Noise Pollution: Spit-Tunes, Billy Branch, The Chameleons, Wang Juan, The Peppercorns

How’s 2018 treating you so far? Been following up or those meaty New Year resolutions? Or you think we should postpone till the Chinese New Year? Don’t worry. It’s ok. We all can’t be heroes. What we can do is sneak in a few more weeks of musical hijinks to keep ourselves warm in the thick of winter. Yeah, let’s go with that excuse. Here’s your weekend alibi ...
 

Friday, Jan 5

Spit-Tunes at DDC
The latest edition of Spitoon’s Spit-Tunes series at DDC where ‘poets and bands unite, collab, make the world a better place’. Bands and artists KO, DFA1989, Hugh Reed, Li Er Yang, and Ember Swift will be teaming up with wordsmiths Weerasekara, Ben Zarov, Chris Carpenter, Ben Thompson, and Jumi Belllo, plus live painting courtesy of James Sserwadda. Should be a feast for the senses. RMB 50

Billy Branch (US) feat. Sumito Ariyo Ariyoshi, Mojo Hand at Yue Space
Harmonica player and blues master Billy Branch - three-time Grammy nominee, a retired two-term governor of the Chicago Grammy Chapter, Emmy award winner as well as countless humanitarian and music awards – brings his hot twist on Chicago Blues to Yue Space alongside pianist Sumito Ariyo Ariyoshi with support from Beijing’s own super blues group Mojo Hand. RMB 220

Mr. Honey, Self Portrait, Elenore, Nocturnes at School
Some of the scene's hottest commodities say hello to the new year including brassy big band Mr. Honey, Britpop pile driving trio Elenore, indie sweethearts Self Portrait and indietronic duo Nocturnes, fresh off their full-length debut. Nice eclectic bunch there. RMB 80

Drop Science, Pro-Z, Sosso, Ice Tiger, EinsTein, Shen Mi, Jiang Shi at Mao Livehouse
A ragtag group of rapper and beatsmiths from China, Japan, and American join forces for an ‘All Star 8 Mile Underground Tour’ including Beijing’s own Droop Science, Xi’an’s Pro-Z, Taiyaun’s EinsTein, and many more. RMB 150

Mando Diao at Yugong Yishan
For fans of The Libertines, The Kooks, and Kings of Leon – check out Mando Diao, the garage rock revivalists from Borlänge, Sweden who got their breakthrough with the release of the album Hurricane Bar. Brash indie rock with mod soul and R&B influences that’ll surely have gaggles of girls flipping their shit. RMB 300

Siberia Cocklebur at Jianghu Bar
Indie pop outfit Siberia Cocklebur, who have been grinding away at the scene for nearly a decade bring their smooth, melodic tunes to Jianghu Bar this evening. RMB 80

Panda Eyes, All Sixes at Kirin Place
Kirin Place in Wangjing seems to have finally found its footing with a steady stream of weekend showcase – tonight they host pop-punk rockers Panda Eyes and up-and-comers All Sixes. Super curious. FREE

Tydi Knots, Great Buffalo Blues at Blue Stream
Great Buffalo Blues is a three-man ensemble who just want to write and play Three piece electronic blues group bring their story-telling grooves to Blue Stream Bar alongside heavy alternative rockers Tydi Knots – one of last year’s new finds. FREE

Matty, Yuni, Clustercuss at Caravan
It’s a special Star Wars themed K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simply Solo) at Caravan this evening as Yuni performs beautifully rendered bossa nova, neo-soul, and Latin jazziness, with English singer-songwriter Matty Temporal, and Reese of indie folk project Cluster Cuss. FREE

The Peking Floyd at Modernista
China’s first Pink Floyd tribute band The Peking Floyd bring you the Dark Side of the Moon and many other cuts from the famous psychedelic rock band The Pink Floyd. FREE

Xu Jun at Snail Hostel
Xu Jun of the Qin style rock band Che Nian Po performs solo at the cozy hostel stage off of Jiaodaokou. RMB 60

Fofox, SimQ, Rudra’s Sage at Mogu Space
Rudra’s Sage - master of the guitar and sitar joins indie guitarist Fofox and the globetrotting SimQ in Xizhimen. RMB 60

Freddy Cole (US) at Blue Note
Atlanta blues and jazz musician Freddy Cole, the brother of Nat King Cole, who grew up with musical luminaries like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Lionel Hampton and has recorded several European and English albums plays at Blue Note this weekend. RMB 400
 

Saturday, Jan 6

Bye Bye Noise, Wasted Laika, The White Paper, Acid Accident, New Generation, DaoCi, 5th Dimension at School
Super Street Fighter have been at the forefront of the new wave of rock and roll for five years and they’re celebrating in style with a rager at School Bar featuring 2018’s up-and-coming talent including a slew of bands on the cusp of breaking out big this year – new art punk troupe Wasted Laika, post-punk group The White Paper, post-rockers Acid Accident, female-fronted indie rock outfit New Generation, street punks DaoCi, and pop rockers 5th Dimension, and Bye Bye Noise on opening duties. That’s bang for your buck right there. RMB 80

Nine Treasures, Liberation at Tango
Things get heavy with China’s favorite melodic pagan metal outfit Nine Treasures – the Inner Mongolian throat singing thrashers whose Metallic with an erhu twist has made them global favorites at festivals around the world. They’ll be finishing off their nationwide tour with the help of guest band Liberation. RMB 200

Ajinai at Omni Space
Omni Space 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. They’ll be releasing their newest album Heavenly Wind and hitting the road. RMB 120

Dungeon Beijing, N-Bomb, Saber, Da Wutong, Jiao Jin, DJ Wesley at Mao Livehouse
Two evenings in a row of rap in Wukesong, proving once again to follow the cash when you’re organizing a gig. Expect a large turnout for some of Beijing’s own homegrown talent, including the nominated rap collective Dungeon Beijing featuring N-Bomb, Saber, duo Jaio Jin and much more. RMB 120

Wang Juan at DDC
One of the folk scene’s most pristine and celebrated singer-songwriters, Wang Juan, gives an intimate performance this afternoon at DDC. The esteemed folk ballad writer who founded Owl Bar in 2000 and was a constant presence at the renowned River Bar, has recently been incorporating more rock elements in her shows through her captivating voice remains front and center. 3pm start. RMB 80

Ember Swift, Just Cellin’ at DDC
Known for her unique, jazz-influenced guitar playing and elastic vocals, the Canadian born Beijing based singer-songwriter Ember Swift has been a fixture of the Beijing music scene for years releasing an array of LPs and melding Mandarin, English, and French into one intoxicating package. Catch her and her full band tonight with support from the threesome cello group Just Chellin’. RMB 60

Roan (Poland), Bang Bang Mary at Temple
This Year for a 2nd time The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation (WOSP) will be back in China to share its joy and mission, supporting children and geriatric wards. For the occasion Polish hard rock outfit Roan, who have toured the globe and performed at Open Air Wacken Festival, will perform alongside Beijing’s own Bang Bang Mary. FREE

Next Door Band, Gentle Grapes, Dream Garden, Magic Mama at Yugong Yishan
Yugong Yishan hosts sure-fire indie pop contenders Next Door Band, Gentle Grapes, Dream Garden, and Magic Mama, who have all carved out their own large fanbases with their infectious, mainstream brand of pop flavor. RMB 120

Tulegur at Caravan
Tulegur, the veteran Inner Mongolian folk-rock duo whose grungy revisionist take on throat-singing and the rich Inner Mongolian musical tradition, mixed with modern acoustic rock influences, has won acclaim both here and aboard, performs tonight at the Moroccan hotspot. RMB 70

The Peppercorns at Kirin Place
Kirin Place in Wangjing seems to have finally found its footing with a steady stream of weekend showcases – tonight they host psychedelic rockers and theremin lovers The Peppercorns. FREE

Hou Kang, Kaile at Blue Stream Bar
Soulful indie guitarist from Northern China Hou Kang joins folk artist and producer Kaile for an intimate acoustic outing at Blue Stream. Ladies get in for free (men’s tickets include a drink). FREE

Seesaw at Jianghu Bar
The original fusion jazz quartet, made up of locals and foreigners, have a wealth of performance experience and work in different styles, mixing swing, bebop and much more with improvisational glee. RMB 60

Li Er Yang, Yan Baizhou, Xiao Wanzi at Mogu Space
A trio of acoustic singer-songwriters with vastly different backgrounds take the stage including the 70s invoking rockers Li Er Yang, folk-pop singers Xiao Wanzi and more. RMB 60

Uighur Sama at Modernista
A mixture of traditional Arabic songs and lively Spanish rumba classics, with lyrics both in English and Uyghur, Uighur Sama continue bringing the energetic sounds of Xinjiang to China´s capital. FREE

Zhao Xuyang, Zhao Wenyuan at La Plantation
Catch a special cello and piano recital by China's Orchestra Academy at Central Conservatory of Music professors Zhao Xuyang and Zhao Wenyuan at La Plantation this evening. RMB 200

Freddy Cole (US) at Blue Note
Atlanta blues and jazz musician Freddy Cole, the brother of Nat King Cole, who grew up with musical luminaries like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Lionel Hampton and has recorded several European and English albums plays at Blue Note this weekend. RMB 400
 

Sunday, Jan 7

The Hotline, 4 Channels Club, DJ Ma Gin, Pei at Mao Livehouse
It’s A Sad Robot Party! Come celebrate the lonely existence of artificial intelligence with this madcap themed afternoon into evening party in Wukesong where four artists including Chairman Ca, Liu Sha, Mona, and Jin Lu will exhibit their work and comment on technology’s lonesome side before a DJ party kicks off with Ma Gin Tonic (singer and producer of the always fabulous Pacalolo) and Pei (of Bye Bye Disco) followed by the pulsating 8-bit and electro rock tunes of 4 Channel Club and The Hotline, two bands who definitely understand the plight of the sad robot. Plus a screening of It Is My Fault – an experimental cartoon directed by Liu Sha and scored by 4 Channels Club. Let’s cheer up our robot buds!

The Chameleons (UK), Birdstriking at Yugong Yishan
YGYS better get their shit together cause UK cult royalty is rolling through in the form of The Chameleons, the brooding melodic guitar-swirling rockers whom many cite bridged the post-punk proletariats and the new wave creeds in the mid-'80s with their landmark debut Script of the Bridge. After disbanding in the late 80s, the band re-emerged in the oughts with newfound determination and a growing fan base and have been charging forward ever since. Catch them at their first China stop. Support from Beijing’s own noise rock favorites Birdstriking. Read our interview with The Chameleons' lead singer Mark Burgess here. RMB 200

Miao at DDC
Sensitive but not contrived, direct but not impetuous, low-key with rock 'n' roll in its soul, rustic indie rock outfit Miao give a special unplugged performance tonight at DDC. RMB 60

Awake Mountains, General of the Kids, Kepler at School Bar
Finish off the weekend with a night of metalcore and heavy metal music courtesy of metalheads Awake Mountains, industrial metal band General of the Kids, and hard rock ruffians Kepler!

Danni, Ma Yuyang at Yue Space
Welcome the new year with kindness and warm-hearted folk tunes courtesy of folk-pop singer-songwriter Danni and Ma Yuyang, whose lush, melodic feel-good tunes will put you on the right path toward redemption! Cleanse your soul! RMB 100

In-Sensitive at Mogu Space
The jazz act Insensitive have performed at some of Beijing’s top livehouses, including DDC, playing variations and improvisations on jazz standards. The atypical lineup includes two guitars, two alto saxes, bass, jazz drums and Liu Tianyang on vocals. RMB 60

Coin Locker, The Eleventh Floor, F.E at Blue Stream
Catch genre-bending three-piece rock group The Coin Locker, who describe their sound as noisy nostalgia, Chicago blues-inspired group The Eleventh Floor and indie rockers F.E. this evening. FREE

Photos: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers