Talking Tunes: Gang of Four and a Glut of Far Out Psychedelica

Paul Ryding | Jan 31, 2013 6:00 pm | Add a comment | 1487 reads

We're getting pretty pumped about JUE Festival now as the music section keeps getting more and more exciting. The latest confirmation? Just in, Leeds-based new wave outfit Gang of Four will definitely be performing. There had been a little delay on the official announcement, but we've been assured today that they will make the bill. You can check out the full line-up on Split Works' official website.

Elsewhere, founding member of Osaka-based psychedelic rockers Acid Mothers Temple, Kawabata Makoto will be in town for a show next month. He'll hit up 2 Kolegas on March 10.

Also, San Franciscan psychedelic popsters, Moon Duo, bring their distinct brand of "zoned-out" melodies to Beijing as a part of a world tour next month. The lunar twosome hit Yugong Yishan on March 23 in support of their latest album Circles which did awfully well with critics when it was released last year.

To the here and now, some highlights over the next seven days:

  • There are a couple of open-mic sessions in town tonight if you fancy it. Giggle Bar hosts the newest around, while 4corners' offering attracts a diverse crowd of crooners.
  • East Meets West Rock Concert at Yugong Yishan on Friday night (Feb 1) should be interesting. New band Contraplans go head-to-head with OOC.
  • There's more and more hip-hop in the city lately. MAO Livehouse hosts a hip-hop party on Saturday night (Feb 2).
  • Wednesday (Feb 6) marks the birthday of the great Bob Marley – he'd have been 68 on that day, and to celebrate the anniversary, Yugong Yishan will host a Bob Marley Day party featuring a host of local and international reggae artists.

Has the foul "fog" been getting you down? Never mind, Beijing's own Not There have written themselves a little ditty to brighten up your 400+ AQI day. In their own words: "These are dirty times in Beijing. A pall has descended. We are all walking around with N95 masks on. How can we dance without clean air?"

Don't forget to check out more of what you can do this weekend in our events section.