Noise Pollution: Halloween Music Mayhem, Carsick Cars, Birdstriking, Jungle Mico Project
Between Halloween, record label anniversaries, and general mayhem, the next four days are stacked with gold. And doesn’t matter if you’re looking for buzz-sawed avant-garde, the darkest of dark metal, or righteous indie rock anthems to keep you gliding through the night – Beijing’s got you covered.
Thursday, Oct 31
Bande at Yue Space
This is Halloween done right – mysterious, bewitching, and menacing all at once. Bande is the new supergroup made from the skin and bones of Kazakh musical genius Mamer, whose thrumming voice and nerve-racking layers of instrumentation has engulfed audiences for years. The avant-garde world music trouble makers (with Zhang Dong on drums and Xia Li on kudu) is all kinds of crazy – utilizing an array of traditional instruments, an improvisational language with its own color, and an affinity toward Umay, the holy totem and ‘eternal mother’ of the nomadic peoples of North and Central Asia. Every ticket comes with a mask so best be ready to get your cult on. RMB 150
Underdog, Sucker (Xi'an), Future Orients, LaiSee, Xiao Wang at School
If Yue Space holds my heart then School holds my drink as they wrangle up a wild 'n' out lineup that would make most weekend lineups whimper. It’s a hell of a free gig lined up for All Hallow's Eve, one that gut-punches you and throws you through the wringer. Set to play are ska punk favorites Under Dog, veteran Xi'an punk rock renegades Sucker, indie rockers fire starters Future Orients, aerobatic hardcore ruffians LaiSee, and last but not least, kawaii core punk ladies Xiao Wang who are on a serious roll at this point. FREE
Scare the Children, Nekroma, Boss Cuts at Temple
Temple becomes the epicenter for all Halloween hijinks and they’ve rounded up some of the scene’s most Halloween-appropriate characters, including two hauntingly gorgeous and blood-curling bands with an affinity for costumes: Nekroma, the post-doom outfit whose carnival of sounds blends art rock, skateboard guitar, metal, and then some, and Scare the Children, the horror metal act that’ll have you running home to mommy and daddy. If that wasn’t enough surf rock faves Boss Cuts will be on hand channeling The Cramps. Chaos will ensue. FREE
Nuclear Fusion G, Dark Haze, Ephemerality, SAW, Duskystar at 13 Club
Get your devil horns and face paint ready 'cause this is a heavy metal night to remember. 13 Club rounds up some of the finest heavy metal bands this side of Beijing, including industrial metal outfit Nuclear Fusion G, symphonic dark metal outfit Dark Haze, old school metal troupe S.A.W and more for a stacked Halloween night. RMB 140
Old Tea, Swing Holiday at DDC
Swing Holiday bring their '60s-flavored rock and roll alongside psychedelic post-rock instrumentalists Old Tea. A solid rock offering for those looking to avoid costumed freaks. RMB 60
Djang San, Will Pope, DJ Luka at Soi Baochao
East-meets-West fusionist and veteran show stopper Djang San, a jack of trades and "zhongruan player, philosopher, poet, composer, guitar hero, DJ, one-man orchestra, and explorer of new sounds," joins Will Pope and DJ Luka for some fun. FREE
The Koolz at Modernista
Modernista kicks off their Halloween weekend The Koolz's deadly pop sound as patrons are encouraged to release your inner monster and take it out for a drink. FREE
Jo and The Hot Water at Caravan
Explosive classic dance rock that you’ll fall head over heels in love with – topped by the charismatic and sensual voice of Jo – all at Caravan this evening. FREE
Friday, Nov 1
IZ, Mekrop, Li Jianhong, Li Zenghui, Lao Dan, Deng Boyu, Zhang Dong at Yue Space
With twenty years of releasing some of the underground music scene’s most mesmerizing and downright esoteric sounds – a deluge of experimental, noise, folk, improv, and other deviant sounds – Badhead Records throws down tonight with IZ and Mekrop – Xinjiang Kazakh musical genius Mamer’s side projects which lean more into chainsawed industrial funk chaos. The evening will also feature other notable acts like guitar improv guru Li Jianhong, free improv saxophonists Li Zenghui and Lao Dan, and freewheeling percussionists Deng Boyu and Zhang Dong – expect nothing less than a warpath of noise and a free impromptu marathon. Read more about what to expect here. RMB 150
Carsick Cars, Jumping Goat, Dirty Fingers, Plastic at School
For their 12th birthday bash, indie label Maybe Mars has put together a wild 'n' out lineup over at School Bar featuring both the label's new and old guard, including flagship noise-rockers Carsick Cars, spastic cock-eyed punk favorites Dirty Fingers, new signees Plastic, out of Kunming, and reformed Xi’an post-punk outfit Jumping Goat, whose latest Walking On The Ice just dropped last week. Tickets are limited so come early if you hope to snag one. Read more about what to expect here. RMB 150
UNIT, Swarrm, Focus Lost at DDC
The new indie rock series ‘New Gravity’ continues to make some noise over in DDC as they celebrate the release of trio UNIT’s new EP, a napalm strike of combustible noise-punk that’s swift, lean, sharp, and scrappy, chock-full of melodic, death-defying feedback and crashing cymbals. Joining them will be the always-reliable alt-prog-metalists Swarrm and up and coming alt-rockers Focus Lost. RMB 80
Mozah (GER), Dungeon Beijing, Chill Boy & Thousands of Orchestras at Omni Space
Colognian brass hip hop troupe Mozah, known for their upbeat infectious and instrumentally charged jams, joins Beijing hip-hop crew heavy hitters Dungeon Beijing as well as one of the nation’s top jazz hip-hop bands: Chill Boy & Thousands of Orchestras. RMB 150
Dongzi, Wang Juan at Jianghu Bar
A killer folk combo with two of the Beijing folk scene’s longest surviving characters, including acclaimed Hubei singer-songwriter Dongzi, whose rich voice has captivated audiences everywhere, as well as esteemed folk ballad writer Wang Juan. RMB 100
Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies at Caravan
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 Caravan – "where the rum will flow and the bourbon will follow" – as the band helps the one and only Badr, the Moroccan restaurant’s main squeeze. FREE
Dahe He at Mao Livehouse
Urban folk artist Dahe Ha, who hails from Wuhan and is known for his low-bearing voice and equally tender acoustic playing, gathers his band for a tour about China. RMB 120
Blackwater at Temple
For a true Irish experience catch Blackwater, whose music draws from the rich traditional Irish repertoire – from beautiful ballads to frenzied reels – these cats may just be the most authentic Irish punk rock band in Beijing and they’re looking for trouble tonight over in Temple. FREE
Little Happiness at Fruityspace
Fruityspace welcomes Little Happiness (Xiaoxi) for her third visit to the big Jing as she joins guitarist Zhang Jing, bassist Wang Chenhuai, and Ableton pusher Sdewdent for a night of music that crosses genres between jazz, electronic music with lots of improv along the way. RMB 60
The Legendary Johnny O’Neal Trio at Blue Note
Legendary vocalist and pianist Johnny O’Neal, whose storied career includes playing Carnegie Hall with Ray Brown, Milt Jackson, and more, hits up Blue Note with his trio for a night of boogie-woogie and Detroit soul. RMB 220-400
Sports Team, The Reprobates, Numbertheory, Vincent, Interracial Staple at Soi Baochao
It’s a Weirdos Ball tonight with some kooky ass outfits and acts hitting Baochao Hutong including grunge alt-rockers The Reprobates, the sports-themed punks Sports Team, the strangely named Interracial Staple and much more. Get your freak on. RMB 50
The Flip Side at Modernista
The Flip Side is Beijing’s only live disco band get their Halloween on tonight. Bring your boogie shoes and come prepared to freak out, shake your booty, get jiggy with it and have spooky good time. FREE
Saturday, Nov 2
Birdstriking, Backspace at Yue Space
Seminal noise-rockers Birdstriking, one of Maybe Mars’ finest catches, celebrate their own anniversary as well: an admirable 10 years on the scene. They’ve just returned from a stint in Australia with new track "Unity" in tow, which boasts the band’s sound to almost arena rock levels all the while maintaining their sincere noise-punk roots. Support from fellow label mates – the psych-infused indie rockers Backspace. RMB 150
Huun Huur Tu at Aranya Beachside
Widely regarded as the musical ambassadors of the Tuva Republic, Huun Huur Tu have been conjuring up images of sweeping grasslands, galloping horses, and the natural beauty of their homeland with their rousing and awe-inspiring compositions for over two decades. Their compositions and mastery of khöömei aka throat singing have brought them plenty of international attention, and this afternoon they’ll be giving a special performance in Beidaihe alongside Aranya after two days of masterclasses from the band. Read our interview from when they were last in town here. 3.30pm start. RMB 200
Aero Boat, Self Portrait, The Lightning Club, Fancy Wall, The ProzaX at School
Local promoters ZING, who have been making quite a bit of making noise with their bookings across China, are back at it again with a rollicking lineup featuring Aero Boat – a new band composed of Zhan Pan from The Gar, Li Nan from Da Bang, and Wang Jinghan from Queen Sea Big Shark. Joining them are Britpop rockers Self Portrait, newcomers The Lightning Club, pop-rockers Fancy Wall, and The ProzaX. RMB 100
Bupishu, Hu Xiao Chun at DDC
Harbin’s Bupishu – the five-piece band who "skirt the boundaries between folk, post-rock, and electro-psychedelic rock 'n' roll” are in town with their newest release – which finds the band expanding even further, finding a melancholic almost ambient core to their sound. Support from the Yellow River-hailing indie rockers Hu Xiao Chun. RMB 80
Awake Mountains, Scarlet Horizon, Lost in Space, The Will On Kill, Horrifying Acres, The Sweet Escape at Omni Space
Metalcore outfit Awake Mountains, who seamlessly entwine thundering drums amidst post-rock interludes, emo shading, and guttural vocals join frequent other bands who dabble on the fringes of metal, including electrocore outfit The Sweet Escape, theatrical death metal Scarlet Horizon, and many more. RMB 180
Jungle Mico Project at Temple
The live drum ’n’ bass band – who always throw a wild 'n’ out show – return tonight to Temple to release their newest album the WORLD. Led by the renowned electronic drummer Mico, the ensemble mix elements of dubstep, breakbeats, deep techno, and more all performed live on real instruments in real-time. FREE
BowAsWell, sourtower, Water Grass Project, Rydeen Wong at Fruityspace
A bubbly, electronic-infused evening of offbeat instrumentalists, producers, and singers including newly singed (to Mastermind) independent musician Zhang Yichi aka BowAsWell, as well as cold wave post-punk outfit Sourtower, jungle rhythm duo Water Grass Project, and makeshift artist Rydeen. RMB 60
Cheng Bi at Tango
Chinese Golden Melody Award winner Cheng Bi, swings through Beijing with her newest album When I Embrace You. A composer that lived in Japan for several years, Cheng often reworks poems from artists like Beidao and Xichuan from China, leading many to describe her as "the voice closest to poems." RMB 150
Mademoiselle Et Son Orchestre at Jianghu Bar
Mademoiselle et son Orchestre returns to the cozy Jianghu Bar for some foot-tapping gun. The premier gypsy jazz outfit has been igniting crowds left and right for endless years – a true joy to behold. RMB 60
The Hunters at Modernista
Crowd-pleasers The Hunters make sure there are no lonely wolves, haunted ghosts or scary witches on the dance floor! Let them bewitch us with an explosion of funk and rock and make this evening one for dancing. 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
Xi Er at 69 Cafe
Touching upon soul, funk, blues, and pop, singer-songwriter Xi Er gives a special performance in Changping. FREE
Sunday, Nov 3
Mercader at Yue Space
Guangzhou-based outfit Mercader, named after the infamous Spanish assassin Ramón Mercader and winner of Best New Band at the Chinese Music Awards a few years back return to Beijing with their latest conceptional theatrical performance. Their bewildering mix post-punk, no wave, and indie rock – with a sneaking, gritty Cantopop vibe lurking underneath that can turn on a dime – acts a vessel for the band's brand of "pessimistic optimism." RMB 150
Terje Isungset at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center
Scandinavian artist Terje Isungset plays cool music… literally. His instruments are made out of ice. In his shows, he merges jazz and traditional Scandinavian music, making him perhaps the world’s only ice musician. Tell me you’re not intrigued. RMB 100-480
Felix-Florian Tödtloff (GER), Meng Qi, Zpax
With a focus on drone, Berlin’s Felix-Florian mixes synthesizers, electric guitars and field recordings into atmospheric soundscapes. He joins electronic maverick wizard MengQi, and circuit breaking modular synth lover Zpax. RMB 60
Malnutrition, Left Behind Child, Wireless Puppets at School
Local rockers Malnutrition, whose affinity for metal-laced old-school punk is downright adorable, invite a couple of their friend's bands for the ride – Left Behind Child and Wireless Puppets – for some high-octane hijinks tonight. RMB 80
Any Other (IT) at DDC
Italian indie outfit Any Other present their new album Two, Geography which pushes her robust ‘90s indie even further. Led by singer-songwriter and producer Adele, influences range from the American indie-folk of Phil Elvrum to the guitar work of Jim O’Rourke and David Grubbs, spiritual free jazz and orchestral arrangements as well as classic songwriting by Joni Mitchell, all filtered through a thoroughly contemporary sensibility. RMB 150
Hypotension, Whistling Chambers, Wild Reggae Guide at Omni Space
Long-standing Hardin rock outfit Hypotension celebrates a staggering twenty years on the scene with a bit of help dynamic indie rockers Whistling Chambers and electro-infused reggae outfit Wild Reggae Guide. RMB 150
Space Pets, A.D.S at Temple
Founded in 2014 by Slash – the owner of CBGB Dalian – Space Pets are billed as the only hard rock band based in the north-eastern coastal city, injecting original songs that invoke the classic rock and roll era. Support comes from Beijing’s own hard rockers A.D.S. FREE
Eduardo Bortolotti at Modernista
Modernista welcomes Mexican violinist and composer Eduardo Bortolotti. By implementing electronic devices as well as mixing jazz with traditional Mexican folk elements, Bortolotti has created a unique and contemporary violin style.
Li Shangan at Mao Livehouse
Independent musician, female singer, arranger, and producer, who cut her teeth in pubs across Yunnan, brings her blues-ridden, pop-flavored, fingerpicking folk music to Mao Livehouse. RMB 150
READ: Beijing's Spookiest Halloween Parties and Events
Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers
