Weekend Gig Guide Mar 17-20: ShamRock Festival, One Year at Caravan, Punk You, Mars en Folie

Will Griffith | Mar 17, 2016 1:00 pm | Add a comment | 1819 reads

We here at the Beijinger are happy to present Live Beijing Music's weekend gig guide, written by head honcho Mr. Will Griffith. Will has been running around Beijing for over four years, documenting the city's shows and the requisite onlooking drunkards with various cameras/sound recorder setups, losing plenty of equipment along the away in his attempt to capture Beijing's aural spirit. You'll occasionally catch him pogoing like a madman when he's not got a camera in hand. Take it away, Will ...

RELATED: Check out the most recent Weekend Gig Guide here

Thursday, March 17

Blackwater at School
Blackwater are the real Irish deal. Authentic celtic rock and roll led by charismatic grizzle of Desmond McGarry that goes down as smooth as Jameson. Speaking of which, free shots of whiskey at the door to get you in the mood. Free

Jump the Fence, The Paper Tigers, One Hung Low, Rotten Five, Joker's Belief at Yugong Yishan
Local promotion team Borderless hosts the ShamRock Music Festival at Yugong Yishan with five fresh, eager to please, expat heavy bands that look to keep audiences feet moving and smiles aplenty. RMB 80

Friday, March 18

Residence A, WHAI, Heike at Caravan
Local Moroccan eatery and venue, run by rock and roll patron Badr celebrates one year at the new digs with a three-day music filled event – 'the ghost of dazeFeast' if you will. Evening one goes straight for the rock jugular with indie faves Residence A joining WHAI, violinist Heike, and more. Expect killer food deals and more shenanigans. RMB 80

Demerit, Drunkard at Hot Cat Club
Fangjia haunt Hot Cat hosts some of hard rock fiercest veterans including street punks Demerit, preparing for their European tour and grunge scrappers Drunkard. Free

Gum Bleed, Demerit, Discord, The Demonstrators at Mao Livehouse
The punk gig of the weekend featuring Gum Bleed and Demerit, two socially charged outfits about to embark on their most recent European tour (both are big hits aboard) and the return of one of the scenes unsung heroes, Discord. RMB 100

Elix Dyotte (CAN), Fabian Tharin (SUI), Nicolas Michaux (BE), Babel (FR) at Yugong Yishan
The Francophane madness begins as this year’s edition of Mars en Folie looks to turn Yugong Yishan into a carnival of music and fun as four artist from various French-influenced regions of the world perform. Grab your tickets at the Alliances Francaises beforehand (or just show up with your thickest French accent). Free

The Diders, Deuces Wild, The Demonstrators, Shochu Legion at School
If Friday night didn't hold enough punk for you there's always the unhinged Diders at School alongside journeymen Shochu Legion and out-of-towners Deuces Wild. RMB 60

Ember Swift at DDC
Beijing based singer-songwriter Ember Swift bring her infectious blend of folk, jazz, funk, and reggae to DDC. RMB 50

Large Magellanic at 13 Club
Electronic-enhanced Brit-pop outfit Large Magellanic release their new EP tonight at Wudaoku’s lone savior for live music, 13 Club. RMB 60

Zhenren at Jianghu Bar
Feel the old blues rock with American fingerpicking guitarist Peter Murchison, harmonica Xiao Song and English guitarist Richard Barnes. RMB 60

Tsering at 69 Café
Tibetan singer Tsering swings through 69 Café to show audiences a modern take on traditional Tibetan folk music. RMB 50

Wu & the Side Effects at Temple
The spirit of the blues is alive and well in the energetic, longtime favorites Wu & the Side Effects at home of debauchery Temple. Free

Sardine is Back and the Wheel is Broken at Old What? Bar
Yes, the band with the longest name ever, a band full of mysteries, will converge upon the Old What? Bar for some late night experimental jamming and maybe even some sheet metal ruckus. How curious are ya. Free

Saturday, March 19

Mademoiselle, Wu & The Side Effects, Little Punk, at Caravan
Night two of Caravan's anniversary bash features the upbeat stylings of gypsy jazz queens Mademoiselle, blues rock vets Wu & The Side Effects, indie folk duo Little Punk, and Plausillb Deabily. Expect a dance heavy night. RMB 80

Residence A, WHAI, Electric Lady at School
Converse taps into some sure fire winners for their next curated gig at School featuring Residence A, WHAI, and hard prog rockers Electric Lady. Big sounds from big bands. Free

Nine Treasures, The Uncrowned, Single Winged Angel, Mothman Massacre, Scarlet Horizon, Scar Constitution at Yugong Yishan
Get down and dirty with these pogo inducing heavy rockers looking to darken your soul and get that hair flailing. Some heavy hitters here, including pagan metal favorites Nine Treasures so pace yourself accordingly. RMB 120

Never Before, Vine House at Temple
Sludge metal stoner blues renegades Never Before, fresh off the release of their full length album, return to Temple for some mayhem alongside Vine House. Free

Bloody Woods, Evil Thorn, Spirit Trance, Cvinger, Black Prayer at Mao Livehouse
For some more melodic metal, I’d recommend checking out the Eastern Black Cult featuring neo folk outfit Bloody Woods as well as other black metal outfits including Spirit Trance and Evil Thorn. Best break out the eyeliner. RMB 150

Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen at Jianghu Bar
Blues rock journeymen Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen who have been steadily turning into one of the town’s most consistent acts (with the fans to boot) give an intimate performance at Jianghu Bar. RMB 100

Funky Trio at Hot Cat Club
Regarded as one of the finest drummers this side of the world, Funky brings his Beijing home crew for an evening of funk. Free

Steve Mac & The Mac Daddies at DDC
Inspired by all things classic, local jazz/pop outfit, Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies, bring their vintage approach to contemporary music for a hoedown at DDC. RMB 50

Sunday, March 20

Nine Treasures, Bad Mamasan, Hell City at Caravan
Caravan gets dark for its last night of celebratory musical mayhem featuring pagan metal demigods Nine Treasures alongside old school favorites Bad Mamasan and Hell City. Word is sledgehammers might be in involved. RMB 80

Virus Base, Ducky Star, Gears of War, Nower, Xuji at Mao Livehouse
Metal just can’t be stopped – and since Mao Livehouse is on its last legs – there’s gonna be a heck ton metal there. Tonight catch metal acts Nower, Virus Base, and more. RMB 100

Both Willing at School
Currently in the midst of a 30+ city China Tour, genre-hopping artist Both Willing brings his ‘no two shows the same’ performance to School Bar. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance)