend with a hefty lineup of up and comers of all ilk – indie pop, speed metal, and charismatic punk as Cat Learned Dog, Lattice and more take the stage. RMB 70
Simon Berz, Yan Jun, Zhu Wenbo, AKE at fRUITYSPACE
Unphased by the recent crackdowns in Gulou, experimental safe haven fRUITYSPACE continues going strong with a hell of a lineup that features Subjam and Zoomin Nights head honchos Yan Jun and Zhu Wenbo as well as Swiss drummer and sound artist Simon Berz. RMB 40
Joker’s Belief, NZT at Hot Cat Club
Alternative indie rock coming at ya like a freight train this Friday as newcomers Joker’s Belief and NZT strut their stuff. Free
Click #15 at Temple
Local legend, Ricky Sixx, brings his latest band, Click #15, to Temple fro some 70s/80s funk and glitter pop rock. Free
Liu Donghong at 69 Café
Blues-breathing folk-turned-renegade Liu Donghong brings his popular homegrown style to the petite 69 Café on Nanluogu Xiang. RMB 50
The Swift at Caravan
Caravan debuts The Swift, the new project from the frontman of former Cape Verde and Barbados band Danadri, this new original project will put you dancing on your feet, and we promise it will be a night to remember! RMB 50
Saturday, April 30
Apr 30-May 2: Dream Sonic Music Festival
Strawberry isn’t the only game in town. The Dream Sonic Festival will be underway this holiday and while it’s lineup isn’t as strong as Strawberry, the festival is located just outside at Yuyang International Ski Resort. The lineup includes acts like Nine Treasures, CMCB, Heat Mark, Mega Soul, Team Ghost, The Plum Trees, and much more – check out the complete lineup here.
Casino Demon, Dr. Liu & the Human Centipede, The Diders, Converse at School
Converse and School join forces once again to celebrate School's 6 Year Anniversary with a killer lineup that features two of the owners’ groups, indie rock veterans Casino Demon and hardcore punk trope Dr. Liu & the Human Centipede – one of the finest in town – expect shenanigans of only the highest degree and inebriation plastering the walls left to right. Happy birthday School! Free
Nova Heart, The Hormones, WHAI at Yugong Yishan
FakeMusicMusic celebrates a busy year and their new rooster which includes disco darkwave outfit Nova Heart, The Hormones, out of Chengdu, and WHAI. Big sounds and lots of swagger at YGYS. RMB 150
Inxu, Macondo at Temple
Previously known as Illness Sickness, INXU is a instrumental rock trio with bite. Post rock with a love for metal, the group delivers bone-crushing soundtrack music that slays. Catch them in their glorious return alongside Macondo, a band that’s garnering some praise themselves as of late. Free
Egopusher (Switzerland) at fRUITYSPACE
The Swiss drum violin duo improv duo who mix the two instrumentals with lyrical beauty along with the use of synth and bass to shock, tease, and provoke. RMB 40
Guiguisuisui, Disaster Chat at Caravan
Fresh pop sounds and rock melodies meet undead art rock duo on this evening’s menu at Moroccan eatery Caravan. RMB 40
The Peppercorns, Pacalolo at Hot Cat Club
Veteran electro rock band, Pacalolo, whose synth happy sounds are full of quirk join up and comers The Peppercorns. Free
Lijin at Snail Club
Folk offerings this holiday season as singer-songwriter Li Jin takes the stage at the intimate Snail Club. RMB 70
Rhythm Traveller at 69 Café
Indie pop tunes courtesy of Rhythm Traveller. RMB 60
The Sound Sculpture at Two Cities Café
The Sound Sculpture, a crew of musician misfits who improvise soundtracks over various films, hit up the cozy café for an outing of ambient music laced with psychedelic vibes as they score live the original Count Dracula – Nosferatu. RMB 60
Sunday, May 1
Onslaught (UK), Angelus Apatrida (ES), Ancestor, Tumor Boy, Alcor at Yugong Yishan
It’s the Trash Metal Music Festival – so get on your trashiest face and get ready to mosh to your heart’s end as bands from the UK, Spain, Beijing, and elsewhere in China converge on Yugong Yishan for some rough housing. RMB 240
Gate to Otherside, Lonely Leary, Macondo, Future Orients at School
Gate to Otherside, fresh off of recording their debut, bring their brand of psych indie-rock to School alongside talented post-punk rockers Lonely Leary, indie rock foursome Future Orients, and post-rock/math-rock group with members hailing from four continents Macondo. RMB 50
Logic Control, S.A.W at Blessing Livehouse
A new livehouse? In Shuangjing? Say it ain’t so. Well based on this show hosting two veteran metal bands with enough bite to entice a crowd of kids throwing feathered pillows into each other faces – I’d wager this is a well sized venue. Intrigued. RMB 130
Monday, May 2
Not in Catalog, Alpine Decline, 工工工 at fRUITYSPACE
It’s an experimental hoedown at the new fRUITYSPACE as various performers including the new project from Zhu Wenbo and company, Not in Catalog, joins Joshua Frank and Tom Ng’s 工工工，a percussion band described as ‘an abstract folk music boogie’. Finally, catch a modular synth set from Alpine Decline. RMB 40
May 2-3: Folk Festival at 69 Café
For two days 69 Café, located in the heart of Nanluogu Xiang, will throw a folk festival featuring a score of singer-songwriters including Nick Parsons, Carlo, and more. RMB 50
Phew! Still hungry for more? For events, videos, and photos from Beijing's thriving music scene, head over to Live Beijing Music.
Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers
