Weekend Live Music Roundup: Hanggai, Shanren, Demerit, will.i.am

These past two years have been a booming time for folk music in Beijing. Maybe it’s because more and more people started to find out how easy it is to just pick up an acoustic guitar and sing a song of sorrow with face full of bitterness. The good part is that the really good bands have actually stood out even more. Take Hanggai and Shanren, these are two quite different yet similar bands, one fuses Mongolian folk tunes with the power of rock, the other mixes folk rock with reggae beats. Both are fun, energetic, interactive and exotic. If you plan it well, you might be able to catch both of them tomorrow night.

The real dilemma comes on Saturday – good shows spread all over town. Hardcore punks Demerit seem fully charged for their show at Yugong Yishan. Psychedelic rocker Jurat T.T. launches his long yearned-for album at Temple. Shanghai-based Duck Fight Goose, recently caught on the Guardian’s radar, also has new work to show.

Then again there's the chance that you will ditch all of these acts because you won tickets to see will.i.am and John Legend. If you didn't win tickets are still available.

Here are more options to complicate the decision making process even more:

Thursday (December 15)

Alex Edward Morris Jazz Quartet
Jazz master returns to Beijing. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Bossa Nova Night
Come to feel the hit of Brazil at Baochao Hutong. Free. 9pm. Modernista (136 7127 4747)

Little Marbles, The Randy Abel Stable
Swedish Indie-Pop meets Beijing Acoustic-Americana. RMB 30. 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Lost in China
Talented Latin music band. Free. 9.15pm. Ciro's Pomodoro (5208 6008)

Friday (December 16)

Hanggai
The folk rockers from the grassland throw a party for their fans. Free beer from 9-10.30pm. RMB 100. 9pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

The Hot Club of Beijing
Keep the gypsy jazz swinging. RMB 30. 9.45pm. V.A. Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)

Shanren
The funky folk group wants to see how their mix of modern and tradition will be received at the power base of the punks and metal heads. Might be their most entertaining show of the year. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance, students). 9pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Peter Murchison
Blues and folk resonate in Beiluogu Xiang. Free. 9pm. Beiluo Cafe and Bar (8402 1126)

Punk Night
Wudaokou's punkheads have their regular gatherings. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Xia Jia Piano Trio
Houhai's jazz tradition continues. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Yantiao
Indie youngsters rock out. Free. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

WHAI
Three ethnic musicians gather to experiment how avant-garde their indie folk tunes can be. RMB 40. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu (8405 0124)

Saturday (December 17)

The Beijing Beatles
Come for a great night with the fab' four. Free. 9.30pm. Ciro's Pomodoro (5208 6008)

Black Hot Pisces
Find some new definations of jazz. RMB 40. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Booey Lehoo
The Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am with fellow bandmate apl.de.ap, the Bucky Johnson Band and John Legend. Tickets available at 400 810 1887. RMB 180-1,680. 7.30pm. National Indoor Stadium (8437 1900)

Demerit
Seven years later, they’re still a real punk band. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 9.30pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Duck Fight Goose, Soviet Pop, Chui Wan
Shanghai’s experimental rock pride brings their new album to Beijing. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Jurat T.T.
Psychedelic, rock, blues, traditional Uyghur folk, Jurat brew them all in his new album Sans Famille. RMB 50, RMB 40. 9pm. Temple (131 6107 0713)

Lidong
Have a taste of the bitter folk tunes. RMB 30. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu (8405 0124)

Love’s Tourettes, The Grinding Ear
Check out a musical experiment and a instrumental feast. RMB 40. 9.45pm. V.A. Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)

Not There
Electronica tunes splashed with rock. Free. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Zhang Si'an, Byebye Thanks For Your Fish
French electronic folk meets Chinese indie folk. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9pm. Mako Live Houes (5205 1113)

Sunday (December 18)

Da Yang, Blaque & Blunt
Get some folk tunes and have an easy night. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 9.30pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Li Xiaochuan Quartet
Come and get some trumpet based jazz. RMB 40. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Twisted Machine
Help them celebrate the fact that they’ve persisted for 13 years. The pride of Beijing’s metal scene releases Faith, a documentary that records their growth. RMB 100, RMB 80 (advance). 8.30pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Photos: Michelle Dai, Shanren, Duck Fight Goose