Noise Pollution: Festivals Galore and More This Mid-Autumn

Well, I might have spoken too soon last week, cause this is how to properly overstuff a weekend with live shows. It helps that it's a holiday Monday, cause no one is holding back this weekend – in fact, some of the lesser-known frequented venues are actually starting to pick up the slack (perhaps due to the dead elephant in the scene). One thing's for sure, it's an exciting time for you folks looking to get in your live music kicks.
 

Friday Sep 21

Panic Worm, Backspace, Wasted Laika at DDC
A madcap knot of manic, sardonic, and slightly deranged stream-of-conscious melodies and razor-sharp arrangements, the Wuhan post-punk outfit Panic Worm have made quite the name for themselves this year with their signing to Ruby Eyes Records and their subsequent debut release Elusive Magic. Imagine Mark E. Smith paired with the slacker rock sensibilities of Pavement and Sonic Youth and you’d only get a sense of the absurd grace at hand here – beautifully rendered paranoia that oozes with dangerous allure and leads way to a raucous combustible center. Read our interview with Panic Worm guitarist Ryan Blankley ahead of their gig here. RMB 90

Saisa (JP) at Yue Space
The Japanese post-rock group Saisa takes their sound seriously. With three albums and three tours under their belt, the keyboard-guitar-vocal-drums quartet recently added a full-time sound producer to their line up, taking one more step to perfect their sound. They’re back in China touring in support of their newest album Melancholy Fado. RMB 120

Next Door Band, Hz, Gentle Grape, White Papers, No. 2 Tool at 13 Club
13 Club in Wudaokou is hungrier than ever and they’ve rounded out a surefire batch of bands guaranteed to bring a crowd and guaranteed to make some noise - including pop-punk veterans Next Door Band, post-punk ruffians The White Papers, and more. 7pm start. RMB 100

Residence A, Perpetual Motion Machine, Bye Bye Noise, Laisee, The Diagon Alley, Brickleberry at Laifu Livehouse
Speaking of being hungry – Shuangjing’s Laifu Livehouse has let up one bit this year and they’re only getting stronger. A bill typically reserved for Yugong Yishan now is handed over to its new southern neighbor, and it’s a scorcher. Indie rock powerhouses Residence A, old-school Chinese rockers Perpetual Motion Machine, and hardcore aerobatics Laisee are only just the tip of the iceberg. RMB 120

Joy Conch at La Plantation
Joy Conch is the first Chinese blessing music group. Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the state council, the five-piece group who hail from the Tibet, combine folk music and Buddhist chants, creating a sound both natural and melodious giving listeners a sense of belief and release. RMB 200

Medusa’s Child (Germany), War/N/T (US), Bong of Spirit at Temple
German melodic metal outfit Medusa’s Child, has amassed fans all around Europe since their humble beginnings in 1999. They return to China before the release of their fifth studio album. On support will be American punk rock outfit War/N/T as well as Beijing’s own Bong of Spirit, who win on name alone. FREE

DSM, Swaggie, Buzzy, FrankiD, Xiao Jingling, Tiger朱孟德, DJ Joezzz at School
The famous Jiangsu hip-hop artist and founder of Yangzhou rap, DSM AKA Desmond, brings his 10 years in the making, hot-blooded confidence to School Bar with the support of his friends and some of Beijing’s local talent. RMB 100

Echo Flower, Dynamic Duo at Caravan 
An evening of R&B duos at Caravan – with the ever-soulful Echo Flower featuring Orlinda's soulful vocals and Keith's accompanying bluesy guitar and the debut of Dynamic Duo, made up of Tarusha and Fabrice. FREE

Temple do Samba at Jianghu Bar
Temple do Samba have been pushing the Brazilian music culture in China, growing from a handful of people to a full-blown group of samba professionals with over 55 active members. Catch the enchanting sounds of pagode (a sub-branch of Bossanova, samba, and Latin flavors) this evening. RMB 80

MC GuangGuang, Kc, G.G at Mao Livehouse
MC Light AKA MC GuangGuang has been in the game since hip-hop was even a thing in China. Getting his start in 2003, he has been witness to the ebbs and flow of the scene, keeping it real each step of the way. He stomps through Beijing as part of his nationwide tour. RMB 150

Hybrid Theory, Soul Mate at BSP Livehouse
Hitting the sweet spot between the melody of pop music and the sharpness of Chinese rock culture, Hybrid Theory may be heavy but they’ll win you over in no time. They join Soul Mate tonight at the Chaoyangmen spot. RMB

SmallWan at Omni Space
Su Miaoling AKA SmallWan is part of the new generation of Chinese singers making their more on the Mandarin and Cantonese pop scene. Hailing from the Guangdong province, she has a unique low-pitched voice that made her a national sensation. RMB 300

Lu Na & Hao Zi at Mogu Space
The folk-pop duo bring their upbeat, soft-spoken music to Xizhimen as part of their nationwide tour. RMB 80
 

Saturday, Sep 22

Upstream Gaze (Day 1): Birdstriking, Fazi, Default, Mirrors, Last Goodbye at Omni Space
This weekend Beijing’s Noise & Shoegaze & Psychedelic Festival (now known as Upstream Gaze) returns to Omni Space, providing audiences with an opportunity to catch some of the country’s most exciting and dangerously alluring indie rocks bands – night one features Xi’an melodic post-punk favorites Fazi, Shanghai psychedelic pile-drivers Mirrors, as well as Beijing’s own noise rockers Birdstirking, plus shoegaze outfits Default and Last Goodbye. Read more about what to expect here. RMB 130

The Geeks (SK), Struggle Session, Anti-Dogs, Return The Truth, Last Chance of Youth, What A Beautiful Day, Last Resort, Shave’N’Shut, Dagger, Defeat the Giant at 13 Club 
The China Hardcore Music Festival celebrates seven years doing what it does best - putting together a group of volatile bands, capping and screaming their message to fans. And this year is looking quite epic – particularly with the inclusion of South Korea’s number one hardcore band The Geeks, who have been going strong for twenty years, in their China debut. The mosh pit doesn’t end though. Audiences will also be treated to sets from Shenzhen’s What A Beautiful Day, Shanghai’s Anti-Dogs (made of ex-members of the renowned Top Floor Circus) and plenty of local talent as well. Get at it. 7pm start. RMB 150

Sucker, Hangnail, Holy Shit at School
Longstanding old school punk outfit Sucker, from the great city of Xi’an, return to Beijing as part of their ‘One Thousand Bottles of Beer’ tour supporting their new album – and best believe it’s gonna get ruddy. Expect a beer-soaked rambunctious evening of pure unadulterated punk music with shades of ska, reggae, and hard rock – support from our very own Holy Shit and Hang Nail. RMB 100

Maybe Noise Festival (Day 1): Zhu Wenbo, Jun-Y Ciao, Li Zenghui, Zhang Shouwang and Yan Yulong at Beijing Minsheng Art Museum
Maybe Noise Records – the new avant-garde contemporary music label (made up of some of Maybe Mars most influential characters) throw its first big event – the Maybe Noise Festival – ‘a festival of unknowns and uncertainties’ which will showcase a variety of composers who share a background in experimental music. Focused on the idea of ‘composition,’ the two-day event will look at ‘pieces’ from some of the scene’s best, some of which have been taking shape over the last few years. Day one showcases Zhu Wenbo, Jun-Y Ciao, Li Zenghui, Zhang Shouwang, and Yan Yulong. 8pm start. RMB 100 (RMB 150 for both days)

Saycet (FR), 4 Channels Club at Mao Livehouse
Saycet - the project of Pierre Lefeuvre, the French music composer hailing from Paris who cut his teeth listening to Boards of Canada and Múm, brings his atmospheric abstract, dreamlike and intoxicating soundscapes to Mao Livehouse. He’ll be performing with vocalist Phoene Somsavath as the two create vivid arrangements that brand out into experimental pop. RMB 150

Pizza Face, Bang Bang Mary, Showhand at Temple
‘You know Ian – he’s our really buff bartender.’ Love Temple Bar and their acknowledgment that we all do in fact, know Ian. And buff he is (though I recall a time when Ian was just a young man without a sixpack) and his birthday we shall celebrate with a righteous, rowdy batch of up and comers including Pizza Face, Bang Bang Mary, and Showhand. FREE

Rhonda, Penguin, Dawei & The Social Poets, The Glamour Manifesto at DDC
Hard-hitting instrumental rock, socially conscious and inflamed funk hip hop, industrial electro-rock, and a fresh on the scene drum and guitar duo looking to make some noise – all the makings of a righteous Saturday evening at none other than DDC. RMB 80

Vader (PO), Hate (PO), Thy Disease(PO) at Laifu Livehouse
Mort Productions welcomes three Polish heavyweight in the metal scene – Vader (death metal), Hate (death/black metal), and Thy Disease (industrial groove metal) who have been creating chaos for over 25 years. RMB 480

Time Capsule, H.O.G, All Unknown, Summer Warz, Qiong Ke at BSP Livehouse
Picking up a bit of the slack it seems – BSP Livehouse in Chaoyangmen has to offer a pretty appetizing bill featuring a bit of something for everyone – from pop punk outfit All Unknown, to indie pop kids Time Capsule, and funk hip-hop troupe H.O.G. RMB 100

Daowuji, echoloop, Li Er Yang x Zhang An, Wu Gui at Soi Baochao
Dubbed a free art organization and a common artistic concept. The Kaleidoscope kicks off tonight with first an art market at Soi Baochao before terraforming into a late evening of poetry, improvisational music, and more with sets from Wu Gui, Li Er Yang and Zhang An, echoloop, and band Daowuji. Digging the concept. 7pm start. FREE

Bayan Dalai, Ding Chenchen at fRUITYSPACE
The Inner Mongolian singer-songwriter Bayan Dalai, frontman for Horse Radio and formerly december3am deeps into his improvisational tendencies alongside noise maker and destroyer of worlds Ding Chen Chen. RMB 40

Ida Neilsen & The Funkbots (Netherlands) at Blue Note
The Danish bass player, composer, and singer Ida Nielsen, who got her start when music legend Prince discovered her in 2010, comes to Blue Note this weekend. With three releases under her belt and a fourth one due later this fall, her music is best described as a mix of old school funk and hip-hop spiced up with elements from reggae and world music. RMB 160-400

Saso feat. Spirit Rebellious at Caravan
Formed of members from various parts of Africa but blending the music of all cultures Saso and the Spirit Rebellious look to bring a good time to Caravan tonight. RMB 50

The Flip Side at Modernista
The Flip Side is Beijing’s only live disco band. Bring your boogie shoes and come prepared to freak out, shake your booty, get jiggy with it and celebrate good times and a weekend kick off! FREE

Liu Donghong at Mogu Space
Liu Donghong, dusty blues singer of Sand, China’s first ‘cold rock’ band, and a scene player for over 20 years gives an intimate performance in Xizhimen. RMB 80

T.S.T, Mountain Pepper Fish, Cypher T at Jianghu Bar
The cozy hutong Jianghu Bar mixes it up tonight with a bit of pop-blues from T.S.T, some funk courtesy of Mountain Pepper Fish, and some hip-hop via Cypher T. Color me intrigued. RMB 70
 

Sunday, Sep 23

Rye Music Festival (Day 1) at Changyang Music Theme Park
Fall season festival season is upon us and while we’re not quite back to the good ol’ days, there’s something nice about there being a new player in town and the Rye Music Festival, hosted by Taihe (among others) is no small apples. Held at the Changyang Music Theme Park (where the Grammy Festival was held this spring) it features an array of Chinese and International acts. Day one welcomes Austrian black metal band Harakiri for the Sky, indie rock stalwarts Carsick Cars, Chinese rock and roll favorites Second Hand Rose, Hedgehog, Buyi, and much more. 1pm start. RMB 360

The 尺口MP, Gatsby in a Daze, Baihu, Boiled Hippo at Omni Space
This weekend Beijing’s Noise & Shoegaze & Psychedelic Festival returns to Omni Space, providing audiences with an opportunity to catch some of the country’s most exciting and dangerously alluring indie rocks bands – night two features Fuzhou leisure-pop trio The 尺口MP, Hangzhou lo-fi noise rockers Gatsby in a Daze, as well as Beijing’s own Baihu and Boiled Hippo. Read more about what to expect here. RMB 130

Maybe Noise Festival (Day 2): Li Song, Weiwei, Sheng Jie, Meng Qi, Yan Jun at Beijing Minsheng Art Museum
Maybe Noise Records – the new avant-garde contemporary music label (made up of some of Maybe Mars most influential characters) throw its first big event – the Maybe Noise Festival – ‘a festival of unknowns and uncertainties’ which will showcase a variety of composers who share a background in experimental music. Focused on the idea of ‘composition’, the two-day event will look at ‘pieces’ from some of the scene’s best, some of which have been taking shape over the last few years. Day two features Li Song, Weiwei, Sheng Jie, Meng Qi, and Yan Jun. 8pm start. RMB 100 (RMB 150 for two days)

H.O.G, Pacalolo, Joker's Belief, Boss Cuts, End of The World at School
School celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with a two-day bash full of music with one goal in mind – getting you moving. Day one is most certainly up to the occasion with sets from electro-rock faves Pacalolo, surf rock outfit Boss Cuts, longstanding ska troupe End of the World, rap funk crew H.O.G and funk groove slayers Joker’s Belief. RMB 80

Mariyah (DK), Pure, Anxt at DDC
Experienced Danish/Lebanese singer and performer Mariyah, who’s based in Denmark and dabbles in gypsy-infused electronic pop, returns to China after two successful tours in 2017. She’s supported by grunge pranksters Pure and electronic producer anxt (of Macondø). RMB 60

Nate Nathan & Mechanica at Yue Space
Nate Nathan (Nene) is a musical elf, indie musician, and producer from California, whose influences gospel and jazz music join fellow Californian live coding and electronic sci-pop producer Dr. Mechanica. RMB 120

Ida Neilsen and The Funkbots (Netherlands) at Blue Note
The Danish bass player, composer, and singer Ida Nielsen, who got her start when music legend Prince discovered her in 2010, comes to Blue Note this weekend. With three releases under her belt and a fourth one due later this fall, her music is best described as a mix of old school funk and hip-hop spiced up with elements from reggae and world music. RMB 160-400

Silent, Titan, Jezzy, Rebelu, Gui Fu, Dabao Kate, Bai Huzi, Deng Pao, Wan Ping at Soi Baochao
It’s an onslaught of hip-hop tonight with rappers from all corners of Beijing converging on Baochao Hutong for an evening of battles and quick-fire rhymes. RMB 80

Spinning Glasshouse, Mystery at Mogu Space
Veteran indie pop band Spinning Glasshouse bring some charm to this holiday evening alongside female singer-songwriter Mystery. RMB 60

The Mantras at Modernista
It's time for one more relaxing Sunday of jazz goodness featuring the always-reliable The Mantras. FREE
 

Monday, Sep 24

Rye Music Festival (Day 2) at Changyang Music Theme Park
Fall season festival season is upon us and while we’re not quite back to the good ol’ days, there’s something nice about there being a new player in town and the Rye Music Festival, hosted by Taihe (among others) is no small apples. Held at the Changyang Music Theme Park (where the Grammy Festival was held this spring) it features an array of Chinese and International acts. Day two welcomes Sweden indie rock hitmakers The Royal Concept, Nanjing indie rock trio School Girl Byebye, Japanese psychedelic rock troupe Kikagaku Moyo, Taiwan lyrist HUSH, and much more. 1pm start. RMB 360 
 

Want to cut a rug instead? Check out this weekend's nightlife offerings here.
 

Photos: Will Griffith, courtesy of the promoters