Don't Forget: Jue Festival in Full Force This Weekend

We've finally awoken from February's sleepy Chinese New Year slumber straight into the first festival season of 2015, and things are starting off with a bang with the Jue Festival, out in full force this weekend.

Don't miss tomorrow's Jue Creative Market; here's some of our editors' picks for highlights of the fest:

Mar 14: The Hutong Yellow Weasels Release Party
These American folk music chickens have come home to roost, and with a new album of their down home countrified melodies for your listening pleasure. Check them out this Saturday at Jianghu, where they will give you a hoedown you can’t refuse. Trained in the art of banjo, fiddle, upright base, and finger picking good guitar, they will also be schooling the crowd in some traditional dances to complete the experience. 9.30pm. RMB 100 (includes the new album)

Mar 14: Wooozy Offline: Logos + Forma
This will be a must see evening brought to you by Woozy Offline. First up is Forma, who will take you on an extra terrestrial Tangerine Dream vision quest with a heavy arsenal of analog modular synths and drum machines, followed by Logos, a gent known for tearing things up with his instrumental grime. RMB 80
 

 

Mar 17: Jay Electronica & Miss Ko Double Bill
Native New Orleans rhyme machine Jay Electronica and Queens hip-hop tour de force Miss Ko meet for the first time in the milieu that is JUE. The two make up an undeniably compelling and exciting double bill with Iron Mic crews in support. It’s a rare pleasure to have this sort of compelling hip hop visit the capital. So make sure not to miss as they flaunt their inspired word play and incendiary mixes on the Yugong Yishan stage. RMB 220, RMB 150 (advance)
 

Mar 19: Awesome Tapes From Africa
Since 2006, Brian Shimkovitz's Awesome Tapes From Africa blog has been uncovering obscure and wonderfully funky sounds from across the African continent. The incredible interest that developed from this musical sharing resource eventually led to him taking these tapes around the globe as a DJ, from club to festival to DIY space, bringing his labor of love to life with 2-3 hour sets blending folkloric pop, left-field dance floor gems, and hip-hop beats he's collected from crates in remote marketplaces across Africa. RMB 50
 

Mar 20: Sub-Culture Presents: The Bug & Manga
In his twenty plus years performing Kevin Martin has provided bass-booming remixes for Grace Jones, Thom Yorke, and Primal Scream, and is considered to be one of the most versatile electronic musicians on the planet. Experience his unique genre melting live set as he’s joined by London-based grime king, Manga, as a part of this year’s JUE Festival. RMB 100

Mar 20: JUE | Music + Art Presents Emilie Simon
Welcome Emilie Simon to Beijing as she prepares an elegant set designed to send you to pop utopias beyond your imagination. Her sound is a lush mix of electronic textures and pixie vocals that’s hard not to swoon over. 8:30pm. RMB 180, RMB 150 (advance)
 

Mar 21: JUE | Music + Art: Yozoh
Something sweet comes your way this March. With her cloud like upbeat music and saccharine voice, it’s hard not to let your cares melt away when South Korean singer-songwriter Yozoh steps on stage. As one of the most remarkable indie-pop musicians coming out of South Korea today, JUE looks forward to presenting Yozoh to Beijing and Shanghai audiences. 8.30pm. RMB 180, RMB 120 (advance)
 

Mar 22: LOOP Beijing x JUE Closing Party}
On the closing day of JUE festival, hop on the Line 3 BRT bus with LOOP Beijing, for a ride to remember. Local favorites Alpine Decline, Charm, Zhang Shouwang, Cousin Kippy, and Compact Dicks will be blasting raw tunes, while Jing A serves up a little of their JUE brew while cruising through North central Beijing. Hop on or off anytime, all you have to do is pay the normal fare (RMB 2) and unleash your freak on the public transit system. 2-8pm. Free

Photos: Split Works