Noise Pollution: Electric Lady, Pizza Face, Indiago, Hip-Hop Galore, and a Secret Guest at Temple

Crack the whip, get out the drinks, and roll into oblivion 'cause the weekend is here to slay! And with this roundup of punk, hip-hop, ambient-laced folk, and other stylings I can’t be bothered to regurgitate – there’s no excuse not to run into the evening and cut loose to one of Beijing’s many merry offerings. So get your head on straight (and by straight I mean completely off-kilter) and venture forth! 
 

Friday, Aug 17

Bye Bye Noise, The Diagon Alley, Brickleberry, Jeaqi at School
Come celebrate Chinese Valentine's Day with a night of heart-swooning and hip swaying as these bands get the spirit alive –indie rock Bye Bye Noise, fresh off their latest release, electro Britpop rockers The Diagon Alley, disco dance-punks Brickleberry, and smooth ambient pop-rock vibing Jean. RMB 80

Indiago (AUS), String x Eric at Caravan
Hailing from the picturesque Adelaide Hills in South Australia, Indiago have become one of the biggest, loudest and melodic alternative rock outfits in the country. Their wild, but perfected live shows have earned a name for themselves, and they’re swinging through Beijing this week to earn even more fans. Support from the duo of instrumentalist String and Eric of The Peppercorns. Check out our recent Q&A with Indiago here. FREE

Electric Lady, Pizza Face, secret guest at Temple
Celebrate Valentine's Day the right way – with enormous amounts of liquor clouding your judgment, coffee shots to give your confidence to talk to that coat rack sitting in the corner, and riotous tunes from the female-led stoner rock queen Electric Lady and up and coming punk ruffians Pizza Face. FREE

Hang on the Box, Penguin, Liu Xingke at DDC
All-female punk legends are back in fighting form and they’re bringing the fun to DDC alongside fresh on the scene synth-inflicted alt-rockers Penguin, and "old-school rocker with a poet’s soul" Liu Xingke and his merry band of art rockers. RMB 60

Hong Weihao, Sean Zh., ACK, Laoz G, $ugar Boi Station, Yuzi, Young Gorilla at Yugong Yishan
‘DJ, drop the beat!’ and Monster Energy Drinks bring some top-notch rappers to Yugong including urban/future/R&B artist Hong Weihao, trap and flow artists $ugar Boy Station, female rapper Young Gorilla, and the Vancouver-based artist Cloud Road aka Sean Zh. Supposedly if you bring two empty cans of Monster Energy to the site, you get in for free – so expect some heart attacks throughout the evening. RMB 150

New School Waste at Yue Space
Punk act New School Waste takes the stage tonight – made up of punk scene veterans, they have fans in Beijing, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. They just released an album and an EP to much acclaim. RMB 100

One Drop at Jianghu Bar
With members from different corners of the globe, brought together for the love of music, One Drop is the city’s premier reggae outfit formed in 2012, in order to promote the good message of Reggae in China and in Asia, playing everything from "Roots Reggae" to "Lovers Rock". RMB 80

Ulysses Owens Jr. Three (US) at Blue Note
Ulysses Owens Jr. Three is a jazz trio featuring the world-renowned bassist, Reuben Rogers and the dynamic virtuoso, Joel Ross on vibraphone. Ulysses first conceived the idea for the trio, given his longstanding reputation as a drummer with the Grammy-winning Christian McBride Trio, and Grammy-nominated, Joey Alexander Trio. RMB 120-360

AKA-141, Sean Zh, Seppela, Ray, M.T.G, Qianz at Laifu Livehouse
Shuangjing gets in on the hip-hop craze with a humid, raucous cluster of rappers and hip-hop artists making noise in the city –including Vancouver-based Sean Zh, Qianz, and more. RMB 100

Mademoiselle Et Son Orchestre at The Bricks
Mademoiselle et son Orchestre return to Modernista. The premier gypsy jazz outfit has been igniting crowds left and right for endless years – a true joy to behold. FREE   

Da Hottest Talent Show Vol. 6 at Soi Baochao
Soi Baochao and host L-Force presents the latest volume of Da Hottest Talent Show, giving a ragtag team of characters the chance to strut their stuff and prove their musical, graffiti, breakdance, and beatbox abilities. FREE

The Flip Side at Modernista
The Flip Side is Beijing’s only live disco band. Bring your boogie shoes and come prepared to freak out, shake your booty, get jiggy with it and celebrate good times and a weekend kick off! FREE

Wu Jianlin at Mogu Space
Singer of Shanghai indie folk act Le Petit Foret – which aims to bring a sense of spiritual relaxation to people living in the city with sensuous music and a transparent voice – swings through Mogu Space as apart of her nationwide tour. RMB 120
 

Saturday, Aug 18  

Indiago (AUS), Rhonda, By Dream at Temple
Indiago plays pure, unadulterated, and sincere rock and roll that pays tribute to the rollicking alternative rock of King of Leon, Foo Fighters, and fellow Aussie outfit Gang of Youths all the while driving full steam ahead. This four-piece band from the Adelaide Hills of South Australia are first and foremost about having a grand ol’ time. Joining them tonight at Temple will be instrumental rock piledrivers Rhonda, and post-rock group By Dream. FREE

Hang on the Box, Pacalolo, Bye Bye Fish, Electric Lady, Strong Shell, Noshiva at School
Women get their due with a killer evening at School. Catch seminal girl punk band turned legends Hang on the Box, everyone’s favorite party electro-pop act Pacalolo, Bye Bye Fish – the electro-folk side project from the legendary Subs – stoner rock stirrers Electric Lady, indie rockers Strong Shell, and music savant turned electro indie artist Noshiva. RMB 100

Dong Zi at Mogu Space
One of the most influential artists in the folk scene, acclaimed Ningxia singer-songwriter Dongzi welcomes the spring with a special performance at Mogu Space. With a voice that’s rich, direct, tainted by melancholy while not too revealing, Dongzi’s music hits you like a ton of bricks. Expect a packed house for this one. RMB 100

Lucas Lauerman (Austria) at DDC
The young Austrian cellist, Lukas Lauermann, considered one of the country’s most fascinating artists, creates new, contemporary ways of playing this centuries-old musical instrument. His music, full of joy in experimenting, oscillates between the tradition of classical concert halls and the directness of pop music. 3pm start. RMB 60

The Hot Club of Beijing at DDC
Multi-national gypsy jazz ensemble brings their 1930s swinging jazz, hot Latin rhythms, and gypsy waltzes to DDC so best bring your dancing shoes. RMB 60

Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen at Jianghu Bar
Veteran blues-rock outfit Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen look to bring the good vibes to the cozy Jianghu Bar – harmonica, acoustic guitars, and some very merry singers. These cats are pros and have been working the crowds for ages – expect nothing less than a harmonica-infused evening of homegrown blues. RMB 100

Gentle Grape, So Far So Good, Next Door Band, Twinkle Star at Yugong Yishan
The Beiheng Gang brings some of indie pop scene’s top talent to Yugong Yishan including long-standing rockers Next Door, emo rock favorites Twinkle Star, punk-pop outfit Gentle Grape, and emo fusion and funk punk act So Far So Good. Expect a ravenous crowd of music goers. RMB 150

Wang Juan at Pink Moon
One of the folk scene’s most pristine and celebrated singer-songwriters, Wang Juan, gives an intimate performance this evening at Pink Moon. The esteemed folk ballad writer who founded Owl Bar in 2000 and was a constant presence at the renowned River Bar, has recently been incorporating more rock elements in her shows through her captivating voice remains front and center. RMB 80

Dirty Truth, Rapaciouz, LOFTHESTAR, ShuangBangEr, PeaceOverEvil, Sean Zh, Bad Blood, JuQi, XiaoYuShiYe, DJ Fat J, DJ Kangstarr at Mao Livehouse
The hip-hop roller coaster rides into Saturday with this stacked evening of trap, drum 'n’ bass, and other forms of hip-hop young and bright stars, including neo school jazz hip-hop duo and guests of honor Dirty Truth, who will be dropping their latest album this evening. RMB 120

Black Art Jazz Collective (US) at Blue Note
The Black Art Jazz Collective is Wayne Escoffery on sax, Jonathan Blake on drums, James Burton III on trombone, Jeremy Pelt on bass and Danny Grissett on piano. The artists have played with big names including the Mingus Big Band, and the Duke Ellington Big Band and have been educated at big names like the New England Conservatory of Music and the Thelonius Monk Academy of Music. RMB 200-400

Nancy Jenkinson Brown Quintet at Frank by Ala House
Nancy Jenkinson Brown alongside with her ever-skillful multi-national band presents a delicious cocktail of music and playful renditions of songs you know and love, providing listeners a new sense of joy for jazz. FREE

Wu Gui, Li Er Yang, Jurat T.T, echoloop, Zhang An at Soi Baochao
The folk and singer-songwriter more offbeat and experimental figures join forces at Soi Baochao including Xinjiang-raised psychedelic singer Jurat T.T, improv ambient artist Zhang An, the always satisfying Li Er Yang, and much more. FREE

Zhang Qianqian at Snail Hostel (Wangjing)
Veteran sing-songwriter Zhang Qianqian, a staple of the folk scene since her debut in 1996, gives a special showcase courtesy Snail Club’s new (!?) Wangjing location – seriously, this venue is multiplying like crazy as of late. RMB 80

The Rebel 5 at Modernista
The Rebel 5, formerly known as The Rotten 5, is a soul, R&B, and funk music ensemble covering some of the greatest songs of all times. Catch them working the dance floor at Modernista. FREE

Michael Ciesielski Jazz Trio at The Bricks
Composer, arranger and jazz pianist. He completed his studies in the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, where he received his master’s degree as a jazz composer and jazz pianist. He also studied for a year in the Institut of Jazz in Katowice. Catch him and his trio at The Bricks. FREE
 

Sunday, Aug 19

Vancouver Sleep Clinic (AUS) at DDC
After releasing his debut album Revival in 2017 via Columbia Records, singer/songwriter, and producer Tim Bettinson, better known by his alias Vancouver Sleep Clinic, has slowly been making waves in the indie world with his ambient-laced, folk-tinged tunes that bring to mind Bon Iver among many others. Catch him and his band tonight at DDC. RMB 180

Lucas Lauerman (Austria) at Temple
The young Austrian cellist, Lukas Lauermann, considered one of the country’s most fascinating artists, creates new, contemporary ways of playing this centuries-old musical instrument. His music, full of joy in experimenting, oscillates between the tradition of classical concert halls and the directness of pop music. FREE

Hard Candy Revolution, All Unknown, All Sixes, Man Tuo Luo at School
Get the rock n’ roll spirit alive this Sunday with this ravenous lineup at School – the return of female fronted glam rockers Hard Candy Revolution, indie pop rock regulars All Unknown, young ruffians All Sixes, and hard rock five-piece outfit Man Tuo Luo. Keep it scrappy kids. RMB 60

Black Art Jazz Collective (US) at Blue Note
The Black Art Jazz Collective is Wayne Escoffery on sax, Jonathan Blake on drums, James Burton III on trombone, Jeremy Pelt on bass and Danny Grissett on piano. The artists have played with big names including the Mingus Big Band, and the Duke Ellington Big Band and have been educated at big names like the New England Conservatory of Music and the Thelonius Monk Academy of Music. RMB 200-400

Rudra’s Sage at Pink Moon
Philippines born sitar player Rudra’s Sage, who studied down the street from Ravi Shankar’s guru, hits up Pink Moon for their Beatles Night – playing a diverse set including Indian traditional folk songs and rearrangements of Beatles tunes. RMB 66

Spinning Glasshouse, Fatal Morrow-Washing Elegy at BSP Livehouse
Indie rock galore at Chaoyangmen’s BSP Livehouse as veteran indie-pop outfit Spinning Glasshouse join the ridiculously named gothic rock band Fatal Morrow-Washing Elegy. RMB 100

Black Surfers at Laifu Livehouse
Newly formed indie rockers with a retro acoustic pop charm and strong moving rhythms hit up Shuangjing for a special performance. RMB 60

Uncle Hu at Pink Moon
Uncle Hu, the folk-rock outfit originally from Chengdu, brings his tender lo-fi Elliot Smith-esque melodies over to Xizhimen. RMB 60

Terry Heish Quartet at Modernista
High-quality jazz by some of the best musicians in the city led by Terence Hsieh on trombone – a straight-ahead chordless, swinging quartet, that brings a creative and fresh approach to improvisation. FREE

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

Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers