New Bar and Livehouse B.B.Queen Brings the Blues to Wangjing
Beijing’s bluesy new queen has been crowned, and she just so happens to be a refreshing, unvarnished departure from the wave of slick jazz cabarets that have all but dominated the scene in recent years. Her name is Wangjing blues bar and restaurant B.B.Queen.
At B.B.Queen, the main star is the music itself, and that is immediately obvious thanks to a red curtain-backed stage which practically puts performers nose to nose with patrons sitting on the first floor. Those looking for a more private vantage point and an overhead view of the performers can head to the second-floor balcony, reminiscent a la hutong favorite Modernista.
Among the fun, broad-appeal local acts on B.B.Queen's stacked schedule is Canadian songstress Ember Swift who performs with backup singer and electric guitarist Gabriel Beaudoin (they grace the stage every Thursday; she also plays with Beaudoin in a six-piece band). Keyboardist James Guo and singer Nkese Perez (AKA KC) of The Hunters have also stopped by numerous times to offer a more stripped down vibe than that band is typically known for.
Guo states that what makes B.B.Queen different to some of the other locations The Hunters often hit up around town is that, “Most of the time in Beijing restaurant and bar owners see the performance as an accessory. But in B.B.Queen live music is essential for the venue," he says, adding, "that’s why they spent a lot more on premium sound equipment to make the musicians comfortable performing. And they treat musicians well with unlimited free drinks and food and a decent price for performing there. It is an honor rather than just another gig.”
Swift agrees, calling B.B.Queen "a gem in Wangjing. They greet us like family. As an original folk-jazz duo, it’s become our ‘stage home’ every week. Once a job, now a joy."
That's high praise coming from seasoned local troubadours, but do the casual patrons agree? In fact, regulars of intricately decorated venues like Frank by Ala House and The Bricks might deem B.B.Queen to be downright drab, despite the bar's modest attempts otherwise; a bold red coat of paint and the classic blues LPs slapped on the wall can't help but give rise to the feeling of having just entered a freshman’s dorm room.
The food is also less than trendy. B.B.Queen sells fajitas that are fine but fairly bland, along with steaks, fish fillets, and pasta. Though it's hardly going to fill in for a proper meal, we do, however, recommend the Korean fried chicken (a prerequisite because this is Wangjing, Beijing's longtime Koreatown, after all). If there's a better snack for a blues gig, we've yet to find it.
Even with these shortfalls, once you settle into one of the comfy emerald pleather sofas, glance at the checkered floor (evoking Buddy Guy’s polka dot guitar), scarf down some satisfying fried Korean chicken, and listen to the enthused local heroes belt out some blistering rhythm and blues onstage on any given night, you’ll be hard pressed not to be swayed by B.B.Queen’s inviting, lived in quality.
READ: Ditch Beijing This May Holiday for One of China's Many Music Festivals
B.B.Queen
Daily 11am-2am (shows from 8pm-11pm). 8-7, Bldg 8, 1/F, Helin Qilin, Yutong West Street, Chaoyang District (139 1176 8291)
朝阳区阜通西大街合生麒麟社8号楼1F8-7
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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
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Photos: Uni You
