Weekend Live Music Roundup: InMusic Festival, Pet Conspiracy, Perdel

There must be something magic about the last weekend of July, otherwise how can you explain that there are three Beijing music festivals at the same time. Both InMusic Festival and Goose & Duck Summer Music Fest are returning for their third years and we will also have the city’s first Blues Festival at CD Blues Café.

Unfortunately, the weather forecast is a little bit against the outdoor activities: it seems both Beijing and the grasslands of Zhangbei (InMusic Festival) will have rain for the next two days and, according to my experience last year, it is not fun in the “jungle” of InMusic Festival. If you are dedicated to see the three biggest guys in China’s rock scene: Cui Jian, Xu Wei and Wang Feng, plus some mud fights with Il Nino and Tricky, prepare some very thick clothes and your rain coats. The best way to get there will be hiring a van, or getting the train from Beijing West Railway Station to Zhangjiakou Nan (张家口南) and hop in any bus or illegal taxi that yells “yinyuejie” (music festival) at you after you arrive.

For us who will stay in the city, the Tiger Translate Battle of Bands is getting more intense as the event has party starters Pet Conspiracy as headliner tomorrow at Tango 3F. Then the competition goes back to MAO Livehouse on Sunday with Chinese pop rock favorite Perdel performing some touching songs about young love.

I’ve heard that there are quite a few parties in the city on Saturday, but when punkheads are doing something interesting, none of them matter. In the courtyard house of Jiang Hu Bar, Brain Failure brings their acoustic set.

For more fun, see below:

Thursday (July 28)

The Cranberries
Do you have to let it linger? RMB 180-1280. 7.30pm. MasterCard Center (formerly known as Wukesong Arena)

CD Case, Replica, Devils at the Crossroad
Another rock gathering at Wudaokou. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Eyes Behind
Noise rockers bring the passion of the Paris undergournd scene. RMB 80, RMB 60 (advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Friday (July 29)

Birdstriking, Mr. Ray, You Xi
Young powers work on making Beijing China a better place for noise rock. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Lidong
Simple and pure folk tunes from the north west. RMB 30. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu

Lucas and Tarsila
It's bossa nova time. RMB 30. 9pm. Tushuguan 98 (8400 1532)

Mama Funker
Get some Brazilian funk from the '70s. Free. 10pm. Alanting (8571 5168)

Metal Night
Join the weekly metal gathering at Wudaokou. RMB 50. 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Tiger Beer Battle Of Bands (Pet Conspiracy)
Local pop rock leaders supports the young powers. RMB 70, RMB 60 (students). 7.30pm. Tango 3F

The Hot Club of Beijing
Swing with the gypsy jazz. RMB 30. 9.45pm. V.A Bar.

Saturday (July 30)

Acid Live & Wasabi Sound
Get funky with acid jazz and Wasabi DJs. RMB 60. 3pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

The Beatles Beijing Tribute
The new Beatles Beijing Tribute brings the same old passion. RMB 30. Free (before 9pm). Time TBD. Alanting (8571 5168)

The Black Buttons, The Randy Abel Stable
Get some jazz classics and a rootsy amalgam of bluegrass, country and blues. RMB 40 V.A bar

Amazing Insurance Salesmen, Jurat Band
Rock and psychedelic. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Brain Failure
The punk band's acoustic set in Dongmianhua Hutong. RMB 50. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 5269)

Chenghui
The experimental folkster has new works to reveal. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 8.30pm. Tiny Salt Cafe (5900 0969)

Furong Jiejie
One of China's most popular internet celebrities throws a charity concert. Tickets at 400 810 1887. RMB 180-1280. 7.30pm. The Cultural Palace of Nationalities

The Hot Club of Beijing
Gypsy jazz continues on Gulou Dondajie. Free. 9pm. Temple

Longjin, C60
When reggae meets post rock. Free. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Shengdong Jixi
The music experiment continues with Li Tieqiao's saxophone, Tong Yang's bass and Nicolas Mège on the drums. RMB 50, RMB 30 (advance, students). 4-5.30pm. UCCA Loft (8459 9387)

Street Hardcore Night
Hardcore punk from No Words, The Flyx, Cold Case and more. RMB 70, RMB 50 (advance). 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Sunday (July 31)

Mr.Moreno Donadel Piano Trio
Multi-awarded pianist from Italy perform his own compositions and arrangements with Da Zhong on bass and Bei Bei on Drums. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Liu Yusi, Randy Abel Stable, Fushihui
Acoustic night over Wudaokou. Get some street blues and bluegrass. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 9pm. D-22

Tiger Beer Battle Of Bands (Perdel)
Local pop rock leaders supports the young powers. RMB 70, RMB 60 (students). 7.30pm. Mao Livehouse

Friday - Sunday

Blues Festival
China‘s First ever blues festival? Bands from Beijing, Tokio, Shanghai, HongKong, NZ, USA and many more from the world. RMB 150 (per day), RMB 400 (three days). 7pm. CD Blues Cafe and Bar (6506 8288)

Goose & Duck Summer Music Fest
Local and international bands and DJs keep you entertained for three days. Tickets at 6437 8399. Price and time TBD. Goose & Duck Ranch (6435 3778, 6434 8978)

InMusic Festival
Three day’s camping on the “grassland,” with flea markets, plenty of chuan’r and even more rock stars. RMB 120 (per day). Time TBD. Zhangbei Zhongdu Grassland, Hebei province