Noise Pollution: LITE, Dolphy Kick Bebop, Backspace, AR, Ana Caram, Alexandros
Summer continues to creep into our pores and there’s no use resisting! Heat waves left and right may be on the mind, but that doesn’t mean you can't break a sweat yet again at one of your favorite music dives, where you’ll find the whole spectrum of rock and roll on a platter – from reverb-heavy dream pop to bone-crushing psychedelic rock. It’s your move fellow Beijingers – head into summer with your game face on and let’s rock out till autumn.
Friday, Jun 21
LIZ (FR), Oré (FR), Birdstriking, Endless White, J-Fever at Omni Space
Fête de la Musique, the annual celebration of music now observed in more than 100 countries worldwide, gets underway tonight with a solid, flavorsome lineup down at Omni Space including visiting electro-pop duo KIZ and bubbly hip-hop artist Oré. On the Chinese front, they’ll be Xi’an shoegaze heart breakers Endless White, offbeat and flow-errific rapper J-Fever, and our beloved noise rockers Birdstriking, who seem busy than ever these days. See our top picks here. FREE (registration is full, so bum-rushing Omni Space is your best bet)
Brickleberry, Summer Warz, Fancy Wall, Show Hand at School
School gets down with Feta de la Musique festivities with this own rollicking free lineup at their home base. Set to play are disco dance punk Brickleberry, young punk outfit Summer Warz, offbeat metal-inflicted rockers ensemble Fancy Wall, and old school punks with Chinese characteristics Show Hand. FREE
Nico, Rudi, Nico, layer x Shining Dimensions at Aotu Studio
Shining Dimensions – the new series curated by Guiguisuisui and Aotu Space that aims to create an intersection between different dimensions of creativity hits its fifth edition under the theme ‘Create a Dialogue’. Former sound sculptors Nico and Fenni join Rudi and electronic artist layer will be on hand as well as poet Nancy Fowlkes, the Tagtool visuals of Nan Guazi and Yin, and the dancing of Duna. Expect the unexpected. RMB 50
Peking Floyd, Hind Brain, Heretic at Temple
Temple cooks up a maelstrom of rock and roll antics with a red-hot lineup that finds Beijing's premier Pink Floyd tribute band bring their vast and ever-increasing collection of cuts from Pink Floyd's most creative years alongside grunge rock favorites Hind Brain and jagged rockers Heretic. FREE
Swarrm, Pylon, Ali & The Good Girl at DDC
An evening of alternative sounds – from prog to pop – expect to have your ears titillated. Prog rock and industrial metal instrumental group Swarrm joins newly formed prog rock based math rock infused outfit Pylon and folk and pop group Ali & The Good Girl Band. RMB 80
Wu & The Side Effects at Jianghu Bar
Long-standing blues rock lady-killers Wu & The Side Effects, bring their dusty, whiskey-soaked brand of hard blues that crackles to the cozy hutong spot Jianghu Bar. RMB 80
Luka, Li Eryang at Caravan
Ethnic music crossed with reggae and electronica, catch Hong Kong didgeridoo musician join local psychedelic-infused guitarist and singer Li Eryang as Caravan celebrates Fête de la Musique. FREE
Ember Swift at Modernista
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, melding Mandarin, English, and French into one intoxicating package. FREE
Jochen Rueckert Quartet at Blue Note
German jazz drummer Jochen Rueckert and his quartet, featuring saxophonist Mark Turner, acclaimed guitarist Lage Lund, and in-demand bassist Matt Penman, bring their original compositions to Blue Note. RMB 300-400
The Flip Side at Soi Baochao
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
Trio David at Temple Hotel
Join Italy’s Trio David, with Tommaso Benciolini playing the flute, violinist Lorenzo Gugole and pianist Claudio Bonfiglio for a night of classical music by Shostakovich, Bach, and lesser-known composers. RMB 200
ECS Piano Trio at La Plantation
The ECS piano trio led by Zhao Wenyuan, and accompanied by Xie Haoming on violin and Zhao Xuyang on cello, give their sophisticated interpretations of classics – from Beethoven to Mendelssohn. RMB 200
The Balcony at Mogu Space
Hailing from Derbyshire and London in the UK, The Balcony brings a mix of acoustic covers and originals to Mogu Space for a special unplugged performance. FREE
BUA Seven at Pink Moon
The BUA Seven guitar club whose motto is “We are abstract singers in the sense that we abstract” – get down and jiggy at Pink Moon this evening. FREE
Pick up the Forest, Zhao Feng at 69 Café (Changping)
Rock night over in Changping at 69 Café’s new digs as Pick up the Forest joins singer-songwriter ruffian Zhao Feng. FREE
Saturday, Jun 22
LITE (JP), Macondo at Omni Space
New Noise invites instrumental four-piece LITE from Japan who’ll be presenting their new album Multiple. Known for their thrilling and emotional compositions, progressive, edgy riffs, and complex rhythms, they’re one of the math rock and instrumental scene’s most esteemed acts. Their explosive live show and tireless touring in the US, Europe, and Asia along with worldwide album releases have brought acclaim from all quarters. A show that’ll surely knock the socks off your feet, LITE mean business. Support from Beijing’s own powerhouse instrumental rockers Macondo. RMB 180
Dolphy Kick Bebop, Boiled Hippo at C5 Art Space
Since the release of their first EP Smoke a Haiku Cigarette, Hangzhou’s Dolphy Kick Bebop has been attracting attention from all quarters for their old-school freestyle performances and offbeat structures and psychedelic harmonies. Soaking in an array of influences – from African jazz to Krautrock, from Buddhist scriptures to the Velvet Underground, they create a sound that both echoes the sound of the '60s and '70s whilst evoking the modern landscape of China. A head-trip worth taking, they’ll be joined by Beijing’s own fuzzy psychedelic do-gooders Boiled Hippo for a special performance at fRUITYSPACE’s new shared space with C5 Art Space in Sanlitun called frequent collaborative. RMB 100
Schoolgirl Byebye, Future Orients at Yue Space
For those looking for a quick indie rock fix head to Yue Space for Nanjing's Schoolgirl Byebye. After laying low after being touted as 2016’s Best Newcomer from the Douban music awards, the indie band came back swinging last year with their full-length debut No Romantics in China on Ruby Eyes Records. Wiser, more mature, and wistful all the same, their sound has no issue shifting gears song to song – gleefully jumping from reverb-heavy dream pop to scrappy noise rock while still managing to be softhearted, sweet, chock full of bite, and more than enough tongue in check pulpy indie pop that helps the medicine go down, they’ll be joined by Beijing’s indie rocker firestarters Future Orients. RMB 100
Backspace, Xiao Wang, Wasted Laika, Windsor Forest at Temple
Backspace, Beijing’s killer psych-infused noise rockers scrappers whose debut Human Nature Architecture was one of our favorite spins last year, are back and ready to ramp it up and take it to the next level. Joining them are kawaii core favorites Xiao Wang and art punk ruffians Wasted Laika, fresh off their dynamic debut EP, and finally tender-hearted indie rockers Windsor Forest. FREE
AR, C-Jam, sena at Mao Livehouse
Up and coming Guangzhou rapper AR (AKA Liu Fuyang) joins the ranks of other alternative hip-hop stars who are veering away from their original trap stylings for something more novel and elastic, and his release Campus Fable, which dropped earlier this year, chock full of edible souther-fried hip-hop bars that float on buoyant charm, is the proof in the pudding. Catch him bring it over in Wukesong. RMB 160
Bob Dupont & The Outstanding Vegan Bankers, Nekroma, Oldy Baby, Jaruco at DDC
Bob Dupont & The Outstanding Vegan Bankers - Djang San’s alter ego and the natural sequel to the much beloved The Amazing Insurance Salesmen hits the stage for a night of experimental high-quality music alongside doom prog masters Nekroma, garage punk ruffians Oldy Baby, and newly revived rockers Jauruco. RMB 60
The Score (US) at Tango
New York born, Los Angeles based duo The Score, made up of Eddie Anthony and Edan Dover, create genre-bending tunes that blur the lines between rock, pop, indie and electronic. Their music has made it into Power Rangers, Sing Street, Pitch Perfect 3, and yes, even the Superbowl – so it’s safe to say they have a few hits under their belts. Catch them tear it up over at Tango. RMB 330
Pacalolo, The Hotline, Whistling Chambers, DJ Blaow at School
Local promoters Zing continues its blitz of School Bar and the rest of Beijing with a disco theme party to bust out your best moves to. Get your groove on with electro-disco punks Pacalolo, synth-driven indie rockers The Hotline, neo-psychedelic dream pop outfit Whistling Chambers, and trance and drum-n-bass DJ Blaow to lead you into the endless night. RMB 100
Near-Death Experience, Doomsayer, Die In Flames, Heir in Chaos, Mi, Moon at 13 Club
Composed of students from major universities in Beijing, Tianjin, and Harbin, the new Steel League emerges ready to bust out some mosh-pit worthy tunes with pure metal. Shred it up with such acts like stoner rock group Near-Death Experience, doomsayers aptly named Doomsayer, melodic metallers Die In Flames, Heir in Chaos, Mi, and Moon. RMB 80
One Drop at Soi Baochao
With members from different corners of the globe, brought together for the love of music, One Drop is the city’s premier reggae outfit who since 2012 have promoted the good message of Reggae in China and in Asia, playing everything from "Roots Reggae" to "Lovers Rock." FREE
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, three-piece horn section, rock and roll to Modernista for an evening of knee-slapping good tunes. FREE
Yumu at Jianghu Bar
Indie folk act Yumu, known for his compassionate, tender-voiced story that echoes with a weary traveler’s heart, performs with his band over at Jianghu Bar. RMB 80
Ana Caram at Blue Note
The Mercedes-Benz Jazz Master Series welcomes Brazilian guitarist and flutist Ana Caram, who studied under the Brazilian Bossa Nova legend, Antonio Carlos Jobim. She began her career in her native Brazil but got her big break on a trip to Finland leading to her jazz storied career in New York. RMB 260-340
Charming Russians at La Plantation
Just to make sure you’re not frightened at the prospect of hanging out with a horde of warm-hearted Russians, tonight’s showcase is aptly titled ‘Charming Russians’ and will feature an array of virtuoso sopranos and paints who’ll each bring their A-game to tonight’s recital. RMB 200
Zhang Qianqian at Mogu Space
Veteran sing-songwriter Zhang Qianqian, a staple of the folk scene since her debut in 1996, gives a special showcase in Xizhimen. FREE
Steve Blaque at Pink Moon
American artist and producer Steve Blaque, who played formerly in the genre-bending rock band The Radiance, joins friends tonight. FREE
Sunday, Jun 23
Alexandros (JP) at Omni Space
Japanese-Syrian vocalist Yoohei Kawakami sings in both English and Japanese, mixing aggressive rock and mellow tunes. And along with bassist Hiroyuki Isobe, who was raised in the US, they bring a unique sensibility to their JRock sound that has landed them tracks on hit anime shows like the recent live-action Bleach. Catch them tonight down in Tiantiao. RMB 420
★.A/NAOITO (JP), DJ Mitsu the Beats (JP) at Yue Space
New kids on the block Mastermind, made up of some of our grooviest spinners, is throwing a label party for Jazzy Sport! To celebrate they’ve got two red hot Japanese acts – Afrobeat revivalist and former frontman of Kingdom AFrorocks, ★.A/NAOITO, whose seamless and earthy techno will have you grooving in no time. Plus, renowned beatmaker DJ Mitsu the Beats who’ll be keeping the beats going till late. RMB 220
All Unknown, Wisk Image, Mind Walker in Rye, Feixing Moshi at School
Local promoters Rock Brothers help you finish the weekend strong with a solid evening of rock 'n' roll. Set to grace the stage are pop-rockers All Unknown, noisy electro-indie rockers Wisk Image, pop-punk outfit Mind Walker in Rye, and young indie rock outfit Feixing Moshi. RMB 60
Polarize, V Kum, Deep Spring at Temple
Things take a turn for the ominous and depraved as J-metal band Polarize joins menacing ambient experimental outfit V Kum, and neo-folk group Deep Spring. Digging the Addams Family of metal and malevolent music genres here. FREE
Electric Wood, Milk Tea, In Disorder, Nine Point, Out of Focus, Yu Wei x Zhang Ziwei at Jianghu Bar
A ragtag posse of young and impassioned bands take the stage at Jianghu Bar this afternoon for a cozy Sunday of ear-pleasing tunes. On the bill are pop rockers Milk Tea, indie rockers Electric Wood, genre-shifting In Disorder and many more. RMB 50
Ana Caram at Blue Note
The Mercedes-Benz Jazz Master Series welcomes Brazilian guitarist and flutist Ana Caram, who studied under the Brazilian Bossa Nova legend, Antonio Carlos Jobim. She began her career in her native Brazil but got her big break on a trip to Finland leading to her jazz storied career in New York. RMB 260-340
Nancy Jenkinson Brown Quartet at DDC
Nancy Jenkinson Brown alongside with her ever-skillful band of troops presents a delicious cocktail of music and playful renditions of songs you know and love, providing listeners a new sense of joy for jazz. RMB 60
Seesaw Jazz Quartet at Modernista
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. FREE
Tang Yuyi, Yu Lin at Pink Moon
Folk singer-songwriter Yu Lin brings his gruff mountainous folk tunes to Pink Moon alongside female singer Tang Yuyi. FREE
There are a lot of gigs but also lots of nightlife – see our top picks, right here.
Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of event organizers
