Noise Pollution: Trip Fuel, Dirty Fingers, Live Beijing Music Showcase, Xiayuan Festival, Tierney Sutton Band
Blistering heat calls for blistering hot sounds spilling forth from the live houses of Beijing this weekend – from everyone’s favorite Shanghai ruffians looking to stir up trouble on the big stage to jangly shoegaze sounds out of Hefei making you yearn for summer nights of yesteryears, there’s plenty of sounds to chew on this weekend as the temperature cooks your psyche medium-rare. Here’s your weekend roundup:
Friday, Jun 29
Dirty Fingers, The Bedstars, The Molds at Yugong Yishan
Frantic, relentless, and brimming with vitality, over the past five years Shanghai punk ruffians Dirty Fingers have grown from a college band to one of the most prominent punk bands in China. Their sophomore release from How’d I Turn So Bad, released on Maybe Mars in 2017 was a runaway hit – an unholy mess of ramshackle charisma, tightly wound melodies, and a carefree yet volatile attitude that landed on many year-end lists. Since then the band has embarked on an ambitious takeover of the world, with plans to take their razor-edged recklessness across the world. Catch them at Yugong Yishan where they’ll be joined by proto-cowboys rockers The Molds and The Bedstars, who haven’t performed in two years. RMB 120
Oldy Baby, Duff Beer, Ghetto Blaster, Strike on the South Wall, DJ Boss Cuts at School
Nathan – the madmen behind garage punk beauties Oldy Baby is heading home for the summer (and possibly forever – gasp!) so let’s send him off with a bang as Oldy Baby joins punk rock trio Duff Beer, the bluesy dance rock vibes of Ghetto Blaster, hardcore old-school ska outfit Strike on the South Wall, and DJ Boss Cuts for an intense, intimate and yes, inebriated night of punk, rock, hardcore, beer, dancing, and perhaps faux goodbyes. FREE
Xu Jun at Tango
Xu Jun, lead singer of the popular Hangzhou folk-rock group, Tree, releases his newest solo work To Myself to his massive legion of fans. His last album received much love at the 28th Taiwan Pop Music Awards, solidifying himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Mandarin pop world. Expect melodic robust contemporary folk that has no problem tugging at heartstrings while soring high. RMB 180
Yuni, Eric Allen, Parakeet, Lampel, Thais Christine, Justin Hoell, DJ Gulu Bazz at Caravan
Caravan lends a hand to Beijing friend in need, Yuni, who is raising funds to help her hospital-bound mother in Taiwan with an array of musicians, bands, and singer-songwriters taking the stage for a good cause including bluesmen Eric Allen, multi-national outfit Parakeet and much much more. RMB 50 (donation)
Redundant Seconds, Joker’s Belief, Bang Bang Mary at Temple
Sid of the melodic punk mainstays Redundant Seconds bids Beijing farewell (and celebrates his birthday) with some mischievous fun at none other than Temple Bar with a rowdy lineup that includes alt-rockers Bang Bang Mary and funktastic masters Joker’s Belief. FREE
Ember Swift at Soi Baochao
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 with Gabriel Beaudoin this evening. RMB 85
Round_2, Buzzy, Lil Howcy, Dirty Twinz, ETON, J.V at Yue Space
Hip-hop duo Round_2, part of the Jiangsu rap collective Free-Out, blaze their way through Beijing as part of their nationwide tour. Expect trap-riddled, R&B-infused hip-hop that’ll have your shaking loose. RMB 120
Swarrm, Shi Xiaofei and Simple Lover, Tumbler at Mao Livehouse
Indietronica duo Shi Xiaofei and Simple Lover, join technical prog metal rockers Swarrm and old-school rockers Tumbler for an eclectic evening of tunes in Wukesong. RMB 80
Rhythm Traveller at Laifu Livehouse
Indie pop outfit Rhythm Traveller, present their newest release and bring their upbeat blend of urban folk and Britpop-infused rock and roll to Shaungjing. RMB 100
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 as they celebrate the birthday of their frontman. RMB 60
The Spice Cabinet at Modernista
The Spice Cabinet is the jazz machine that slices, dices and reworks every pop number into the frenzy of a pop modern dance beat of wonder. It's pop according to jazz, sprinkled with funk, hip-hop, bebop, rock and a heavy dose of the avant-garde. FREE
Zhang Qianqian at Pink Moon
Veteran sing-songwriter Zhang Qianqian, a staple of the folk scene since her debut in 1996, gives a special showcase courtesy at Pink Moon. RMB 80
Mu He Fu La & Friends at Jianghu Bar
Deeply influenced by the music of Xinjiang the flamenco, reggae, and urban folk singer-songwriter has been a regular on television and radio, mixing the styles of the world with his Uighur mother tongue. Catch him and his band tonight at the cozy hutong spot. RMB 80
Claude Diallo (SW) x Anne Evenou (FR) at La Plantation
Expertly skilled Swiss pianist Claude Diallo brings innovative concepts to the accepted styles of piano composition alongside French versatile jazz singer Anne Evenou who sings in six different languages, including Chinese. RMB 200
Jian, Buliao at AR Art Space
Neofolk singer-songwriter Jian brings his bossa nova and reggae-infused tunes to AR Art Space in Wudaokou alongside alternative ‘visual rock’ group Buliao. RMB 50
BlaiRy, All Sixes at Blue Stream
Rock and roll is the name of the game at Blue Stream as pop-rockers All Sixes join gothic rock orchestra BlaiRy. RMB 50
Shu Zi at Mogu Space
Chengdu singer-songwriter Shu Zi brings his dreamy, tranquil folk tunes to Mogu Space as the artist continues his nationwide tour. RMB 100
Mademoiselle Et Son Orchestre at The Bricks
Mademoiselle et son Orchestre return to Modernista. The premier gypsy jazz outfit has been igniting crowds left and right for endless years – a true joy to behold. FREE
Saturday, Jun 30
Trip Fuel, SNSOS, Last Goodbye, Acid Accident at DDC
Live Beijing Music returns with their latest showcase – Summer Nostalgia – featuring four bands with a knack for coating their music in warm reverb and distortion as a replacement for emotional warmth. The lineup include the much talked about Hefei shoegaze math rock outfit Trip Fuel (read our recent interview with them here), fresh off their debut cassette release on Wild Records out of Wuhan, as well as Beijing’s own jangly instrumental rock trailblazers SNSOS, the ethereal shoegaze blitzers Last Goodbye, and one of this year’s breakout bands – the intricately pleasing post-rockers Acid Accident. RMB 60
P.K.14 at Yue Space
Seminal post-punk quartet – P.K. 14 – considered the godfather of post-punk, fresh off of recording their seventh studio album will be on hand at Yue Space giving eager audiences a taste of their new material. Expect a packed house as one of the country’s highest regarded bands bring the heat. Read more on what you should expect here. RMB 150
Steely Heart, Drop Science, Gentle Grapes, Caffe-In, Auburn at School
Set to play and back after a recording their new album in Australia are electro dance punk rock favorites Steely Heart. They’ll be joined them are hip-hop trio from the Dungeon Beijing crew Drop Science, new school punk ruffians Gentle Grapes, long-time running pop-punk outfit Caffe-In, and alternative indie pop outfit Auburn. RMB 150
Xiayuan Festival at Xia Yuan Culture Square
The Xiayuan Festival – a day of music, film, and children’s activities in the north of Beijing – brings some pretty incredible experimental acts to Changping District including Kazakh musician Mamer, improvisational drummer Deng Boyu, saxophonist Li Tieqiao’s ‘Sound to the West’ improv group, Rani Geroult, guitar demi-god Li Jianhong, as well as world music group Dawanggang, led by Song Yuzhe and the Tea Rockers Quintet, which features such greats as Yan Jun and Xiao He. Yeah, that’s quite the reward for the long trek north. FREE (WeChat ID: xiayuankanpu for more info)
Dawei and The Social Poetry, Glamour Manifesto, Brickleberry at Temple
Day two of birthday shenanigans at Temple Bar as Amy and Scott celebrate another year with coffee shots, smiles, and music to shake your ass too courtesy of funk rap mastermind Dawei and the Social Poetry, industrial electro-rock duo Glamour Manifesto and indie rock poppers Brickleberry. FREE
Cave Have Rod, Evil Thron, Stabbing, Death Penalty, Death Pact, Sky Fire, Blood Feast at 13 Club
You’re not going to get any more extreme than this – just look at those names. This is death metal of the highest order – an onslaught of heavy riffs, blood-curdling screams, and headbanging that’ll surely check off your mosh pit quota for the year. RMB 100
Almeeva (FR), thruoutin at Mao Livehouse
French new wave electronic music producer, Almeeva, whose productions are influenced by pop and definitely club-oriented bring his seductive blend between minimalist and modern aesthetics to Mao Livehouse. Support from the dizzyingly inventive Beijing based electronic producer thruoutin. RMB 100
Da Bang at Laifu Livehouse
Da Bang, the dance punks queens of Beijing, head down to Shuangjing for a special showcase. The band dropped their newest album last year, showcasing an even more electronic and experimental approach to their indietronica sound. RMB 120
Natural Doc, Jinsfake, JiQi at fRUITYSPACE
Natural Doc’s new beat tape release will be unveiling itself at the basement hangout as producers and rappers Jinsfake, JiQi, and of course, Natural Doc take turns spinning and performing for their legions of hip-hop fans. RMB 80
Parakeet at Jianghu Bar
Catch the skilled musicians of Parakeet whose energy flows through the air. Performing songs which take you back to the days of record players and swing dancing, each song they play feels as if you’re hearing it for the first time. RMB 60
Tavey Lean and The Solid Gold Dream Machine at Modernista
Audience favorites, Tavey Lean and The Solid Gold Dream Machine bring their impressive repertoire of classic soul, RnB, 3-piece horn section, rock and roll fun to Modernista. Plus, the band will be using the occasion to raise funds for a friend in need – some dance your ass off and give back at the same time. FREE
Redundant Seconds, Three Mosquitoes, Cortez at Soi Baochao
Sid of the melodic punk mainstays Redundant Seconds bids Beijing farewell (and celebrates his birthday) with some mischievous fun at Soi Baochao with support from Three Mosquitoes and Cortez. FREE
Strangers of the Fantasy World at 69 Cafe
Tsinghua University students and rockers Strangers of the Fantasy World, led by the magnetic Zheng Yi, bring offbeat melodies, infectious piano keys, and rhythms to their music bringing together classical backgrounds with a distinctly rock aesthetic. RMB 60
Li Bo, Li Weiwei at Pink Moon
Former Jacky Danny singer and lead singer now for Rosewood Bullet, Li Bo is rock and roll royalty who finds the roots of classic rock and roll and makes it his own. Catch him this evening at the new Pink Moon alongside his fellow bandmate Li Weiwei. RMB 88
Mr. Freeman, Millennium & Blue Diamond Band, Mars-D at Omni Space
Mr Freeman, veterans of the local music scene, descend on Omni Space. The pop rock rockers – a fusion of pop, punk, hip-hop, and blues – will be paying tribute to Beyond, the Hong Kong pop juggernauts who would have been celebrating 25 years together today. RMB 120
The Tierney Sutton Band at Blue Note
An eight-time Grammy nominee, Sutton has received seven consecutive nominations for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” – a nomination for every project she has released for the last decade. Comprised of Sutton and instrumental virtuosos Kevin Axt, Ray Brinker, Trey Henry, and Christian Jacob, the band functions as a true collaborative (and legally incorporated) unit and makes all their musical, as well as business decisions, as partners. RMB 400
The MOCC4 Quartet at Aotu Space
After over a year of composing, revising, and editing, young American composer Anthony Bannach will now debut his first piece for the string quartet, String Quartet No.1. The piece creates a tonal landscape that is a worthy entry to the continually developing traditions of contemporary classical music and will be performed by The MOCC4 Quartet, comprised of musicians from the prestigious Chinese Central Conservatory of Music. RMB 50
Great Buffalo Blues, Max Sleigh at Blue Stream
Great Buffalo Blues is a three-man ensemble who just want to write and play electric guitar blues group bring their story-telling grooves and funk to Blue Stream Bar alongside singer-songwriter Max Sleigh. FREE
Sunday, Jul 1
Mamer at Yue Space
Xinjiang Kazakh musical genius Mamer, whose thrumming voice and nerve-wrecking layers of instrumentation has engulfed audiences for years – returns to Yue Space with experimental electronic music creator and free improvisational drummer Deng Boyu for a madcap drum and bass set. RMB 80
Glow Curve, SNSOS, Silent Speech at Yugong Yishan
Long-standing post-rock groovers Glow Curve, who I’ve dying to hear new material from, join alternative rock favorites Silent Speech, who have been riding a wave of acclaim, and instrumental rockers SNSOS for an evening of larger than life sounds. RMB 120
Lemon First at School
Xining nu-metal outfit (with a hefty amount of rap metal thrown in for good measure) Lemon First, whose Linkin Park-inspired sound got them a slot on Modern Sky’s roster, bring their high-octane sound to School Bar. RMB 80
Nancy Jenkinson Brown and Band at Modernista
Nancy Jenkinson Brown alongside with her ever-skillful band presents “Jazz, No Ice” – a delicious cocktail of music and playful renditions of songs you know and love all led by the wonderful vocalist and entertainer, NJB as she provides listeners a new sense of joy for jazz. FREE
The Tierney Sutton Band at Blue Note
An eight-time Grammy nominee, Sutton has received seven consecutive nominations for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” – a nomination for every project she has released for the last decade. Comprised of Sutton and instrumental virtuosos Kevin Axt, Ray Brinker, Trey Henry, and Christian Jacob, the band functions as a true collaborative (and legally incorporated) unit and makes all their musical, as well as business decisions, as partners. RMB 400
Zhang Ziwei & Yu Xin, Li Bo at DDC
Catch the wave of new singer-songwriters and rockers this evening with Zhang Ziwei and Yu Xin, the acoustic folk duo that has immersed audiences over the past year. They bring their unique blend of indie pop and traditional folk to DDC. RMB 60
Tang Shun Yi, Zheng Zhi at Pink Moon
Acoustic loving singer-songwriter Tang Shun Yi joins female singer Zheng Zhi for an evening of warm story-telling tunes. RMB 66
Want to cut a rug instead? Check out the best of this weekend's nightlife here.
Photos: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers
