Noise Pollution: Wu & The Side Effects, Boss Cuts, Vinicius Cantuaria

With August here and summer on its last legs, the music scene here in Beijing looks to take its slow and easy. Good on them – everyone needs a break once in a while. So while you may not be spoiled by the onslaught of gigging we’ve grown accustomed to, there’s nevertheless still plenty to chew on, whether it be Spit-Tunes’ latest poetry jam mashup, or School (football) hooliganism at its finest. So venture forth and take what you can get.

 

Friday, August 4

Spit-Tunes w/ The Harridans, A.Borelis, Wen Liang at DDC
Spittoon hosts its latest Spit-Tunes poetry-music collaboration jam bringing together artists and bands from different genres with writers and poets for a special one-off performance. Participating bands will include art rock outfit The Harridans, singer-songwriter A. Borealis (of The Plum Trees), electronic artist Wen Liang, and guitar slayer Jukka Ahonen who’ll join poets and writers J. Penn, Lethokuhle Msimang, Jady, and Artur Witkowski for what will surely be a special night. 50 RMB

Shave 'N' Shut, Human Centipede, Labor Glory, Early Bus, The Last Resort at School
Hooliganism is what School excels at already so when they say they’re gonna ratchet it up even more in celebration of ‘rock n’ roll, beer, and football’ you best believe it’s gonna be a night to (not) remember with an explosive lineup featuring oi punk rockers Shave N’ Shut, house band and hardcore renegades Dr. Liu and the Human Centipede, ska punk veterans Early Bus (with a fresh new lineup), metalcore ruffians The Last Resort, and China’s only ultra-punk outfit Labor Glory. Bring your football jersey and first beer’s on the house. 80 RMB

Wu & The Side Effects, The Sino Hearts at Temple
Psych blues and power pop bring that classic appeal to rock and roll as Temple looks to shake loose this weekend with staple blues outfit Wu & The Side Effects, and The Sino Hearts, who have been having one of the busiest years ever for a band. Expect good old-fashioned fun to keep the mood lively. FREE

Boss Cuts, Endless Square at Soi Baochao
Surf rock faces off against art punk as Boss Cuts and Endless Square take refuge at the laid back Baochao bar which continues hosting gigs at their homey digs away from the hustle and bustle of Guluo Dong Dajie. Really digging the new addition to the scene. FREE 

Vinicius Cantuaria (Brazil) at Blue Note
Neo-Brazilian music pioneer and prominent jazz figure in New York City in the 90s, singer, guitarist, composer, drummer, and percussionist, Vinicius Cantuaria is a well-known Brazilian musician in the sphere of Bossa Nova and Jazz. 200-400 RMB

Need a Name, Wicked Bones, Beixianying Yaogun at EA Livehouse
Credit where credit is due: EA Livehouse, the venue that looks straight out of a high school prom dance and has the unfortunate location of being located under Temple, continues to throw down with a slew of young and scrappy rock events. Color me intrigued. 40 RMB

Qi Ming, Nick Parsons at ROCKLAND
Refusing to let a good thing get away, 69 Café’s owner has been recently throwing showcases at the tiny distro and record store Rockland in Houhai with a slew of folk scene regulars taking the stage – tonight hosts singer-songwriter Qi Ming. 90 RMB

Mark Luzhou at Mogu Space
Mark Luzhou, graduate of Peking University and Duke University, as well as a poet, writer, avant-garde folk rock-and-roller brings his eclectic and rebellious set of skills to the Xizhimen joint. 60 RMB

 

Saturday, August 5

Dirty Fingers, The Flyx, The Sino Hearts, Laisee at School
The new school of punk gets its day to shine tonight as School Bar welcomes Shanghai’s Dirty Fingers back to Beijing. The band, who have already become a hot ticket, recently recorded their debut with Maybe Mars and are ready to unleash all hell upon audiences. They’ll be joined by the aerobatic ‘free hardcore’ outfit Laisee, as well as power-pop trio The Sino Hearts (another one of this year’s breakout successes) and veteran (and underrated) punks The Flyx. Come get some. 80 RMB

Sound Sculpture, Wusuozai, Bu Liu Xing at DDC
Mischievous and alluring sounds transpire over at DDC this evening as ambient psychedelic outfit Sound Sculpture joins ethereal alternative rock band with dense flourishes of psychedelic trip-hop, Wusuozai, and atmospheric indie rockers Bu Ling Xing take the stage. 60 RMB

Anxt at Camera Stylo
Head to art house film theater Camera Stylo where local electronic artist anxt, who creates ‘moody electronic soundscapes set to the backdrops of urban field recordings with hip-hop carved beats’ will perform as well as screen the music video for his single ‘106’. Cool vibes in a cozy filmhouse – sounds like a chill Friday evening. FREE

Jiang Ming & Hollow Mountain at Yue Space
Formed in 2012, Jiang Ming & Hollow Mountain has become one of the most sought-after folk bands in China. With Chinese flute, tambourine, guitar and harmonica, their music is soothing and full of ethnic essences. They’re currently on the road in support of their newest release Hello Stranger. 100 RMB

Bye Bye Kitty, mystery band at Temple
Cover band Bye Bye Kitty who play all the classics, from Blink 182 to No Doubt, bring the simple joys of life to Temple alongside a mystery guest. FREE

The Voodoo Brothers at Soi Baochao
The Voodoo Brothers is a power-trio strongly influenced by 60s and 70s rock and the Blues. From Muddy Waters to Jimi Hendrix, they will bring you back to the genres' musical roots at the Baochao dark horse. FREE 

Wu Gui, Nick Parsons, KO, Yan Baizhou at Mogu Space
Southern China folk singer-songwriter Wu Gui brings his poetic work, full of bite and ridicule, to Mogu Space alongside regular Nick Parons, KO, and Yan Baizhou. 60 RMB

Vinicius Cantuaria (Brazil) at Blue Note
Neo-Brazilian music pioneer and prominent jazz figure in New York City in the 90s, singer, guitarist, composer, drummer, and percussionist, Vinicius Cantuaria is a well-known Brazilian musician in the sphere of Bossa Nova and Jazz. 200-400 RMB

Templo del Samba at Live Lounge
Templo de Samba will be on hand to infuse the evening with the enchanting sounds of a Pagode, making us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Bossaboca, Samba, and Latin flavors all at the new-ish Sanlitun venue Live Lounge. 80 RMB

 

Sunday, August 6

Empty Eyes, Purgatory, Skyfire, Ancestor, Death Penalty at Modern Sky Lab
Get your thrash on this Sunday as the Jam Metal Music Festival lays waste to Modern Sky Lab with a lineup that includes all your favorites including Empty Eyes, Purgatory, Skyfire, Ancestor and Death Penalty, who’ll play every sub-genre of metal from death metal to nu-thrash. 120 RMB

Anti-Tune, Windsor Forest at School
Shijiazhuang britpop outfit Anti-Tune swing through Beijing as apart of their nationwide tour to support their latest release Everything Will Not Change. The four-piece band has gone through many changes throughout their career, so give them a pat on the back. Support from Beijing's own indie-pop rockers Windsor Forest, also fresh off a release. 80 RMB

Gnash at Yugong Yishan
Genre-defying music persona Gnash – a singer, songwriter, producer, dj, rapper, model, and nap enthusiast – does it all. With 3 highly acclaimed EP’s under his belt, he has developed a devoted fan base for his eclectic tracks. Catch him give an intimate performance at Yugong Yishan. 220 RMB

Stefan Karlsson Trio (US) at DDC
With over 73 recordings over eight projects under his belt, and performances held all across the world, acclaimed jazz pianist Stefan Karlsson joins top-notch percussionist and triple threat bass man Mike Pope for a world-class evening of jazz. 100 RMB

Vintage Qipao Jazz Party at Yue Space
An array of brilliant jazz musicians look to revive the old Shanghai of the twenties and thirties, and bring you back to the time of extravagant feasting and revelry. So throw on your qipao and hit up Yue Space to be transported back in time. 70 RMB

Rambin Roze at Temple
Tight jeans-sporting hard rockers Rambln’ Roze follow the latest installment of ‘Gear Slutz’ – Temple’s rock and roll flea market where everything from pedals to instruments will be up for grabs from six o'clock onwards. FREE

Zhang Yifan, Su Yu at Snail Hostel
The cozy Gulou acoustic safe haven hosts pristine-voiced Zhang Yifan for a quiet midsummer evening of folk tunes. 70 RMB

 

Phew! Still hungry for more? Check out all of our live music listings here.

Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers