Weekend Gig Guide Mar 24-27: Folk Fest, Mr. Clit & The Pink Cigarettes, 330 Metal Festival, Xiao He

We here at the Beijinger are happy to present Live Beijing Music's weekend gig guide, written by head honcho Mr. Will Griffith. Will has been running around Beijing for over four years, documenting the city's shows and the requisite onlooking drunkards with various cameras/sound recorder setups, losing plenty of equipment along the away in his attempt to capture Beijing's aural spirit. You'll occasionally catch him pogoing like a madman when he's not got a camera in hand. Take it away, Will ...

Aho fellow Beijingers – hope you’re enjoying the transition from winter and spring, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be retiring your longjohns soon enough and busting out the Tevas for the season. And no better way to get the fever than a weekend full of musical hijinks. And boy, do we have a jam-packed weekend. So let’s get right into it – and as always make your way over to our calendar for next week schedule.
 

Friday, March 25

The Junglemico Project at Temple
Don’t miss this opportunity to catch Beijing’s highly acclaimed and insanely addictive live electronica band The Junglemico Project who have blown my mind more than once – performing dubstep, techno, drum n bass, trip hop – whatever genre of club wets your whistle – live in front of your very eyes. Seriously some of the most wicked musicians in town. Free

Hell City, Unregenerate Blood, D-Crash, The Demonstrators, Last Resort at School
It’s a punk crash course with a strong helping of hardcore to keep these knees flailing. Strong punk support from the Mohawked enforcers Hell City and D-beat kids D-Crash, plus the hardcore scene’s cream of the crop Unregenerate Blood, are just the icing. RMB 60

Boiled Hippo, 工工工 at fRUITYSPACE
The new fRUITYSPACE, which is awesome by the way, has finally soundproofed the joint, and are ready to bust up some eardrums this Friday as shoegaze noise rockers Boiled Hippo join 工工工, the holy matrimony of Joshua Frank and Tom Ng － a percussion band described as ‘an abstract folk music boogie’. Dope. RMB 40

Saycet (FR) at DDC
Electronic project from Parisian music composer Pierre Lefeuvre, whose dreamy tranquil soundscapes craft an addictive brand of experimental pop that engage your ears. RMB 120

Residence A, Tong, Next Door Band, 鹿先森乐队,Poshangcun at Mao Livehouse
An evening of high brow indie pop featuring some of the scene’s most sought acts including Residence A and Poshangcun. RMB 100

Epica (NL) at Yugong Yishan
Chart topping Dutch symphonic metal band known for their strong female vocals and killers riffs look to shake the roof loose at Yugong Yishan alongside Beijing’s die hard metal fans. RMB 280/360

Wu Ning Yue at Snail Club
Frontman for Ningxia folk rock journeymen Buyi and one of the scene’s best crooners goes solo for an intimate showcase at hostel/café Snail Club. RMB 80

Wu & The Side Effects at Old What? Bar
I think it’s safe to say that blues-ridden rock trio Wu & The Side Effects are in the midst of a comeback – catch them at the Forbidden City dive, the Old What? Free

Liu Donghong at 69 Café
Blues-ridden folk singer songwriter Liu Donghong, keeps it intimate at the cozy 69 Café. RMB 50

Saturday, March 26

Mr. Clit & The Pink Cigarettes (US), Round Eye, Bedstars, Social Boar, Guiguisuisui at School
It’s a packed card at School as doo-wop, saxophone wielding party rockers Round Eye, out of Shanghai, host Mr. Clit & The Pink Cigarettes, a USA hardcore trash punk trio with a sense of the absurd and theatric, as well as a slew of Beijing’s most physically active and eye-worthy bands including the surreal undead 8-bit blues punk duo Guiguisuisui, the intoxicated punk ruffians Bedstars, and math rock caretakers Social Boar, on their final string of shows this month before falling into extinction. Gonna be a rowdy ones. RMB 60

Howie Lee, Zhang Yang, Zehzuil, Bohan Phoenix, en Du Nan Hai, Bloodz Boi at Yugong Yishan
Rising electronic producer Howie Lee, whose infectious blend of Chinese culture flavors and samples amongst trap music stylings has gained him acclaim here and aboard, presents his debut, MuCheShanChu, officially tonight with help from percussionist Zhang Yang. The evening also sees the Do Hits crew kicks off their Motherland series, which gives the spotlight to Chinese artists living and working abroad to a domestic audience – including Brooklyn based rapper Bohan Phoenix. RMB 150

330 Metal Festival at Tango
After being canceled last year due to ‘safety concerns’ Beijing’s (and China’s in that regard) most celebrated metal festival, the 330 Metal Fest, is ready to give it another go this year, returning in Tango (FMLive) for its 15 year anniversary. The one-day festival will feature 13 of China’s biggest metal bands including Suffocated, Die From Sorrow, Ego Fall, Dream Spirit, Dressed to Kill, and much, much more.

Xiao He at Jianghu Bar
Xiao He is a master class of ‘what the hell will you do next?’. From freak folk, to opera singing, to topical soothing ballads that can only be heard through a book (!?), there’s no outlet the veteran artist hasn’t tapped into. And dude rarely performs. So this is the equivalent of seeing a unicorn in a squatter toilet letting one loose. The folk legend kicks off his new tour ‘A Tree in the Forest’ tonight. RMB 150

Steely Heart, The Hotline, Secret Club, Penicillin, Pacalolo, Click#15 at Mao Livehouse
Local label and promotion team D.O.G brings the 7th generation of rock n roll to Mao Livehouse with a lineup that indulges in britpop, garage rock, and synth pop with sets from Steely Heart, The Hotline, and more. RMB 80

iimmune, Noise Arcade at 8-Bit
Electronic wizardry of the highest order at 8-Bit as iimmune, the electronic side project from Glow Curve and Raying Psychedelic Coalition member, and drone-happy ambient soundscaper Noise Arcade provide you with your own personal Mario Kart soundtrack. Free

A Festival of Beijing’s Freshest Folk at 69 Café
It’s right there in the name – the freshest folk this part of town – and a heck ton of it including sets from Chengdu raised artist Uncle Hu, Nathan Borofka, Zhang Jiadi, The Leaves, and much much more. 4pm. RMB 50

The Hot Club of Beijing at DDC
Multi-national gypsy jazz trope bring the swinging jazz, hot latin rhythms, fiery gypsy waltzes and elegant ballads to DDC. RMB 50

Sunday, March 27

The Diders, Guiguisuisui, Yan, Dee X & DizzySystem at DDC
An night of experimental tendencies manifesting in musical mayhem with an eclectic lineup at DDC featuring two Dee’s, a Guiguisuisui, and The Diders. Punk, costumes, and god knows what else, unpredictable it will be. RMB 50

Izia (FR) at Yugong Yishan
French musician and singer-songwriter (and actress) Izia from France brings her chameleon intoxicating sound to Yugong Yishan as apart of her first China wide tour. RMB 100

Dimo at Snail Club
Indie folk rock outfit Dimo, with a keen sense of pop, bring their accessible pleasant sound to Snail Club. RMB 50

Joker’s Belief, Macondo, One Hung Low at School
The Go West! Series, shedding a light on the various expat bands taking names and kicking ass, continues tonight at School. RMB 40

Huhekug Vol. 1 at Jianghu Bar
Catch an improv set from recognized Mongolian musicians Ahiqia and Hugejiltu, whose work in bands like Hanggai and Ego Fall has not gone unnoticed. RMB 60

Phew! Still hungry for more? For events, videos, and photos from Beijing's thriving music scene, head over to Live Beijing Music.

Images: Live Beijing Music, zimbio.com, courtesy of the organizers