2011 Dec 08 Weekend Live Music Roundup: Midi Awards, Yaksa, Abigail Washburn
Are the music maniacs really becoming more and more active in Beijing? Is it just their reaction to a cold winter? It was only midweek, but celebrations started yesterday. Australian metal-core band Parkway Drive and British electro newbie Chad Valley went to Gulou Dongdajie, rocking MAO Livehouse and Temple bar real good. We hope you still have energy left because there’s no time to rest, not even for one night.
Yeah, it’s still Thursday, but good shows are everywhere. Promising indie rock group Flounder takes over Gulou 121, New York’s “next big thing” French Horn Rebellion wants to keep you dancing all night and Beijing’s own indie rock production Steely Heart has a new album to release. We didn’t forget that something tragic happened 21 years ago on this day and neither do the bands from Beijing. The Beijing Beatles, Dafay & Skyscrapers and Elenore pay their tributes to John Lennon tomorrow at MAO.
Finally on Saturday, the Midi Awards will reveal this year's winners. No matter who wins the most titles it is going to be a good show. The organizers have made sure that the audience will get everything: metal, punk, folk, indie, reggae and hip-pop will all be covered - click here for the lineup. The same night, some of the most promising young bands gather at MAO and last year’s winner of Best Metal Band at the Midi Awards, Yaksa, will have their own party at Yugong Yishan.
If you like experimental music then you should all come to the Charity Super Quiz on Sunday. We'll understand, though, if you want to go check what kind of sparkle Abigail Washburn’s banjos and Wu Fei’s Gu Zheng can come out with.
Thursday (December 8)
Bloody Woods
Random pure sounds about the nature keep your night peaceful. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)
Flounder, Illness Sickness
Up and coming indie rock kids from Australia shares stage with Beijing’s post rock new power. RMB 40. 9.30pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430)
French Horn Rebellion
You’d better be ready to sweat. This dizzying live synth-pop show will make you dance like no one’s watching. RMB 100. 9pm. Tango (6551 9988)
Gloomy Hymn of Darkness
Girls go heavy. A gathering of Beijing’s metal bands with female vocals. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 8pm. MAO Live House (6402 5080)
Lazy Camels, Unionbunny, Fatiao Kamusuo
Young powers rock out. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 9.30pm. D-22 (6265 3177)
Steely Heart
These poppy indie rockers have a new album to share. Brain Failure’s Xiao Rong and ex-Joyside’s Bian Yuan come to support. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)
Friday (December 9)
Arrows Made of Desire, Time Street
Indie pop rules the night. RMB 40. 9.30pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430)
Chiren
A genuine mix of traditional Chinese folk and modern pop rock. RMB 40. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)
Devils at the Crossroad
A rock & roll party to celebrate their new EP. Free. 9pm. Temple (131 6107 0713)
Dime Fest Vol. 8
Dime records’ metal fest keeps kicking with Saw, The Lifeless and more. RMB 50. 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)
Hugh Reed, Buyao Band
Check out some indie and post rock. Free. 9pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)
Illness Sickness, Chui Wan, Skip Skip Ben Ben
Illness Sickness give Beijing’s mellow postrock scene the strong kick in the pants that it needs, with support from avant-garde musical experimentalists. See p43. Price TBD. 9.30pm. What Bar (159 0123 6743)
Mademoiselle et son Orchestre
Sense the sexy gypsy jazz. RMB 40. 9.45pm. VA Cafe and Bar (5844 3638)
Pork, Summer Sunshine, You Xi
Young powers rock Wudaokou. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)
Tribute to the Beatles
The Beijing Beatles, Dafay & Skyscrappers and Elenore show their respect to the great Mr. Lennon. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)
Zhang Si'An
The French electro-folk geek combines modern technology and roots of music history. RMB 30 (include a free beer). 8.30pm. Tushuguan 98 (8400 1532)
Saturday (December 10)
Chiren
Bring on the Chinese rock. Free. 9pm. Temple (131 6107 0713)
Hogs On Ice, Mr. Freeman
From old style country blues to rock, from punk to hip-pop, all share the same passion. RMB 40. 9.45pm. VA Cafe and Bar (5844 3638)
Midi Awards
All the most important rockers in Beijing gather for a celebration. Longshendao, Liquid Oxygen and more bring the live beats. RMB 180, RMB 100 (advance). 3-10pm. Tango (6551 9988)
Mini Train Heart, Streets Kill Strange Animals
Wuhan’s underground electro unit comes to impress Beijing. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students).
10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)
Not There, Metoo, Elephant
A new wave hits Fangjia Hutong. Free. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)
Randy Abel Stable
Honky-tonk bluegrass hits Dongmianhua Hutong. RMB 40. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)
Residence A, Illness Sickness, Los Crasher, CAssette, Jacky Danny
A new rock generation starts to boom. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance, students). 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse
The Starfruits
Italian progressive folksters keep rocking Bei Luoguxiang. Free. 9pm. Beiluo Cafe and Bar (8402 1126)
Yaksa
Beijing’s heavy metal leader ends their national tour at home. Four Five joins in. Don’t be surprised if this ends up being the after-party of the Midi Awards. RMB 80, RMB 60 (advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)
Yang Meng
Spring Autumn's lead singer returns to Beijing with his solo folk songs. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9.30pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430)
Sunday (December 11)
CD Blues' Folk Music Festival
Folk tunes from five international folk bands. RMB 120, RMB 80 (advance). 6pm. CD Blues Cafe and Bar (6506 8288)
Gear & Rubber
Shaanxi’s hard-rock favorite stops by. RMB 40. 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)
The Haunted
Need some death in the winter? How about some death-thrash from Sweden? RMB 200, RMB 160 (advance). 8pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)
Hoochie Coochie Gentleman, New Perfume
Folky blues and pop rock. RMB 40. 9.30pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 5269)
Wu-Force
The brainchild of Abigail Washburn, Wu Fei and Kai Welch. Wu-Force melds the somber sounds of classical Chinese instruments like the guzhen with the twangs of Abigail’s banjo. RMB 50. 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)
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