Noise Pollution: 9th Beijing Football Celebration, Kyle Eastwood, Bob Marley Day, Liu Donghong

After 36 hours of planes, trains, and automobiles, your weekend music wrangler is back on his home turf and ready to dish out the best this weekend has to offer. More immediate – this is the last weekend before Chinese New Year, when the city all but shuts down so that families can reunite and hongbaos make their way in and out of your hands – so best get out the door and soak up as much as you can cause we’re going cold turkey rooster from here on out.
 

Friday, Feb 9

Uncle Bad, Labour Glory, Drop Science, Xian Yiren, 2z, Hang Nail, W-Shine7, XiaoYuShiYe, ShuangBangEr, Jiao Jin at Omni Space
In celebration of ‘rock n’ roll, beer, and football’ you best believe it’s gonna be a night to (not) remember with the ninth Beijing football celebration taking place at Omni Space as an array of rockers, rappers, and enthusiastic fans pay tribute to the Beijing’s finest punters – on the bill: new skinhead freeloaders Uncle Bad, China’s only ultra punk outfit Labor Glory, rap collective Drop Science, pop rocks veterans Jiao Jin, scrappy punk rockers Hang Nail, and much much more. RMB 120

Xiao Wang, Swarm, Great Buffalo Blues, D. Cortisol at Temple
While Temple will still be around this Chinese New Year, a safe haven for all lost souls, it isn’t letting up one bit with their weekend lineups as they host a sonically expansive lineup featuring prog instrumental rockers Swarm, blues funk givers Great Buffalo Blues, Kawaii-core riot grrrls Xiao Wang, and rock outfit D. Cortisol. Good rowdy not-so-clean fun. FREE

Rhythm Traveler, Mr. Freeman, SuiJiChen Yu ZhengGui ZuoYe, Bo Lei at School
Local promoters QingChunZhiZao present their final show booked before the Chinese New Year with an upbeat rock filled evening featuring Britpop rockers Rhythm Traveler, pop rockers Mr. Freeman, SuiJiChen Yu ZhengGui ZuoYe, and finally folk artist Bo Lei. RMB 100

Dan Taylor, Greg at Yichang Café
Yichang Café welcomes guests to a brilliant night of folk music with one of the scene’s most prolific and outspoken character, Dan Taylor, who’ll be giving a solo outing focusing on Celtic music and fingerpicked classical guitar, with support from his mate Greg. RMB 60

Skolar, Fofox, Yan Baizhou at 69 Café
See some of Beijing’s favorite folk and indie musicians at 69 Cafe during this three-day music festival before the newly relocated venue takes a holiday – tonight hosts Ukrainian independent electronic musician Skolar, who blends folk guitar and electronic beats, and regular indie guitarist Fofox, as well fingerstyle guitarist and singer Yan Baizhou. RMB 60

WHAI at Jianghu Bar
Everyone’s favorite prog-rock group WHAI, who have been together since 2012 have committed themselves to their heavy, offbeat brand of psychedelic rock and roll find refuge in the cozy hutong spot. RMB 80

Joe & CC at DDC
The indie pop duo, Joe & CC, one of the freshest and most popular in their genre, present their latest album of cutesy folk-pop with this special Chinese New Year performance at DDC. RMB 80

NuBeer, Eternal Wings, Duskystar, Gravitational Force, Left Behind Children at 13 Club
Some of Beijing’s top hard rock and metal acts bring the pain and glory to Wudaokou including Nubeer, Eternal Wings, Duskystar, and much more. RMB 80

Soft Sound Bank, Two Knives at Blue Stream Bar
Two rock groups, Soft Sound Bank, and Two Knives, take the stage at Blue Stream this evening. Whilst the former brings a ‘chic Shichahai breeze’ to their shows, the latter is an electronic rock group, fronted by Xue Jiao. RMB 50

Li Eryang, Rudra’s Sage at Mogu Space
Hear classic covers by one of the world’s greatest bands. Works by John, Ringo, Paul, and George will be performed by classic rocker Li Eryang and sitar player Rudra’s Sage (Raymond). RMB 60

Swarrm at Soi Baochao
Psych-infused hard rock instrumentalists Swarrm bring their progressive, industrial heavy brand of rock and roll to Soi Baochao before they run over to make that cash at Temple Bar. FREE

Kyle Eastwood (US) at Blue Note
Eastwood has achieved success as a jazz bassist while simultaneously pursuing a career as a composer and arranger on his father, Clint Eastwood’s, Oscar-nominated films. The bass player appears with his quintet in support of his new album, In Transit this weekend. RMB 380

Uighur Sama at Modernista
A mixture of traditional Arabic songs and lively Spanish rumba classics, with lyrics both in English and Uyghur, Uighur Sama continue bringing the energetic sounds of Xinjiang to China´s capital. FREE
 

Saturday, Feb 10

Zhou Fengling, MC Dawei & Social Poetry, Swarm, Tydi Knots at DDC
DDC signs off the Year of the Rooster will a killer eclectic lineup featuring one of the OGs of the Mainland rock scene, Zhou Fengling, who has been here from the beginning, from playing with yaogun band Face and working with everyone from Dou Wei to Faye Wong. He’ll join rapper Dawei’s new funk-driven outfit, prog rock instrumentalists Swarrm, and anguished alt-rockers Tydi Knots. RMB 70

Holy Shit, Xiao Wang, Hangnail, Last Resort at School
Lend a liver to the cause and help School Bar rid themselves of their stock of booze and rock out with Beijing’s rowdiest rockers. The Gulou staple rages one last time before Chinese New Year with sets from punk rock all-star supergroup Holy Shit! made up of members from Joyside, Bedstars, Sino Hearts, and Ambulance of Love, the much buzzed about female punk band Xiao Wang, street punk dudin's Hangnail, and hardcore faction Last Resort. Expect last minute additions and jam-offs into the wee hours of the morning. FREE (RMB 150 for all you can drink)

One Drop Band, General Huge, Raddam Ras, King Lion Miguel, Lucky Roots, Zulu Bob, Fila Kila, Rawhx, Shaba at Omni Space
Celebrate Beijing’s 18th Annual Bob Marley Day - China’s biggest reggae festival – this night at Omni Space. Bringing you live bands, DJs, MCs and more it’s an epic offering of reggae sounds and good vibes. On hand will be long time reggae band One Drop, who’ll have a ten-piece full horn section with them for the occasion, as well as General Huge, Raddam Ras, King Lion Miguel, Lucky Roots, Zulu Bob, Fila Kila, Rawhx, and Shaba. Hella tight lineup there. RMB 100

Liu Donghong & Sand at Mogu Space
Liu Donghong and his band, Sand, return to Mogu Space this evening. China’s first ‘cold rock’ band, they’ve been playing together for over 20 years and have reinvented their sound several times, and are now at the peak of the musical maturity and emotional depth. Read our recent interview with Liu Donghong here. RMB 80

Samaga at Caravan
"Indian, Middle East, and worldwide musical influences and a joyful dash of modern harmonies, Samaga melts modern compositions into Indian ambiances, delivering their own interpretation of traditional Arabic Maqam and Indian Raga, constantly reinventing the soundscapes painted by the Indian Sitar, the Middle Eastern percussions, and oud." RMB 50

Ding Chenchen, Wei Wei, Luo Delai at Fruityspace
Fruityspace gets back to what it does best with an experimental feast for the ears as noisemakers Ding Chenchen, known for his use of just about anything metallic, joins Vavabond laptop producer Wei Wei, and Luo Delai of Not in Catalog. RMB 40

Steve Blaque, Rudra’s Sage, Li Er Yang at 69 Café
See some of Beijing’s favorite folk and indie musicians at 69 Cafe during this three-day music festival before the newly relocated venue takes a holiday – tonight hosts sitar player Rudra’s Sage, veteran singer-songwriter and producer Steve Blaque, and 70s evoking guitarist Le Eryang. RMB 60

Jordan Darling, Mike Geelhoed at Yichang Café
Yichang Café’s ‘Folk Experiments’ series continues giving musician free rein at the cozy courtyard space – tonight they host indie songstress Jordan Darling, whose influences include The Cardigans, Rilo Kiley, and Imogen Heap as well as Perth, Australia raised alternative country singer Mike Geelhoed. RMB 50

Hou Kang, Kaile, Liu Yong at Blue Stream
Ladies get in free this evening at Blue Stream where the Gulou centric venue will host soulful indie rocker Hou Kang, folk musician and producer Kaile, and Liu Yong, who plays a personal blend of indie and folk. RMB 50

Liang Zi, Sheng Yichen, ZuoXinLi, Lao Meng, Li Bo at 80s Music
An assortment of folk artists and singer-songwriters, known for their finger-picking guitar skills and somber story-telling tunes take stage at the new founded 80s Music Salon in Pinganli. RMB 80

Lei Na at Jianghu Bar
Check out these fresh interpretations of classic jazz songs, from swing, bossa nova, bebop, fusion and countless other styles. RMB 70

The Spice Cabinet at Modernista
The Spice Cabinet is the jazz machine that slices, dices and reworks every pop number into the frenzy of a pop modern dance beat of wonder. It's pop according to jazz, sprinkled with funk, hip-hop, bebop, rock and a heavy dose of avant-garde. FREE

Kyle Eastwood (US) at Blue Note
Eastwood has achieved success as a jazz bassist while simultaneously pursuing a career as a composer and arranger on his father, Clint Eastwood’s, Oscar-nominated films. The bass player appears with his quintet in support of his new album, In Transit this weekend. RMB 380
 

Sunday, Feb 11

Li Jiahong, Wang Ziheng, Fu Xiugen at Fruityspace
Instrumental mayhem as some of the experimental and noise scene’s finest improvisers take the basement stage including tenor sax madman Wang Ziheng, guitar demi-god Li Jianhong, fresh off a productive and killer 2017, and finally synthesizer Fu Xiugen. RMB 40

Dan Taylor, Scott, Tsen Zhen at 69 Café
See some of Beijing’s favorite folk and indie musicians at 69 Cafe during this three-day music festival before the newly relocated venue takes a holiday – tonight hosts singer-songwriter Dan Taylor, known for his Celtic melodies, multi-instrumentalist Tsen Zhen, known for melding brass with techno grooves, and guitarist Scott. RMB 60

Shadow Puppet Show x Musical Showcase at Temple
Temple has prepared something special and unique for you to enjoy: Chinese shadow puppet theatre with live music! This cool and unusual concept gives a traditional art an experimental rock twist. Getting curious? Then Temple’s the spot to be. FREE

OpoAZ, WEIRDO, D. Vln Nie, Mao Xiansheng at Soi Baochao
A group of young rappers and producers take over the Baochao dive for an evening of hard-hitting hip-hop. FREE

Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers