What is it about May that stirs the music community to life? Is it the increased levels of sunshine? The promise of summer around the bend? Perhaps. Probably. Who knows? Or cares? Stop asking questions. Ignorance is bliss. Just enjoy the good music and weather while it lasts.

transmitChina

This four-day music conference and showcase brings Canadian indie musicians to Beijing as part of a cultural exchange. Though this year’s lineup will comprise only visiting bands and DJs from Canada – Hollerado, Final Flash, Creature, Jets Overhead and Socalled – it will nonetheless be a fine display of musical genres, spanning experimental electronica to heavy metal. For full line-ups click here.

When: Apr 29-May 1; 9pm
Where: The Star Live, D-22, and Cargo Club
Price: RMB 50
Tickets: Available at The Star Live (6425 5677), Cargo Club (6551 6898), D-22 (6265 3177) and www.emma.com

www.transmit-live.com

2009 Midi Nights

When it comes to festivals, it’d be almost sacrilege for Midi not to host one, especially as the school turns ten this year. Though Beijing is sad to see its outdoor festival go south to Zhenjiang, we’re happy to know they’ll collaborate in part with transmitChina for this four-night indoor event. Exclusive to Midi, however, will be select local bands from Zhenjiang, Chengdu and Tongzhou, and Army of Freshmen (US), Bonks (Norway), Blind Sight (Netherlands) and Mike TV (UK).

When: Apr 30-May 3; 8pm
Where: The Star Live
Price: RMB 50 (per day)
Tickets: At the door or www.piao.com.cn

www.midimidi.cn

D-22 Birthday Party

So technically, this isn’t a festival. But it might as well be. It opens with a warm-up from Ourself Beside Me, L.A.B.F. and The Molds, then bang! Out come Carsick Cars (joined by The Gar, Rough Transmission, The Offset: Spectacles) on Day 2. Day 3 will be slightly more intense, with Joyside, Guai Li, AV Okubo, Fading Horizon and You Mei You. Closing the bash will be the more serene sounds of Liu Sheng, Wu Tung, Zhou Yunpeng, Xiao He and Hanggai. For more details and specific line-up here.

When: Apr 30-May 2, 10pm; May 3, 8pm
Where: D-22
Price: RMB 80, RMB 60 (students) on May 1-2; RMB 60, RMB 40 (students) on Apr 30 and May 3
Tickets: At the door

www.d-22.cn

13 Club Metal Festival

This two-day festival, now in its second year, features both 13 Club regulars as well as some of the city’s fellow heavy metalists, including death metal band Lilith, gothic devils Dengel, industrial enthusiasts Nuclear Fusion-G, melodic metalists Frosty Eve, Fan Doudou’s screaming with Soma TNT, heavy drumming from Four Five, the hard-core of Last Chance of Youth and new metal a la Independent Declaration. For more details and line-ups, click here.

When: May 1-2; 8pm
Where: 13 Club
Price: RMB 40 (per day), RMB 60 (two days)
Tickets: At the door or call 8668 7151

www.myspace.cn/13club

Ditan Park Music Festival

Ah, there’s nothing like the sound of folk music in a park. The Ditan Park Music Festival will also offer plenty of world music. The line-up includes the ever-experimental Xiao He, French gypsy jazz band No Name Trio, Ningxia native Su Yang with her folk songs from the wild west, and the Inner Mongolian throat singing of Gangzi. Furthermore, Aojie’a Ge and Sun Tribe will showcase their Yi ethnic origins, while Livingstone & Tribe bring drumming from Africa. For more details and line-ups, click here.

When: May 1-2; 4.30-10.30pm
Where: Ditan Park
Price: RMB 60 (per day), RMB 50 (advance), RMB 100 (2-day pass), Free (children under ten)
Tickets: At Door, Dong’s Guitar Shop (57 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District)

ditanparkmusic@yahoo.com

Modern Sky Strawberry Music Festival

As one of the earliest rock labels in China, Modern Sky is no stranger to music festivals; they host their annual shindig in October. But this year they’re introducing the Strawberry Music Festival, during which, for three days in Beijing’s eastern suburb of Tongzhou, more than 60 acts will perform on three stages. The list includes Brain Failure, Nancheng Erge, Cao Fang, Re-TROS, Shuangzi, Zhou Yunpeng, Hedgehog, Hua Lun, Deerhoof, Joanna Wong, Zhang Chu and many, many more. True to Modern Sky form, traditional Beijing snacks and handcrafts will be on sale. For more details, line-up and how to get there, click here.

When: May 1-3; 11am-9.30pm
Where: Tongzhou Canal Park
Price: RMB 80 (per day), RMB 180 (3-day pass, register at festival.modernsky.com)
Tickets: At the door

www.modernsky.com

Ku-18 Club Afternoon Tea Concert Series

Three days of concerts, two hours each day, featuring a variety of acoustic sounds and world music. Line-up includes Ma Tiao and Ye Nong (Xinjiang), folk songs from artist/musician Li Jingchan, and “flamingo” guitar from local and international musicians.

When: May 1-3; 3.30-5.30pm
Where: KU18 Club at 798 Creative Square
Price: RMB 30 (per day), RMB 20 (students, advance)
Tickets: Available at the door or e-mail 18kulive@gmail

Metal Festival at New Get Lucky

The old spirit of rock & roll lives on at New Get Lucky, which this three-day metal festival proves. If you missed some of the 13 Club Metal Festival artists, catch them here – and check out Mongolian metal band Egofall. The first ten people each night will receive a compilation album featuring performing bands.

When: May 1-3; 9pm
Where: New Get Lucky
Price: RMB 50 (per day)
Tickets: At the door or 8448 3335

Zebra International Music Festival 2009

If you can resist all other festivals this weekend, a short excursion to Sichuan may do you good. Though this festival doesn’t happen in Beijing, its roster of over 50 artists features many a household name: Wang Feng, New Pants, MUMA, Brain Failure, SUBS, Casino Demon, Hedgehog, Carsick Cars, The Gar … and that doesn’t even get into the list of artists from Chengdu, Taiwan and abroad who will be collecting under the slogan of “I Care.” (The festival, in remembrance of the May 12, 2008 Sichuan earthquake, will benefit The One Foundation, WWF, C. Nature, the Beijing Cultural Development Center and others.)

When: May 1-3
Where: Chengdu, Sichuan
Price: RMB 80 (per day), RMB 50 (students), RMB 160 (three days)
Tickets: At www.ticketone.com.cn or 400 8101 1887 or 800 810 1887

www.myzmf.com

Beijing Drummer Festival

At this festival, going on its second year, the Beijing Drummer Association collaborates with Drum China to bring together some of the best drummers in the country – Suffocation, The Face, Lan Band, Tang Dynasty, Black Panther are a few of the luminaries on this bill. Think of it not only an as opportunity to hear some quality percussioning but also a chance for a close encounter with some of China’s rock forefathers.

When: May 7; 7pm
Where: The Star Live
Price: RMB 50, RMB 40 (students, advance)
Tickets: At the door or 6425 5677

Soho May Party Fun Fair

Thirty bands and artists – i.e. Pet Conspiracy, Super VC, Reflector, LIman, Sulumi, and Zigzag – rock three stages in the office blocks of CBD in this free outdoor party organized by Soho China. Stroll in after work for the perfect start to the weekend.

When: May 15; 5.30-11pm
Where: Chaowai Soho, Soho Shangdu
Price: Free

BaiCai’s Label Festival: Circus Night

Since its founding in 2006, local-based BaiCai Productions has invited DJs from around the world to bring quality dance music to Beijing. They continue the trend with this first festival, in which they’ve invited DJs from French electronic label Circus Company to spin an all-nighter. On hand will be founder of Circus Company DJ Sety, house DJ Oleg Poliakov and Parisians dOP.

When: May 22-23; starts 10pm on May 22 and ends 7am on May 23
Where: Tango
Price: RMB 80
Ticket: At door

maxime.bureau@ucca.org.cn

Beijing NineGates International Jazz Festival

Apart from some local regulars like Liu Yuan (former saxophonist for Cui Jian), Golden Buddha Jazz Unit, Liu Yue Trio and Nathaniel Gao Jazz Quartet, this year’s line-up includes artists from Scandinavia (Norwegian quintet Motif) and North America (Canadians Ranee Lee and Yannick Rieu). This is also your chance to see local sound experimentalist Xiao He (also see Ditan Park Festival) collaborate with “Scandinavian Drum King” Emil de Waal. Performances will be complemented by artist discussions and live radio broadcasts in venues and concert halls around town.

When: May 22-27; Time varies
Where: Forbidden City Concert Hall, Peking University Hall, East Shore Live Jazz Café, Beijing Contemporary Music Academy, Yugong Yishan
Price: RMB 60-280, RMB 30 (students), RMB 380 (VIP)
Tickets: Forbidden City Concert Hall (6559 8285/8306), Poly Theatre (6506 5345)

www.ninegates.com.cn

Intro 2009: Beijing Electronic Music Festival

In conjunction of the “Meet In Beijing”, Acupuncture invites eight international guests (DJs Shin Nishimura of Japan, Chris Liebing from Germany, and Italy’s Italoboyz, et al) to join over ten local artists – including Acupuncture’s ELVIS.T and Terry Tu – on two stages in an overnight, open-air party in 798. Beyond the festival, Intro 2009 also includes a series of street performances at 798, The Village, Nanluogu Xiang and Wudaokou from May 1-3, as well as pre-party warm-ups at White Rabbit (May 16) and Luce (May 22).

When: May 23-24; starts at 1pm on May 23 and runs until 6am on May 24
Where: D-Park at 798 Art Zone
Price: RMB 200 (per day), RMB 120 (until May 10), RMB 150 (until May 20)
Tickets: At the door, www.clubzone.cn or call 400 818 3333 or 8591 1014

www.acupuncture-records.com, www.meetinbeijing.org.cn