Weekend Live Music Roundup: Choir of Young Believers, Zhou Yunpeng, GBOB

For me, this weekend is dedicated to young up-and-comers – two heats of Global Battle of the Bands and a gathering of "Generation 6" are perfect to fill my eagerness for young bands. Fans’ votes count for 50 percent of the result in GBOB, so we can not only watch but have some influence.

As usual, folk musicians don't rest. It's actually really hard to tell the difference between many of them, especially when many are just trying to touch people with an acoustic guitar and similar cynical lyrics. However, Shacong is worth checking out – he'll play on Saturday at a nice looking bar called Siif at Beiluogu Xiang. With some mixing of jazz and funky beats in his music, he never sounds too optimistic or too whiny.
Zhou Yunpeng has some new work and he's bringing it to a small place, Gulou 121. Maybe you will be lucky to get in. On the international side, Choir of Young Believers take MAO Livehouse on Sunday, a good choice to round out the weekend.

Friday (September 10)

Boi Akih
The Princess Akih brings Moluccan folk music fused with modern jazz. Enter into her vibrating universe. RMB 200, RMB 150 (advance). 9pm. The Star Live

88 Balaz
Jumping around is not enough for "the craziest band from Taiwan" – they also do back flips. RMB 40. 9.30pm. 13 Club

Backyard Surgeons
Aussie punk band brings to Beijing what they created in abandoned warehouses, at construction sites and backyards. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22

Early Bus
Absinthe's night with Early Bus. Free. 9.30pm Hot Cat Club

Global Battle of the Bands (Heat 1)
It’s your chance to compete against the best up-and-coming bands from around the world ¬– the grand prize winners get USD 100,000 in band development. Beijing band Rustic won the world championship last year. China couldn’t possibly grab the title two years in a row ... could they? RMB 15. 6pm. 2 Kolegas

Liang Jun & Henry Quartet
Piano: Henry, Bass: Zhang Liang, Drums: Meng Da, Saxophone: Liang Jun. RMB 30. 9.45pm. V.A Bar

Meng Zhi
One man, one guitar and the simplest music. Free. 9pm. Gulou 121

Vital Time
Hard-rock band from Beijing. RMB 40. 9.30pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar

Wang Lei
Wang Lei does his experiment of mixing every genre with rock music. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance, students) (both price include a free drink). 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar

Dafay and Skyscraper, Yu Yang, Liu Donghong and Sand
They are here to prove that rock & roll doesn’t need fancy clothes and accessories.
RMB 60, RMB 50. 9.30pm. Yugong Yishan

Stoplight Party
Watch out the color of your shirt, green means single, red means in love, yellow means that you are unsure, other colors are also welcome to the party. Lineup includes Steely Heart, I Love This Band and two others. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 9pm. MAO Livehouse

Wu Junde and Traveler
The folk group brings you music grown from yellow earth. RMB 10. 8pm. Mako Live House.

Saturday (September 11)

Shacong
Listen to the jazz folk musician explain happiness in his music. Free. 9pm. Siif

Big Nose
Hip-pop Jazz with traditional Chinese instrument erhu (二胡) and yangqin (扬琴). RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance, students). 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar

Generation 6
Six young bands (Rustic, Me Guan Me, Mr. Graceless and more) selected by D-22 for being assertively different from their predecessors. RMB 80, RMB 50 (advance, students). 9pm. Yugong Yishan

Global Battle of the Bands (Heat 2)
Another wave of bands to check out, more to see next weekend. RMB 15. 10pm. D-22

Long Shen Dao
Have a relaxing reggae night. RMB 50. 9pm. 2 Kolegas

Matthieu Ha et le syndicat d'initiative
Sadly Joyfull wordless songs with wicked grooves and touches of electric musette, joined by The Redbucks. RMB 30. 8.30pm. V.A Bar

Moyi
The avant-garde metal band releases their first album, Spring Autumn, and Gangzi join in to support. RMB 80 (includes a free CD), RMB 60 (advance), RMB 50 (students). 9pm. MAO Livehouse

Knucklebone Oscar
Funky, noisy, punk and blues. RMB 40. 9pm. 13 Club

Backyard Surgeons
Missed their show on Friday? Here’s your second chance. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. What Bar

Jess Meider
She’s back from her US tour. Free. 8pm. The Bookworm

Song Yang
Pop singer and talented artist has his "artistic album" release. RMB 60, RMB 40 (advance). 8pm. Mako Live House

Su Yu
Su Yu plays pop folk music and reminds you the sunny day the sky was in a milky color. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 4pm-5.30pm. Tiny Salt Coffe Club

Zhou Yunpeng (Heat 1)
One of the most well known folk musicians in China has an album launch near Gulou, joined by another significant folk musician, Xiao He. RMB 80, RMB 70 (advance, students). 8.30pm. Gulou 121

Sunday (September 12)

Anna & Chen Biao
Check out how soft a Chinese girl’s voice can get. Free. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar

Burket
Regular flamingo night with Burket. Free. 9pm. Hot Cat Club

Choir of Young Believers
Folky, baroque-poppy group from Denmark. RMB 60, RMB 40 (students). 9pm. MAO Livehouse

Du Meng
Dreamy girl sings pop songs. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance, students). 7pm. Zuiyuefang Bar

Knucklebone Oscar
If you couldn’t make it up to Wudaokou on Saturday, the funky punk-blues band gives you a second chance on the other side of town. RMB 80, RMB 60 (advance, students). 9pm. The One Club

Zhang Guonian
Folk night. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 9.30pm. D-22

Zhou Yunpeng (Heat 2)
The place is too small for Zhou Yunpeng’s followers, your second chance to have a glance of his new music if you couldn’t squeeze in on Saturday night. RMB 80, RMB 70 (advance, students). 8.30pm. Gulou 121