Beijing Beats: Headhunterz at One Third, Joe Nice at Dada, Pillow Fight at Yue Space

Beijing Beats brings you the best in Beijing nightlife each weekend so that you can soothe the woes of a long and stressful week with some out-of-body gyrating and some experiences you'd rather forget come Monday. Check the weekend's full list of nightlife events here.

Though New Year's is over and done with, never fear: the party's just getting started! The ever-dependable Dada has as envelope-pushing a lineup as ever with two dub DJs from the Bristol and Baltimore scenes. Meanwhile, more pop-centric DJs can be found in the Gongti area's clubs; Mix has an exciting Afrobeat night lined up, and the artsy set will dig Mao Live's multidisciplinary day-long rundown later this weekend. Most surprising of all, however, may be Yue Space's biggest weekend event: a pillow fight, soundtracked by some of the city's hottest DJs. So whether you want to get decked out in your favorite PJs and relive your wildest slumber parties, or hear some of far-flung rhythms from Africa, the Netherlands, Italy, or Romania, there's a Beijing party to suit every celebration.
 

Wednesday, Jan 3

DJ Don Diablo
Having snagged the #11 spot on DJ Magazine’s highly coveted Top 100 DJs list, this Dutch's Sir Teen set is hotly anticipatedfor "his eclectic style of production and vocalizing." RMB 200. 10pm. Sir Teen
 

Thursday, Jan 4

DJ Joe Nice
Joe Nice's reputation is enviable by any measure. He's known for being one of the very first DJs to play dubstep in North America back in 2001, performing in over 44 countries around the world, and perhaps best of all, using only dubplates and vinyl on the decks, eschewing laptops, midi controllers, and other modern DJ tech. For a refreshingly old-school set, you need look no further than this. Ticket price TBD. 10pm. Dada
 

Friday, Jan 5

Headhunterz
Making his way to One Third this weekend, hardstyle star Headhunterz is sure to lure dancefloor diehards thanks to his well-regarded body of entrancing productions. Indeed, he has made quite a name for himself by co-producing songs with fellow popular DJs like Hardwell (who also performed at One Third recently) and Steve Aoki. 10pm. Ticket Price TBD. One Third

Franz Scala
Hailing from Italy, the now Berlin-based Scala heads up burgeoning record label called Slow Motion, the output from which mirrors his sets by "weaving smoothly between Italian dance, proto house, cosmic, and psychedelic disco house ... quickly turning the dance floor into a vignette-tainted retro nostalgia rave fueled only by his music and the Cuba Libre he likes to consume whilst behind the decks." Ticket price TBD. 10pm. Dada

DJ Cortez
South Korean DJ Cortez recently performed for Beijing clubbers at the newly minted Vue hotel, and the set went off so well that he has quickly returned for this more intimate hutong set at Soi Baochao. He's a hot up-and-comer in Seoul, but he's also quite taken with Beijing's club scene and is hoping to return as much as possible to emerge himself in all that the Chinese capital's clubs and DJ's have to offer. RMB 85. 9pm. Soi Baochao

Afrobeat Pop
RMB 100 at Mix's Friday party this weekend will get you access to the Gongti club's open bar alongside a soundtrack of Afrobeat courtesy of DJ Mike. What's more: there's free entrance for the ladies. To get on the guest list, scan the QR code in the image. RMB 50 entry, RMB 100 to access open bar. 9pm. Mix
 

Saturday, Jan 6

Rob Smith aka RSD
Esteemed Bristol DJ Rob Smith is regarded as a legend in the dub scene thanks to his dazzling remixes and original breakbeat, dub, and reggae-inflected instrumentals. Having worked independently under the moniker RSD, he is also known for collaborating with Ray Mighty and Peter D Rose in Smith & Mighty (released under the moniker More Rockers). Ticket price TBD. 10pm. Dada

Roberto Traista
Romanian DJ born Roberto Traista is described by promoters as making music that "conjures up images of futuristic wastelands" that also feature "strong groove components that always keep things focused on the dance floor." RMB 50. 11pm. Lantern

Pillowfight Soundtracked by Dirty Dishes and Just Syd
Don't just boogie on the dancefloor this weekend – grab a pillow and smack your friends silly! This fun party will feature plenty of plush, cushy contact, probably a few floating feathers thanks to busted pillowcases, and entrancing rhythms courtesy of beloved local DJs Dirty Dishes and Just Syd. RMB 200 (includes pillow and drinks), RMB 135 (advance). 10pm. Yue Space

Sad Robot Party
Artists, designers, filmmakers, and more will be on hand to stimulate your senses, including DJs Pei of Bye Bye Disco, and DJ Ma Gin Tonic, as well as musicians like The Hotline and 4 Channels Club. RMB 100, RMB 80 (adance). 4-10.30pm. Mao Livehouse Wukesong

Photos courtesy of the venues and promoters, campcosmic.com