Noise Pollution: Broncho, Lonely Leary, WHAI, Sick Fungo, Punk Rocker Labor Union, Naughty Professor

Despite winter creeping up on us quicker than usual, Beijing is getting back in the swing of things and heating things up on the music front, with a weekend full of dynamic shows for all tastes. Garage rock, shoegaze, post-punk, and grassland rock – there are more genres out there than you could shake a stick at for yet another righteous weekend in the muck.

Friday, Oct 18

Broncho (US), COM’Z (TW), Default, Endless White, The Bootlegs Young, and Dumb at Omni Space 
Beam! Beam! – the juggernaut series that brings together some of the indie scene’s most sought after characters makes its way to Beijing with an exceptional showcase of what’s trending. Headlining are Oklahoma-based outfit Broncho (read our recent interview with them here), whose frizzled and animated garage pop is downright infectious. Joining them are Xi’an shoegaze noise-rockers Endless White and Young & Dumb, as well as breakout jangle-pop trio The Bootlegs out of Qingdao. Rounding out the lineup are Beijing’s own shoegaze hitmakers Default and Taipei indie-poppers COM’Z. RMB 240 

Lonely Leary, Backspace, Yang Ji at School 
All killer and no filler on this riotous lineup featuring two of our favorite acts - jangly post-punk renegades Lonely Leary whose jagged edges and propulsive melodies have been igniting crowds for years – and infectious noise rock quartet Backspace, whose psychedelic-swirling indie rock remains a delight. Rounding out the eve is former Hangzhou based electro-pop artist YangJi, whose deranged and offbeat debut this summer is truly something. RMB 90

WHAI, Prost, Wasted Laika at Temple 
Everyone’s favorite prog-rock group WHAI, who have been together since 2012 and have committed themselves to their heavy, offbeat brand of psychedelic rock and roll are back and with the help of righteous art-punk outfit Wasted Laika and Prost for a dangerously alluring evening at Temple that’ll take no prisoners. FREE 

Beijing Pizza Fest
If you haven't heard, there's a toga-themed pizza bonanza taking place on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend at Galaxy Soho. More pertinent to Noise Pollution, the Beijinger-run event will have an attendee-led singing challenge as well as several Beijing acts, including one-woman band and jazz vocalist SJ Benne,  feel-good pop-rock outfit Gin·Ko, and no-holds-barred punk rockers Pizza Face. 11am start. RMB 25 (tickets here)

Nocturnes, Li Nan at DDC 
The atmospheric, sultry, and immersive indietronica duo Nocturnes take to the stage one last time this year to unveil new songs from their upcoming EP Poetic Irony, which finds the band actively pushing their sound in new directions. They’ll be joined by Li Nan, the riotous percussionist of Da Bang, as well as their guitarist Liu Shuang. RMB 80

The Scott Henderson Trio at Blue Note Beijing
Scott Henderson is one of the most important guitarists of the jazz history of the last 40 years. Since the years of Tribal Tech into successful albums like Well to the Bone or the most recent Vibe Station, considered by many as his masterpiece, this guitar player from Los Angeles has been always at the top of his generation. RMB 160-260

The Power Powder, Panda Eyes, LOFTHESTAR, XTINA, Sassa, E&M, YangYang, Sun Hao, Meng Fanming at MTA Space 
MTA tries its hand again at a 24-hour hoedown, which already has me exhausted. But while there’s a lot of filler and lulls in the day-long party, the sweet spot is in the evening when an array of bands and hip-hop artists take the stage including indie-pop trio The Power Powder, Panda Eyes, LOFTHESTAR, XTINA, Sassa, E&M, YangYang, Sun Hao and Meng Fanming. FREE

Lev Terskov at La Plantation 
Award-winning pianist, Lev Terskov, hailing from Krasnoyarsk, has been in the game since the ripe age of five, racking up degrees, accolades, and scholarships across Russia and beyond. RMB 200

Austin Mahone (US) at Tango 
The pop singer Austin Mahone got his start on YouTube covering pop songs, but has since released six albums and racked up several VMA awards. See the "Why Don’t We" and "Mmm Yeah" singer at s Tango tonight. RMB 488

Dr. V’Agent at Mao Livehouse 
Unlike traditional metal groups, Dr. V’Agent creates unique rhythms for each song and pairs their music with an A/V show, creating a performance that feels more like a stage play. Catch the industrial metal group in Wukesong tonight. RMB 100

Octopuss (Italy) at Soi Baochao
Catch funk-rock trio Octopuss – a European power trio of mind-blowing impact whose style, influenced by the sound of bands such as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Red Hot Chili Peppers, is one of a kind – over at Soi Baochao. RMB 80

Punk Rocker Labor Union (JP), The Tengokubatake Japon (JP), Liu Dongmong at 69 Cafe 
Japan takes over Changping’s 69 Café as Punk Rocker Labor Union and The Tengokubatake Japon look to stir up a frenzy alongside guest rocker Liu Dongmong of Sand. FREE 

Ni Jian at Yue Space
Don’t turn a blind eye to the exquisite charm and prose of indie-folk star Ni Jian. Born in Luoyang, the guitarist, pianist, and singer-songwriter has been building a rabid fanbase with his tender tunes. RMB 120

Dynamic Duo, Bang Bang Mary, Yu Zi Jun, and Zhang Ziwei at Caravan 
The acoustic folk duo Zhang Ziwei & Yu Zi Jun, that has immersed audiences over the past year with their unique blend of indie-pop and traditional folk, joins upbeat alternative rock outfit Bang Bang Mary and more this evening at Caravan. FREE

The Great Buffalo Blues at Jianghu Bar 
The electric duo that explores funk, blues, soul, and reggae are back at Jianghu with their unique musical style that’s unlike anything else. RMB 70

Sons of Thunder at Modernista 
Started by four members from Stevie Mac and the Mac Daddies, this new explosive cover band looks to indulge in everyone's favorite songs of the 2000s. FREE 

Lang Tianyi, Wu Sa at Mogu Space
Female singer-songwriter Lang Tianyi joins guitar-player and vocalist Wu Sa at Mogu Space for some acoustic-led melodies. FREE

Saturday, Oct 19

Sick Fungo, TOSS, Bye Bye Fish at School 
Feverish, charming and dangerously sexy all at once – alternative rockers Sink Fungo bring their affinity for destructive noise and bombast prowess whilst kicking ass and taking names to School. Hailing from the coastal city of Qingdao, the gloriously spastic, atmospheric and downright crunchy veterans are looking to stir up trouble alongside Beijing’s own grunge torchbearers TOSS and the intergalactic duo Bey Bye Fish. RMB 80

Punk Rocker Labor Union (JP), The Tengokubatake Japon (JP), Xiao Wang, Hang Nail at Temple 
Tonight freshly minted music label Blinding Elephant Beijing will present a punk rock showcase, featuring two Japanese punk bands Punk Rocker Labor Union and The Tengokubatake Japon, who’ll join two of Beijing’s most propulsive punk acts - kawaii core Xiao Wang and rallying punk rockers Hang Nail. Japan does punk like no one else so expect a wild one. FREE 

Wang Mai, Elf King, Dark Garden, AKA, AirFrenzy-1, L-Force, D9, Deeper Dog, HuaChaEr, Pigeon Captain at Soi Baochao 
Soi Baochao throws down and wild n’ out hip-hop party featuring a wide range of deviant characters looking to cook up a storm of free-wheeling verses over buoyant show-stopping beats. My money’s on Pigeon Captain (gē zǐ duìzhǎng) taking home the glory. RMB 100 

Beijing Pizza Fest
If you haven't heard, there's a toga-themed pizza bonanza taking place on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend at Galaxy Soho. More pertinent to Noise Pollution, the Beijinger-run event will have an attendee-led singing challenge as well as several Beijing acts, including one-woman band and jazz vocalist SJ Benne,  feel-good pop-rock outfit Gin·Ko, and no-holds-barred punk rockers Pizza Face. 11am start. RMB 25 (tickets here)

Crystal Lake (JP), Loathe (UK) at Tango
Crystal Lake is a Japanese metalcore band from Tokyo, formed in 2002. Since then, they’ve released several albums and toured internationally, including to festivals in Australia and the USA, and their very own headlining tour in the UK and Europe. Simply put, they’re one of Japan’s biggest metal export in years, and the release of their latest album Helix saw their star shine even brighter. Support from UK nu metal band Loathe. RMB 300

Ajinai at Jianghu Bar
Dwelling in the intersection of different music genres, long-standing Inner-Mongolian outfit Ajinai reveals their new lineup, featuring veteran horse-head fiddle player and singer Hugejiletu, bassist Jonathan Heeter and keyboardist Edoardo Gagliardi. Fusing together their diverse and rich backgrounds and styles to create something fresh and unique – transcendent grassland music with an electronic edge and a psychedelic gloss. RMB 100

Hooleeger, 3Bangz, Future Star at Mao Livehouse 
Wenzhou-raised rising rapper Hooleeger celebrates his birthday with a special performance in Wukesong. The artist has to operate in various genres, and was showcased on numerous shows, being he released his debut rap album earlier this year. Support from 3Bangz and Future Star. RMB 220

Jonas Seetoh at Yue Space 
City-pop jazz singer-songwriter Jonas Seetoh injects a youthful vitality to his breezy retro sound, sprinkling in a bit of 60s Golden Era jazz, 70s Motown, 90s Mandopop and contemporary R&B to create a palette that’s downright delicious. RMB 150 

Naughty Professor at Blue Note
The New Orleans-based jazz-funk sextet Naughty Professor appears at Blue Note this weekend bringing together New Orleans jazz, R&B, and brass-band traditions in high-energy performances that their audiences love. RMB 260-340

OMGC, Eric Allen Woodshed at Caravan 
The Outposts Gangster Motorcycle Club (OGMC) is pure rock attitude and country music. With a banjo in their lineup, they’ll bring you back to the music of the Wild Wild West – and with Americana regulars Eric Allen and company on hand – you can expect a whiskey-soaked evening. RMB 70

Nora Pierro Quartet at The Bricks 
Nora, originally from Salerno, in the south of Italy, is a well known and talented voice shining in the Chinese night sky. FREE

Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies at DDC
The ever-expanding (ten members deep at the moment) jazz-pop troupe Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies bring their vintage approach to contemporary music to DDC for some good times. FREE 

The Mantras at Modernista 
The Mantras, previously known as Parakeet, are back at their favorite place with an eclectic mix of genres - joining friends and foes at Modernista to make us dance away to their fusion of pop and jazz. 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 twenty years gives an intimate performance in Xizhimen. FREE

Sejin Bae Quartet at La Plantation 
Beijing based Korean pianist, Sejin Bae and her Quartet of talented musicians will share with us, melodic pieces from her new album, Direction. RMB 200

Sunday, Oct 20

Bliss Illusion, Deep Mountains, Xue Chen, Song of Chu at Yue Space 
Metal’s atmospheric offspring, that owes as much to shoegaze as it does to black metal and depressive rock, converges on Yue Space including post-black metal outfit, Bliss-Illusion, known for adding in Chinese Buddhist scriptures into their own songs, and fellow black metal renegades Deep Mountains, fresh off some stellar releases this year. Sleeper gig of the weekend. RMB 160 

POL, BANBANBANBAN at Fruityspace
Experimental Swiss electronic artist POL hit the road for a nationwide tour alongside Chinese music and game animator Ban Lei. The pair met in 2016 at the Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art, and will be presenting ‘INATENDO’ where they’ll use four handheld Nintendo DS electronic game consoles to perform on-the-spot improvisation of electronic experimental environment noise. RMB 60

Zi Huan, Purgatory, Drunkard, Tai Dan at School
Local promoters Rock Bros start the Halloween celebrations early with a devilishly heavy lineup tonight featuring seasoned legends Zi Huan, hard rock act Purgatory, grunge favorites Drunkard, and metal outfit Tai Dan. RMB 80

Naughty Professor at Blue Note
The New Orleans-based jazz-funk sextet Naughty Professor appears at Blue Note this weekend bringing together New Orleans jazz, R&B, and brass-band traditions in high-energy performances that their audiences love. RMB 260-340

Lounge, Mr. Delay at Temple 
Sunday night rock out over at Temple Bar as art-rock troupe, headed by multi-talented musician Li Yong joins up and coming pop rock outfit Mr. Delay. FREE 

Kugoni Trio at La Plantation 
Chamber music from Belgium, the Kugoni Trio have been highly respected guests in concert halls both in their home country and abroad since their founding in 2010 ushering in a unique blend of piano, violin, and sax in their passionate search for new repertoire. RMB 200

Guo Xu at Omni Space
After five years on the grind the Beijing based folk singer-songwriter Guo Xu is ready to unveil his latest album – ‘Heartfelt Song’, a tender collection of songs that pack emotions highs and lows, lonesome vulnerability, and cynical laughter all into one. RMB 120

Paradise at Mao Livehouse 
Veteran hard rockers Paradise swing through Wukesong in support of their newest EP, Where Is the World Going? Following on the heels of their upbeat release Roman Holiday, Where Is the World Going? is a more solemn release that ponders this time in history. RMB 100

Mojo Hand at Jianghu Bar
Blues supergroup Mojo Hand, made up of some of the skilled rockers of the Beijing scene, including OOC frontman Cheng Chen, bassist Wang Zheng, and guitarist Wei Wei, bring their richly flavored Chicago blues to Jianghu. FREE

Doug Martin Trio at The Bricks 
San Francisco Bay Area jazz guitarist, Doug Martin, has a unique background having performed with some of the finest artists on the US West Coast and abroad. FREE

Liu Ming at Pink Moon
Folk singer Liu Ming heads to Nanluoguxiang alongside friends and fellow acoustic lovers. FREE

Li Weile Jazz Trio at Modernista
Modernista makes way for guitarist Li Weile and his jazz trio consisting of pianist Feng Wei and drummer Chen Muyong. FREE

Want to cut a rug instead? Browse all the city's nightlife happenings right here.

Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of event organizers