34 Gigs to Help Ringing in Your New (Y)Ears

The new year creeps closer and closer and you know what I couldn’t be happier. Nothing I look forward to more than the pretense of a clean slate. And while it’ll take about two weeks for that façade to come tumbling down, why not indulge oneself for the time being, rock out like it’s the Y2K, and treat oneself to one of these satisfactory gigs. And as I’m typing this up in a derelict internet café in Xi’an, sitting in a cigarette-hole-riddled loveseat amidst the wasted youth, I’m gonna try to keep it short and brief this week. Here’s to you 2016!

RELATED: Where to Eat, Dance, and Do Anything Else Your Mind Desires This New Year's Eve

Friday, December 30

Panic Worm, Usisi, The Sino Hearts, Backspace, The Dice! at Hot Cat Club
In case I haven’t braided folks enough with my own content this week – I can’t recommend enough heading over to the Hot Cat Club this evening as Live Beijing Music hosts Wuhan lo-fi post punk ruffians Panic Worm and Yunnan-based guitar noise artist Usisi alongside pop punk swingers The Sino Hearts, jangly psych rockers Backspace and space rock cadets The Dice! Hell of a lineup there – expect mind-bending sounds and a heck ton of drink deals throughout the night. And best of all – it’s free.

Song Yuzhe, Zhangjian at Yue Space
The multi-faceted, multi-instrumental, multi-talented Song Yuzhe, frontman for the otherworldly culturally diverse avant-garde folk supergroup Dawanggang plays tonight alongside fellow world music and improviser Zhangjian for a special performance entitled ‘Super Light’ – intrigued I am. RMB 80

Electric Lady, One Hung Low, Ghetto Blaster, Derby Day, The Loser at School
All hail the ‘Retro Kings’ – a evening of ‘rock n' roll that harkens back to the days of old, with bands inspired by the blues, psychedelic, and hard-rock artists of decades gone past’ with sets from stoner rockers Electric Lady, bluesmen Ghetto Blaster, and more. RMB 60

Steely Heart, Twinkle Star, WHAI, Auburn at Modernsky Lab
Big sounds and catchy hooks at Modnersky Lab as a series of established bands take the stage including emo punk faves Twinkle Star, new wave electro rockers Steely Heart, trance rockers WHAI, and more. RMB 120

INXU, By Dream at Temple
Atmospheric rock and roll to set the mood for the upcoming year – instrumental rock takes over Temple as film soundtrackers INXU bring their epic soundscapes alongside post rock swooners By Dream. Free

Hard Candy Revolution, The Prozax, 4U, Drop Science, FM.E, Gangjianzuhe, Heping North Street at E&A Livehouse
Oh my, if Temple and Dada weren't enough, the 'livehouse' between the two (closer to a high school dancehall) is throwing away their weight with a pretty bad ass lineup featuring a slew of familiar bands including glam rockers Hard Candy Revolution, emo goth outfit The Prozax and more. RMB 70

Wangyawei, Ajian, Qianmuyuyuedui, Rendog, Wenhui, Zhanqiang, Moran, Shilidong, Wuhuaguo, Caojiuyi at Yugong Yishan
If there's one thing there's a lot of this weekend - it's folk shows. Lots of people got plenty of things on their mind and what better outlet than a song. Wax poetry with some of the best at Yugong Yishan this evening. RMB 80

Self-Portrait, Air Express, Three Dimensional Fish, Locomotive Gentlemen at Omni Space
It’s a British invasion at the Tianqiao Art Centre! Five great bands, deeply influenced by Britpop, look to swoon audiences. If you’re idea of a blast is the sweet nostalgia of Oasis and Blur, this is the show for you. RMB 80

ZHI16, Yan, Wujing Rap Group, Blosu at Fruityspace
Live jazz hip-hop ‘Nujabes’ vibes over at Fruityspace as they look to a collection of hip hop, future bass, and jazz electronic artists perform live alongside rappers, and various other special guests such as Daniel Rothwell. RMB 60

Liu Yusi, Nick Parsons at Mogu Space
A acoustic-filled evening at Mogu Space as independent singer-songwriter Liu Yisui joins regular Nick Parsons for some story-telling tunes. RMB 60

Zhege, Oksa, The Rebel Five at DDC
Lively tongue-in-cheek R&B infused rock outfit Zhege return to DDC to spice up your night alongside funk group The Rebel Five and folk rockers Oksa. RMB 50

Stuart Hui, After Two Weeks, Zenith at 13 Club
Besides the fact that After Two Weeks sounds like a Hugh Grant or Sandra Bullock romcom, 13 Club looks rejuvenated as of late – tonight the Macau Youth Music Tour brings together three great artists: Stuart Hui, After Two Weeks and Zenith for one night of rock and roll. Macau represent! RMB 40

Zhao Xiatong, Can’t Stop, Small Heavy, Xiao Xia at 69 Café
A diverse group of artists including Zhao Xiatong, Can’t Stop, Small Heavy and Xiao Xia appear at 69 Café for an end of year showcase. These artists have different backgrounds and influences, but are known for their ballads, combining simple sentiments with deep emotion, for an evening of folk and rock inspired music. RMB 60

Eluvia, Zhang Zhuo, Asha at Jianghu Bar
A eclectic lineup that Jianghu Bar that includes psychedelic experimental artist Asha, independent singer-songwriter Zhang Zhuo, and multi-national reggae, country, folk outfit Eluvia. RMB 60

Santiago de Fuentes at La Plantation
Santiago de Fuentes appears at La Plantation for a night of Flamenco music, straight from the birthplace of Flamenco. He has studied with some of the most famous teachers of Flamenco dance, and will be accompanied by guitarist Liron Man, who has played with some of the most famous Flamenco dancers in Spain. Zhao Zhen, a Chinese Flamenco dancer trained in Spain by some of the masters of dance, will also appear.


Saturday, December 31

Dr. Liu & The Human Centipede, The Diders, Ouch, Secret Club, The Twenties, Byebye Noise at School
School realizes more so than anyone that the best way to bring in the new year is with a hefty hardy night of rock and roll followed swiftly by a hangover that’ll last till the next year rolls round – but seriously that’s a killer lineup. Indie rock rookies of the year The Twenties – check. Hardcore punk maelstormers Dr. Liu – check. Old school ska punk veterans Ouch – check. Yeah, School has NYE on lockdown at this point – expect a shitstorm of the highest order. RMB 80

Wild Children, Song Yuzhe, Moxizishi, Zhouyunpeng, Liudongming at MOMA Post Mountain Space
Some of the folk worlds most respected acts join together for a joyous NYE event hosted by Tree Music label, one of the labels to hold down the world music and folk scene for years. ‘Double percussion, double guitar’ idols Wild Children, People’s Literature Award winner Zhouyunpeng, and recent folk star and Yi minority member Moxizishi – and that’s just the beginning. Not gonna find a lineup this good for at least another year. RMB 260

Macondo, Panic Worm, Joker’s Belief, special guests at Temple
Temple’s first New Year’s Eve with a fire escape! No better time to bust out those firecrackers and put those stairs to good use! Temple is as celebratory a joint as can be so expect a very festive (i.e random folks going mouth to mouth) atmosphere as power rock faves of 2016 Macondo join Wuhan post punk scrappers Panic Worm, and indie funk rockers Joker’s Belief – plus special guest appearances Carlo Fuentes, Dan Rothwell, Junkano Ahonen with VJing duties on WuJing. Power fist. Free

TOW, The Molds, Not In Catalog, The Dice! at Fruityspace
The Gulou hub of esoteric musical taste – Fruityspace – gathers its merry band of outcasts and offbeat characters for an afternoon into evening trip that’ll feature bluesy-punk staples The Molds, freak folk duo TOW, experimental junkies Not In Catalog, and space rockers The Dice! – plus a slew of DJs and warm drinks to keep the party riding all night. RMB 80

Residence A, Perpetual Motion Machine at Mao Livehouse
It must be 2013 cause two of favorites bands from that year, U2-esque rockers Residence A and culturally rich hard rockers Perpetual Motion Machine, are joining forces for the big ball drop - with a one off special New Years Eve bash at Mao Livehouse – as always these cats know how to put on a show so expect a lively entry to 2017. RMB 150

Birdstriking, Liquid Palace, Elenore, Gemini, Click #15, Suqing at Yugong Yishan
Local promotion platform Wild Birds gives a wildly diverse lineup of this years hotter acts – from the riotous noise rock stylings of Birdstriking, the britpop infused indie rocking of Elenore, even the bombastic electro rock of Gemini, the one thing in common each of these bands have is a hardcore fan following. Join in on the hype before the New Year. RMB 180

Moliseng, Yelin, Xudei, Chenmaqi, Su Xuanbei, Laomao at DDC
A common theme for the end of the year is to tell stories – stories of loss, of newfound love, of life in all it's messy glory – and what better way than through song. DDC gathers a host of local singer-songwriters to look back at 2016 and look forward to 2017. RMB 60

Chenhongyu, Suzi, Yangmeng, Mayuyang, Hanlou & Gurun at Yue Space
So of the folk scene hottest commodities take the stage at Yue Space for an intimate evening of story telling and lyrical poetry. RMB 120

Three Mosquitoes, Horse Feathers at Hot Cat Club
Hot Cat welcomes the New Year with a night long of dancing with infectious covers of all the best pop rock songs of the past few decades and much much more – at 12, they’ll be pouring free prosecco courtesy down merry throats aplenty. Free  

Flowers, Poshangcun, Next Door Band, Mr. Honey at Laifu Club
Laifu Club, down in Shaungjing, host a foot-stomping, knee-slapping lineup of ska, indie pop, and folk, including vets of the scene Mr. Honey, Poshangcun, and more. RMB 120

Goodbye Sunset, Summon Soul, Kepler, 绳角乐队, 炼狱at 13 Club
Rock out the New Year with the youth at the Wudaoku music hub 13 Club with a heavy lineup that features skate punk favorites Summer Sunshine, hard rockers Summon Soul, and much more. RMB 80


Sunday, January 1

Perpetual Motion Machine, INXU, 4 Channel Club, MC Dawei, Anqi Liu, Badun at DDC  
DDC celebrates the new year in style with a new photo exhibition followed by an assortment of rich acts that feature everything from 8-bit soundscapes, post rock soundtracks, rapid-fire rap verses, and much much more. RMB 60 (5pm start)

AV Okubo at Yue Space
Retrofitted, pop culture-infused Wuhan punk outfit AV Okubo, a staple of the scene for years, says farewell to their drummer Chen Yutong with a special showcase at Yue Space. RMB 100

Black Kirin at Yugong Yishan
Consisting of experienced metal musicians from the Chinese underground extreme metal scene, Black Kirin return with a new seven-man lineup on their latest tour to promote their LP Xiao Shao, an album that ‘challenges the artistic boundaries between extreme metal and oriental folk - haunting, intense yet melodic songs with eastern folk-ish vibe’ RMB 120

Wukong the Monkey King (NZ), Royal As Purple, Miss Mix at School
Hailing from New Zealand and currently on tour in China, psychedelic alt-rock troupe Wukong the Monkey King – they’ll be joined by psycho pop trio led by Melvin Wong Royal as Purple, as well as female glam rockers Miss Mix. RMB 60

Mr. Honey at Temple
Big band loving at Temple as veteran big band ska boys Mr. Honey bring the foot tapping good times to Temple – not a bad way to dance away that hangover. Free

Mojo Hand at Jianghu Bar
Blues rock supergroup made up of some of the skilled rockers of the Beijing scene, including OOC frontman Cheng Chen, bring their richly flavored Chicago blues to the Beixinqiao space. RMB 80

Longshendao at Modernsky Lab
Time to kick off summer with the perfect summer jam. Yup, it’s China’s premier reggae outfit Longshendo, and they’re throwing a reggae party for all of you lucky enough to make it out of NYE alive. And as always with Long Shen Dao, it’s all about the good vibes. RMB 120

Mood Pushing Melon at MOMA Post Mountain Space
China' s most shocking avant-garde rock band™! With a lead singer with a dramatic Magnolia voice, a drum and bass inner change rich in sound, and a frantic distorted guitar noise that’s out of this world – calling it – sleeper gig of the weekend. RMB 100

Phew! Still hungry for more? For events, videos, and photos from Beijing's thriving music scene, head over to Live Beijing Music or check out all of our live music listings here.

Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers