Noise Pollution: FAT Music Festival, Cassette Store Day at Yue Space, and Pyramid Power
Autumn gets downright frigid this week and the only medicine is live music shot directly into my veins. We've got some top-grade stuff this week too – from Cassette Store Day to the FAT Music Festival over in 798 – so strap up, heat up that smack and let's get this party started.
Friday, Oct 13
ST.OL.EN at Yugong Yishan
Chengdu electro-rock outfit ST.OL.EN, who have shaped up to be one of the best live acts out there over the last few years, return to Beijing with their new EP, which has produced by the legendary Mark Reeder. The band is giving in to their Berlin forefathers quite a bit on their latest, so expect a techno-entrenched atmospheric rock and roll experience from the boys. RMB 100
Ajinai at DDC
DDC hosts Ajinai, the Beijing-based Mongolian folk outfit, who have carved out quite a collection of lush material since their formation in 2009, with a focus on creating a new dialogue using their background instead of having it keep them rooted in tradition. So yeah, top-notch stuff.
Su and The Paramecia, The Harridans, Macondo at MWoods 798
The FAT Music Festival kicks off with a DDC curated lineup featuring some of the venues most reliable players including the larger than life folk-rock of Su and The Paramecia (fresh off their debut release), scruffy psych-rock outfit The Harridans, and power post-rockers Macondo. RMB 188
Ding Chenchen, gogoj, Raw Input, U M U at fRUITYSPACE
Pyramid Power, the experimental and noise festival spearheaded by Daniel Beban (of the Orchestra of Spheres) that'll be held simultaneously in both Wellington, NZ and Beijing kicks off at fRUITYSPACE with a hell of a lineup for all you avant-garde and experimental junkies out there. Violinist Sheng Jie aka Gogoj, metal (as in the material) lover Ding Chenchen, Raw Input (the new laptop duo from Li Song and Ma Jin), and Daniel Beban's solo project U M U. will play. Good stuff. RMB 45
King Lion Miguel (Cameroon), One Drop Band, Abelx, Rhawx, Solgie at Yue Space
Cameroon's number-one reggae star King Lion Miguel doesn't mess away and he's going all out for his album release with a rasta party at Yue Space featuring just about everyone in the reggae scene here in China including One Drop Band, Abelx and more. RMB 120
Thierry Mallard Trio (FR) at La Plantation
A seamless blend of jazz and world music the French jazz trio led by the classically trained and world-renowned pianist Thierry Mallard brings their decades of experience to the stage tonight. RMB 220 (7:30 start)
Alicia Olatuja (US) at Blue Note
Praised by the New York Times as “a singer with a strong and luscious tone and an amiably regal presence on stage," Alicia Olatuja has been astounding audiences with her exquisite vocals, artistic versatility and captivating demeanor that propels her wide range of musical styles, including gospel, soul, jazz and classical. RMB 360-460
N-Bomb, SistaKilla.L, Saber, DOMIe, Odd Couple, Drop Science, DJ Quaver, SheSan at Omni Space
It’s a hip-hop extravaganza down by the Temple of Heaven with a stacked lineup featuring the underground rap scene's most prolific characters including Drop Science (who I hope lives to drop science on people rather than drop his scientific beliefs altogether), Saber, N-Bomb, and many more. RMB 100
DJ Boss Cuts, DJ Brahms at School
School keeps it low-key tonight with a special DJ night featuring a surf rock-filled DJ set from Boss Cuts and a rocking-and-rolling party set to the tunes of DJ Brahms. FREE
Yuni, Liang Li, Zhang Sikun at Mogu Space
The ladies take over Xizhimen including guitarist and singer Liang Li, who’s been popular on QQ, singer Yuni, who mixes basso nova, neo-soul, and lushly re-constructed latin tunes into an intoxicating mix and Sichuan’s Zhang Sikun who will be giving a solo performance tonight. RMB 66
Coming at Blue Stream Bar
The band Coming is made up of a group of artists who got their start playing covers. With two lead vocalists, talented acoustic and electric guitarists, and pop, bass, and rock-and-roll influences, they promise a fun night playing all kinds of music. RMB 30
Pu Han, Dan Dan at Rockland
Playing a unique blend of Kazakh and Tuva folk singers, jazz and folk, singer-songwriter Pu Han brings in a wrath of experience of American country, jazz singing and many other musical forms to the intimate Houhai institute alongside Dan Dan. RMB 100
Miga, Ban, Shang Wan, Speed Flight at EA Livehouse
Alright EA Livehouse – I give in! The little venue that kept and kept on trying and one I figured would just disappear within a week. Well, I was wrong and it doesn't look like the joint will be going anyway. So catch some young, scrappy rock and rollers move up the ranks tonight at friggin EA Livehouse. RMB 40
Jazz Quartet (Victor, Alex, Jing, Ivan) at Jianghu Bar
Guess the jazz quartet couldn't settle on who’s the ringleader of the group and have instead decided to call their jazz troupe by all four of their names. Not sure how smart that is, but perhaps that means that all four of these cats are just that good and can’t outdo one another no matter how hard they try. Or not. What do I know? RMB 60
Saturday, Oct 14
Dan Taylor, Mu Miqu, Noise Arcade, FLØØØD at Yue Space
Cassette Store Day kicks off with an afternoon market and musical showcase – catch electronic acts Noise Arcade and Flood, both dropping their cassettes today, alongside folk acts Dan Taylor and Mu Miqu. On top of that, bask in the artwork, prints, zines, magical duct tape, and of course cassettes courtesy of 20 different vendors – full listing here. RMB 30
Ugly Girls, Lonely Leary, Guiguisuisui, Electric Lady at Yue Space
Cassette Store Day continues into the night with some of the scene’s most nefarious characters. Guests of honor will be Shanghai punk outfit Ugly Girls, fresh off their red-hot debut, whose female-led righteous and downright hostile brand of punk will send spectators into a frenzy. Joining them will be post-punk ruffians Lonely Leary, whose nervy jagged mania has made them one of the scenes hottest new commodities. Stoner-rock outfit Electric Lady bring their ravenous 70s-inflicted melodies and rock-hard allure to the event. And finally, it wouldn't be a party without the amorphous, genre-bending doom and opera-esque ballads of Guiguisuisui – an act that's constantly twisting your expectations. Four wildly diverse bands giving sweat, blood, and tears to the cassette lords – what more could you ask for? RMB 80 (pick up a RMB 60 presale ticket at the afternoon market)
Penicillin, The Hotline, Secret Club at M Woods
The FAT Music Festival gets an early start this Saturday as the School and DOG crew sets up shop at the spacious gallery bringing with them Britpop faves Penicillin, electro-rockers The Hotline, and Secret Club. RMB 188 (4.30pm start)
The Swinging Barbarellas, Scare the Children at M Woods
If you think seeing the School crew roll through 798 will be amusing, then just wait 'til the Temple posse starts the ruckus in the contemporary space – a sociology class in itself. They've brought two of their most distinguished bands, The Swinging Barbarellas, led by Temples manager Marshall, and the horror-metal freak show Scare the Children, which is actually gonna a perfect fit. RMB 188
Li Jianhong, Ake, Liquid Palace, Wang Ziheng at fRUITYSPACE
Day two of the dual country held Pyramid Power Festival brings noise, improvisation, DIY electronics, drone, and more for your ears pleasure with Liquid Palace, fresh off their sick tape release with those Nasty Wizards, free improv sax madman Wang Zhiheng, sound artist Ake, and guitar demi-God Li Jianhong. RMB 45
Zhang Yide at Yugong Yishan
I remember catching the young and charismatic folk singer-songwriter a few years back opening for Hua Zhou. Was mighty impressed. Well seems the kid’s been making a name for himself since and will be presenting his newest release on the big stage tonight at Yugong Yishan. Expect lyrically rich acoustic rock full of heart. RMB 100
Thierry Mallard Trio (FR) at DDC
A seamless blend of jazz and world music the French jazz trio led by the classically trained and world-renowned pianist Thierry Mallard brings their decades of experience to the stage tonight. RMB 60
WHAI at Jianghu Bar
Everyone’s favorite prog-rock group WHAI, who have been together since 2012 (really … that’s all?) and have committed themselves to their heavy, offbeat brand of rock and roll find refuge in the cozy hutong spot. RMB 80
Four Five, Lost in Space, Awake Mountains, Leviathan, Necronoumena, Zhi Wang at THouse
And just like that, another venue emerges seemingly out of nowhere. Located on the north end of Tuanjiehu Park, THouse looks to be a pretty hefty venue based on what they have decided to run with for their first gig – a brutal metal lineup featuring some big players on the scene from Beijing and beyond, including Modern Sky metalcore heavyweights Four Five, Xiamen’s Zhi Wang, Xi’an metalcore outfit Leviathan, and more. Color me intrigued. RMB 150
Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies at Temple
The ever-expanding (10 members deep at the moment) jazz-pop troupe Stevie Mac and the Mac Daddies bring their vintage approach to contemporary music to Temple for some good times. FREE
Chen Min at Soi Baochao
The Chengdu-raised singer-songwriter and classically train pianist Chen Min gives a special performance that features her rich Joni Mitchell-influenced songs. FREE
Chris Hopkins and the One Night Stand at Blue Stream Bar
Singer-songwriter Chris Hopkins stays true to his roots with his homeland’s blues, rock and roll, and Texas country and will appear with his band, The One Night Stand. FREE
Gabrielle, Dimo, The Nightcrawlers, Mr. Freeman, Mo Mo Tiankong, Journey to the West Jr. at Omni Space
The W&M Music union celebrate two years with an anniversary spectacle featuring an array of blues rockers, indie-pop singers, and more including The Nightcrawlers, Dimo, and others. RMB 120 (6pm start)
Alicia Olatuja (US) at Blue Note
Praised by the New York Times as “a singer with a strong and luscious tone and an amiably regal presence on stage," Alicia Olatuja has been astounding audiences with her exquisite vocals, artistic versatility and captivating demeanor that propels her wide range of musical styles, including gospel, soul, jazz, and classical. RMB 360-460
Copenhagen Piano Quartet at MOMO Post Mountain Space
The Copenhagen Piano Quartet is a young piano quartet based in Copenhagen, but with roots in Denmark, the Czech Republic and Poland. With a broad repertoire spanning from the classics of Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms to the very contemporary music of our day, the group has been very well received by the critics, and have won countless competitions. RMB 150
Mademoiselle et son Orchestre at Modernista
Mademoiselle et son Orchestre return to Modernista. The premier gypsy jazz outfit has been igniting crowds left and right for endless years – a true joy to behold. FREE
Qi Ming, Li Eryang at Rockland
The singer-songwriter, who sports Leonard Cohen as her main influence, performs tonight at the Houhai institute, alongside '70s-inspired indie staple and guitar maestro Li Eryang. RMB 100
Lei Meng, Jordan Darling, Pu Han at Mogu Space
Indie-folk regulars take up refuge at the Xizhimen ghost of 69 Café. RMB 66
Sunday, Oct 15
Run Run Run, Boiled Hippo, The Dice at M Woods
fRUITYSPACE calls the shots today and reel in their jam-tastic regulars including The DICE (supposedly their last performance ever!), '70s psychedelic rock-inspired Run Run Run, and the genre-spanning world music rockers Boiled Hippo. RMB 188
The Sound Sculpture at Temple
Everyone's favorite experimental psychedelic ambient soundscapes return with their latest live soundtracking set where they'll play over experimental cinema classics from Bunuel, Duchamp, Brakhage, and more. FREE
Min Xiaofen, Wu Wei, Xu Xiaoxia, Wang Yuguang at Omni Space
Shadow puppet artist Wang Yuguang, known for adapting the ancient traditional art of shadow puppetry for a modern audience, joins cutting-edge visual artist Zhenyu In_K and three Chinese instrument masters, Min Xiaofen, Wu Wei, and Xu Xiaoxia for ‘Five Elements’ – a folk-inspired improvisational concert that’ll be recorded live. RMB 200
Shangan Li at Yugong Yishan
The Chengdu-born indie musician Shangan Li, who spent countless years playing in pubs across Yunnan and on the coast, returned to Beijing last year to produce her debut album which was released earlier this spring. Catch her at Yugong Yishan as a part of her national tour. RMB 120
Golden Buddha at DDC
Chinese national jazz pioneer Kong Hongwei (Golden Buddha), always committed to the creation and exploration of Chinese elements and jazz fusion, and who has been featured countless times on CCTV radio, brings his exhilarating piano-led set to DDC. RMB 80
The Cook & the Actor at Yue Space
One of the more promising young folk bands in China, the duo made up of Qing Xiuqian and Tong Ziwen, interpret ancient Chinese culture in their folk tunes and they're ready to unleash their debut Three Bowls But Not Ridge. RMB 120
Rudra’s Sage, Lei Meng at Rockland
Philippines-born sitar player Rudra’s Sage, a scene regular since the heydays of River Bar in Sanlitun, brings his sitar for an intimate performance in Rockland in Houhai alongside Lei Meng. RMB 80
Phew! Still hungry for more? Check out all of our live music listings here. Alternatively, if it's nightlife that you're sprightly little legs are after, there's plenty of that too.
Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers
