Noise Pollution: The Big Wave, Absolute Purity, Octopoulpe, FrankiD, Spill Your Guts, Allan Harris
Another luscious bountiful weekend for all you music lovers out there, as the tease of spring brings out musical acts of walks of life – from Japanese indietronica, to tentacled renegades from Korea and the Beijing debut of one of this year's most hyped bands. So toss off that scarf, lose the long johns, and soak it up!
Friday, Mar 23
The Big Wave at Tango
Beijing-based new wave synth-pop outfit, The Big Wave, with a fetish for New Order-esque soundscapes and cryptic (stilted and loving it) lyrics are back in fighting mode and are ready to unveil their new album Blue Face and more importantly their new four-person lineup which features none other than Atom (of Hedgehog and Nova Heart) on drums. The band teases a darker more kinetic sound of their latest singles and I’m super curious as to what other tricks they have up their sleeve. RMB 100
Octopoulpe (KR), Hind Brain, Hang Nail at Temple
Everyone’s favorite Seoul-fried tentacled drummer returns to stir up glorious mayhem. Using an array of visual and sound bite tricks, the one-man band is truly a one of a kind act that needs to be seen to be believed. He’ll be joined by two of the punks scene’s rising stars, the explosive Hang Nail, and Hind Brain. FREE
We Lost the Sea (AUS), Macondo at Yue
New Noise hosts Australian progressive post-rock band We Lost the Sea – described as ‘an aural journey packed with emotion, tension, drifting highs and intense, crushing lows that treads an unexpected path.’ They’ll in town with their latest critically acclaimed album Departure Songs. Support from powerhouse instrumentalists Macondo fresh off their own debut. RMB 120
Templo de Samba at Caravan
Caravan, the tasty Moroccan restaurant and bar, celebrates three years of kicking ass with a music and rum-filled weekend as ‘the King of Beijing’ Badr unleashes the Kraken. Up first, Templo de Samba who will be on hand to infuse the evening with the enchanting sounds of a Pagode – Bossanova, Samba, and Latin flavors – it's gonna get mighty festive folks. RMB 80
Bayan Dalai, Andrew at Yichang Cafe
The Inner Mongolian singer-songwriter, former frontman for Horse Radio and guitarist of december3am, goes solo this evening bringing with him a bag full of emotionally resonate tunes from the grasslands. Plus a short set of original ballads from Andrew. Which Andrew is beyond me but whichever one I’m game. 7.30pm start. RMB 70
Inxu, Shi Xiaofei & Simple Lover, Micro Room Colossus at DDC
Hard hitting soundtrack instrumentalists Inxu return and they are joined by indietronica duo Shi Xiaofei and Simple Lover, as well as psychedelic electro-rock outfit Micro Room Colossus (if you can’t guess that’s a google translation right there) and some musical mischief. RMB 60
FrankiD, ChoCo, Li Yizhe, C-Jam at Omni Space
Sichuan hop-hop star FrankiD fresh off his debut release Heavenly King, hits the road with his motley crew of hype men and DJs and is looking to break waves over in Omni Space. RMB 150
Tavey Lean & The Solid Gold Machine, Moonglow Burlesque, Goodmoods, Eka Phoenix
Rock out to a good cause as Modernista raises money for Ms. Chen’s dog shelter in Tongzhou with an activity-filled evening that includes a dog photobooth, dance performances, raffle prizes, and live music from the Solid Gold team, Goodmoods, as well as a special dog-themed performance from the Moonglow Burlesque.
Click #15, Miss Mix, DJ Chong at Mao Livehouse
While Mao Livehouse hasn’t exactly been bringing the goods since they first opened in November of last year, it’s good to see them still going strong. Tonight they host Prince-invoking funk masters Click #15 and all-girl pop rockers Miss Mix – all followed by a rock and roll DJ party. RMB 80
Bang Bang Mary at Soi Baochao
Aiming to shoot up dance floors with tunes that will have the audience sweaty and exhausted, the four-piece rock outfit, made up of one Brit and three South Africans draw influence from artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Fokofpolisiekar, and Pretty Vicious. Catch them tonight on Baochao alongside Haikou raised singer-songwriter A Ke. RMB 55
Hugejiletu at La Plantation
Hanggai co-founder and bandleader of Ajinai, as well as a frequent collaborator with Dawanggang, hailing from Inner Mongolia's ZaLute prairie, Hugejiletu is one of China's most well-known representatives of Mongolian music traditions. He joins Texas drummer and mandolin player Parker Trevathan. RMB 200
Tsering, Lao Fan, Li Zhixi at Jianghu Bar
Tibetan folk artist Tsering Norbu hits up Jianghu Bar with his music that’s rooted in the traditional Tibetan folk traditions from Lhasa, alongside folk singers Lao Fan and Li Zhixi. RMB 60
Make Tuzhou at Mogu Space
Poet, avant-garde folk-rock singer and avid exploring of sounds, Make Tuzhou, fresh off a 2017 summer debut release, looks to exercise some demons and lay it all bare this evening at the Xizhimen space.
Zhang Dangdang, Soft Sound Bank, Lattice at Blue Stream Bar
Indie pop, soft rock, and folk tunes to mellow out to as Blue Stream celebrates the coming of spring, and more importantly, all that spring cleaning you best be getting into soon. RMB 80
Nicole Ding, Zheng Zhi at 69 Café
Taiwanese jazz singer Nicole Ding joins fellow female singer Zheng Zhi for an evening of warm story-telling tunes. RMB 80
Saturday, Mar 24
Absolute Purity, Boiled Hippo, Li Jianhong, Run Run Run at DDC
Bound in contrast and contradictions, Absolute Purity pairs fierce desperation against melancholy and innocence. The Shanghai band, headed by Wen Jun, the former singer for Beijing cult post-punk band Guai Li, has been quietly honing their sound in their home of Shanghai (read the complete interview here) and will be making their Beijing debut this Saturday at DDC where they'll be joined by Beijing’s most radical and offbeat noisemakers including psychedelic world music groovers Boiled Hippo, Guiyang raised rock and roll soundscapers Run Run Run and guitar demi-god Li Jianhong. RMB 70/100
Moxizishi at Yue Space
Beijing-based Yi (that’s southwestern Sichuan) musician Moxizishi, has been steadily making a name for himself these past five years, most recently playing at South by Southwest Music Festival in the US. Utilizing the rhythm and vocal stylings of traditional Yi minority music and injecting it with an experimental even improvisational energy that allows the songs to organically find a poetic nirvana. He’ll be unleashing his latest tonight at Yue Space. Head early to check out a photo exhibition and film screening. RMB 180
Sevdaliza (NL), Fishdoll, Zhe Lainu at Omni Space
This Iranian-Dutch rising star brings her experimental left-field pop and boundary-pushing take on alt-R&B to Omni Space. Drawing from Portishead to Bjork, the singer bounces around from smoky jazz to trip-hop whilst creating a deep, downtempo world of sound and melody that's downright hypnotic. Support from two distinct female artists – '90s-invoking hip-hop artist Fishdoll and Silk Road world fusion artist Zhe Lainu. Read about our recent attempted interview with Sevdaliza here. RMB 350
The Harridans, Early Bus at Caravan
Release the Kraken! Caravan continues its three year anniversary with a Kraken themed rum-soaked party headlined this evening by the ever righteous minstrel rock favorites The Harridans and ska legends Early Bus. Expect good vibes, good tunes and rum shots galore. RMB 80
Spill Your Guts, Octopoulpe (KR), Struggle Session, Stinky Human Abuse to Subsist at School
Day two of Octopoulpe’s Beijing invasion and the one-man theatrical hardcore sea creature has company in the form of Shanghai hardcore stalwarts Spill Your Guts in town strutting their stuff and creating as much glorious chaos as possible. On hand also will be fellow hardcore brothers in arms Struggle Session and the aptly named Stinky Humans Abuse to Subsist. RMB 80
Click #15, Tydi Knots, Sardine is Back and the Wheel is Broken, New Generation at Temple
A slap-dash lineup that holds a lot of promise, genre-wise this baby is all over the place – with neon light funk joining bombastic indie rock, shoegaze-y post-rock and schizoid improv jams - with veterans and up and comers sharing the stage. FREE
Tsenjen, Kinkorgasm at Yichang Cafe
‘KTV meets Kenny G in Berlin circa 1999’ – that’s just a taste of the musical mayhem in store when you check out saxophonist Tsenjen’s latest otherworldly project that mixes dance music, free jazz, and everything else. He’ll join coldwave artist Kinkorgasm for off-beat evening at the cafe. 7.30pm start. RMB 70
Atelier II at Magnet Theater
'Interested in addressing the paradox of being out of nature and at the same time hopelessly in it,' Atelier II, the electronic drone duo made up of Alex Damboianu and Huang Huan, bring their latest audio-visual experience to the theater space in Wangjing. Expect to be immersed. 4pm start.
By Dream, Acid Accident at Soi Baochao
Bringing together a range of influences from indie to post-rock, these two instrumental outfits look to create an ambient, post-rock sound experience this evening at the Baochao dive. RMB 55
Dongzi at Valley Residency
Folk legend Dongzi throws celebrates his latest album, three years in the making, entitled Yun Meng (Cloud Dreaming) the music residency space of urban folk band Valley Children. Expect to be moved by his melancholic voice as his songs tell of the lives of a generation – “each song captures the essence of days past, every yesterday, and every day as it comes." It’s out in the sticks so be sure to check out the link if you’re adventurous enough. RMB 200
Vinida at Tango
Since emerging on the stage of ‘China’s New Song’ in late 2016, pop rapper Vinida star has only risen. By the end of 2017, she had joined Modernsky Sky and released her debut album. Now her first tour. Does she have what it takes? Oh, wait sold out.
Hang Tian at Mao Livehouse
For two decades singer Hang Tian has responded to the question of ‘What’s Normal’ with personal experience. The blues rockers, a staple of the scene has been scraping away at the scene, finding new meaning in the age-all question. He returns to the stage with his band in Wukesong. RMB 100
Allan Harris (US) at Blue Note
Award-winning Jazz vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter from Harlem, New York. Described as having a “formidable baritone with … husky edges and deep resonant low notes,” and Harris has been called a protean talent. He’ll be hanging at Blue Note this weekend. RMB 320
Artis (Germany) at La Plantation
True to their motto ‘the guitar is an orchestra’ the young German guitar duo Artis, cover a whole color range on their instruments and play completely by heart. RMB 200
The Basement at Modernista
The Basement, the multi-national rock and soul outfit, ‘united through serendipity and the love of music’ get down with it over at Modernista. FREE
Ban, Hz, Hua Qiang, Left Behind Children at 13 Club
Young and fit, that’s the name of the game at 13 Club this evening as the Wudaokou veteran venue hosts a team of rough and tough adolescent renegades. RMB 80
Horsefeather, Great Buffalo Blues at Hot Cat Club
Indie expat band Horsefeather gives a final riotous show at Hot Cat Club before bidding Beijing farewell and riding off into the sunset. Support from Great Buffalo Blues. FREE
The Mac Daddies at Home Plate
Get as close to being American as you can comfortably get and head to Home Plates rodeo party complete with a full spread buffet, a mechanical bull and live music courtesy of the Mac Daddies. FREE
Rudra’s Sage at Mogu Space
The Philippines born sitar player Rudra’s Sage, a scene regular since the heydays of River Bar in Sanlitun, performs tonight playing a diverse set including Indian traditional folk songs and rearrangements of Beatles tunes. RMB 66
Nathaniel Gao at East Shore Cafe
A key contributor to the local jazz scene as both a co-leader of the quintet Red Hand as well as a leader of his own quartet and trio, catch saxophonist and composer Nathaniel Gao this evening in Houhai. FREE
Joker’s Belief at Kirin Place
This five-piece fuse of funk, rock, and neo-soul, and all hark from five different nations. A decent reason to hit up Wangjing for some fun (don't forget to hit up Cheers). FREE
Yue Lin aka Gabrielle at Mogu Space
Indie folk artist continues her transformation into an artist to look out for as performs at 69 Café in Wudaokou. RMB 88
Sunday, Mar 25
Low Bow, Oldy Baby, Duff Beer at School
Garage rock mindset this Sunday as Irish madman Richard Doran is back in town with his blues/punk/lo-fi/garage/or however you want to classify it outfit Low Bow that used to get into all sorts of hijinks. Joining them are rock 'n' roll lovers playing punky bluesy tunes Oldy Baby and the punk rock vibing Duff Beer. RMB 40
Hind Brain, OWAT, Drunkard, Magic Mama, V’Agent, Sophia’s Garden, Xia, Zi Huan at 798 Livehouse
798 Livehouse is dusty off the amps and getting some spring cleaning done with a respectfully rowdy lineup of some of the scene’s most reliable rockers – from indie-pop outfit Sophia’s Garden, to punk ruffians Hind Brain, and many more, there’s a bit of something for everyone. 3.30pm start. RMB 120
Theory of Relativity at Yue Space
Charming indie pop outfit Theory of Relativity appear at Yue Space for a special unplugged performance of their new album Leave My Love Behind full of, you guessed it, songs of yearning and heartbreak and the soundtrack to droves of young adults. RMB 100
Fei & Futuretro at DDC
Get a heavy dose of soul jazz fusion with Futuretro, headed by singer Yu Mengfei who’ll be delivering some sultry singles with her skilled band members. RMB 60
Krassimira Jordan, Xie Wei at La Plantation
Two masters of the piano, Krassimira Jordan, an Artist-in-Residence and Professor of Piano at Baylor University, and the Shanghai-raised Xie Wie have a piano face off at La Plantation. Or whatever two pianists do when they get together. RMB 200
Allan Harris (US) at Blue Note
Award-winning Jazz vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter from Harlem, New York. Described as having a “formidable baritone with … husky edges and deep resonant low notes,” and Harris has been called a protean talent. He’ll be hanging at Blue Note this weekend. RMB 320
Nicole Ding, Han Yong Jian at Blue Stream
The Taiwanese singer continues her tear through Beijing with a stop at the cozy Blue Stream alongside fellow folk singer-songwriter Han Yong Jian. RMB 80
Gao Ge, Juan Ni, Zeng Zhouga at Mogu Space
The ladies take over Mogu Space this Sunday evening including Lhasa musician Zeng Zhuoga, Juan Ni, and Gao Ge, the lead singer, and guitarist of the band Whistle. 60 RMB
Li Eryang, Rudra’s Sage at 69 Cafe
Hear Bob Dylan classics and deeper cuts performed by Li Eryang and Rudra’s Sage at 69 Cafe this Saturday. Fans of classic folk will enjoy loving performances by the '60s-inspired rocker Li and star sitar player Rudra’s Sage. RMB 66
Siego at Modernista
Japanese drum master Siego looks once again to fuse techno and jazz and cook up even more delightful ideas this evening at Modernista. FREE
Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers
