Among all the “underground” rock bands in Beijing, New Pants is probably the closest to the “mainstream,” even though they might not like that fact so much. They actually haven’t been very active in the live music scene lately but spent their time on short movies and stage plays. Finally they are having a big show at a big venue – where they can put their crazy nerdy ideas onto the stage. Catch up with them tomorrow night at the Beijing Exhibition Theater. I hope you won some free tickets from us, because tickets are not cheap.

In comparison it’s much more economical to see Da Bang (former known as Bigger Bang) at Yugong Yishan. They are becoming more and more like Queen Sea Big Shark after they joined Modern Sky. This won’t stop their fans from going, especially when Helen Feng’s Nova Heart will come to support. If a soothing night is what you want, there are some folk rockers chilling in the Gulou area tomorrow: Ajinai at Jiang Hu and Lidong at Jiangjinjiu.

Beijing’s punks and metal heads are like a big family sometime and King-Kong Production is an important community that helps keep everyone close. This Saturday, their sixth anniversary is to be celebrated at MAO. Some of you might be more keen to go to 2 Kolegas – your favorite two female characters in Beijing’s rock scene will both be performing: DH with her Chinese Hellcats and Helen Feng with Free The Birds.

Before all of these, let’s start the weekend early at the three-story dumpling place near Lama Temple this evening and then we can catch Omnipotent Youth Society at Tango tonight.

Thursday (November 17)

L'Altra
Dream popsters from the US. RMB 100. 8.30pm. The One Club

Omnipotent Youth Society  
A special event organised by Noisey.com featuring the hottest rock power in China. Free. Win tickets here. 9.30pm. Tango

Friday (November 18)

Ajinai
Sooth your mind with folk tunes from the grassland. RMB 40. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 5269)

Anna Stamburg
Jazz, blues, and funky soul. Free. 9pm. Ciro's Pomodoro (5208 6008)

Bedstars, The Syringe, Reloadz
Wudaokou’s noise party continues. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Brad Live Pipa Concert
Trditional Chinese instrument Pipa meets electro. RMB 30 (include a free beer). 9pm. Tushuguan 98 (8400 1532)

Caffe-in
Pop punk boys and girl launch their new album /Yulongfeng/. RMB 80. 8pm. Tango (6428 4080)

Da Bang
You knew them as Bigger Bang. They’re launching their new album. Nova Heart comes to support. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). Time TBD. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Hip-pop Night
Beijing's local rappers gather. It's not something you would get every week, though it might end ugly. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 8pm. MAO Live House (6402 5080)

Jess Meider
The American singer/songwriter joins the jazz crowd. RMB 40. 9.45pm. VA Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)

Lidong
Get some sentimental folk rock by the Drum Tower. RMB 30. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu Bar

Longjin
Reggae power expands in the hutongs. Free. 9.30pm. Temple (131 6107 0713)

Mademoiselle et son Orchestre
A soothing night with sweet jazz tunes. RMB 50. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Metal Girls Night
Five metal bands with female vocals share their dark sides. RMB 60. 8.30pm. Mako Livehouse (5205 1113)

New Pants
They used to be punk, then kind of poppy electronic rock – now they’re conquering the mainstream. RMB 120-880. 7.30pm. Beijing Exhibition Theater (6835 4455)

Saturday (November 19)

Acid Live
Beijing’s acid jazz pride is back. RMB 60. 10pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Devils At The Crossroad
Rock, punk, grunge … let’s get hardcore. Free. 9.30pm. Temple (131 6107 0713)

Free The Birds, DH & Chinese Hellcats  
Two strong female figures encounter. Get ready to rock. RMB 50. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Friend or Foe, Yan Tiao, Yongdongji
Bitter blues and angry pop rock encounters. RMB 50. RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

King-Kong Production 6th Anniversary
Influential punk and metal groups get together to celebrate their favorite labels B-day. Lineup includes Misandao, Soju Legen, Hell City and more. RMB 80, RMB 60 (advance). 8.30pm. MAO Live House (6402 5080)

Los Amigos
Latino jazz hit Dongmianhua Hutong. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9pm. Jiang hu Liveshow Bar (6401 5269)

Lure, The Diamond
Beijing's pop rock veterans bring back the good old times. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9.30pm. Gulou 121

Mademoiselle et son Orchestre
Her French jazz tunes will light up in Wudaoying Hutong. RMB 40. 9.45pm. VA Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)

Not There and their Friends
Dance rock party to make the night hot at Fangjia Hutong. Free. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Reflector
Get in the mosh pit. Beijing’s pop-punk favorite returns. RMB 120, RMB 80 (advance). 9pm. Tango (6428 4080)

Friday & Saturday

Thrash Till Death Vol. 2
Beijing's darkest metal powers gather for death. lineup includes The Punisher, Raging Mob, Jacky Danny, Crack and more. RMB 50 (per day) 8.30pm. 13 Club

Sunday (November 20)

Dangekh Nurlan
The Kazak from Xinjing brings his traditional music to the hutongs. Free. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 5269)