Noise Pollution, Feb 10-12: December3am, Spring Lantern Music Festival, Beloved Orchestra, Wan Jianguo
Welcome back Beijing! Hope everyone had a swell Chinese New Year holiday. Your editor here went on a musical bender across Japan and let me say – it was pretty friggin' awesome. Not exactly kind on the wallet, but a hell of an experience. But it’s good to be back. Back to the cheap Chinese beer; back in the presence of the various hobgoblins of the scene; back to the sweet embrace of the livehouses here. So here’s your first weekend update for the Year of the Rooster courtesy of Live Beijing Music (WeChat ID: livebeijingmusic). Let’s make it a good one.
Friday, February 10
Wang Yuguang, Xue Ting, Shen Lidong at Jianghu Bar
Shadow puppet artist Wang Yuguang is known for adapting the ancient traditional art of shadow puppetry for a modern audience, while Xue Ting is known for his unique approach to traditional Chinese instruments, combining them with world instruments like the didgeridoo. Guitarist Shen Lidong has played in multiple bands and has established his own music studio. Catch the three combine their talents for unique and mesmerizing musical and visual experience. RMB 60
Macondo, Joker’s Belief, Endless Square at DDC
The expat scene saw some big players emerge in the last year and DDC is gonna give them the spotlight tonight with this frenzied genre-bending showcase featuring show stoppers Macondo, continuing their reign of righteous power post rock, who’ll be joined by the indie funk-infused trickery of Joker’s Belief and the sly twangy post grunge stylings of Endless Square. RMB 60
December3am at 69 Café
December3am has a style that can be described as post rock and experimental krautrock. The duo is made up of members of the Inner Mongolian folk rock outfit Horse Radio, and their music is dark, hauntingly beautiful, and unpredictable, and frankly, unlike anything you’ve heard before. RMB 66
Labour Glory, Laisee, Xuan Xuan, Double Sticker, Jiao Jin, Dao Ci, Sheng Jiao at Modernsky Lab
The eighth annual National Security Fan Fest gets underway at Modernsky Lab with a grab bag of young bands ready to shake you loose and whip uo a frenzy including Xuan Xuan, Labor Glory, Laisee and more – lots of punk vibes as well as a beer drinking contest, a raffle and red envelopes galore. RMB 120 (7pm start)
Lost in Space, REX, The Rope Angle at Hot Cat Club
Hot Cat Club goes into overdrive tonight as a trio of heavy metal bands take over the Fangjia Hutong space including screamo outfit Lost in Space, Metallica cover band Rex, and more. Free
Usha at Mogu Space
Yi folk artist Usha appears at Mogu Space for a post Spring Festival outing. Known for his clear, melodious voice, and his moving lyrics, which follow traditional Yi patterns, the artist has grown and matured during his time in Beijing, coming into his own. RMB 66
Liang Zi at Snail Hostel
Join singer-songwriter Liang Zi for the debut of his album Big Screen as he's joined by special guests – expect soulful guitar arrangements and songs about life on the cozy Snail Hostel stage. RMB 50
Saturday, February 11
Spring Lantern Music Festival at Yue Space
The Spring Lantern Music Festival at Yue Space brings together music industry veterans and cutting edge experimental artists for a grand, unique, musically rich evening. Featuring the Bell and Drum Tower Band, along with He Yusheng, Zhang Yongzhi, Wang Huizhong, Du Ciwen, and other great names of Chinese traditional music, this festival celebrates the best in Chinese traditional music and instruments, featuring some of the greats playing national instruments like the pipa and erhu. RMB 100
Xue Ting, Wang Yuguang at Mogu Space
Take two for some awesome shadow puppetry as musician Xue Ting joins shadow puppet artist Wang Yuguang on stage at Mogu Space for a concert that combines a new take on the traditional Chinese art of shadow puppetry, with a new take on traditional Chinese music, blending traditional instruments from home with new ones from abroad, like the didgeridoo. 66 RMB
Djang San at Temple
East-meets-West fusionist and veteran show stopper Djang San, self-proclaimed ‘re-inventor of Chinese classical instrument zhongruan, philosopher, poet, composer, guitar hero, DJ, one-man orchestra, music pioneer, and explorer of new sounds’ bring their hypnotic buck wild music to the one and only Temple. Free
Feng Wei, YAN, Terence, special guest at DDC
Jazz fusion fans get ready as DDC invites a collection of the jazz scene’s finest musicians including Terence (of the Spice Cabinet), Feng Wei (of See Saw Quartet), YAN and more for an evening of contemporary jazz.
Lucky Roots, DJ Peter Stone at Hot Cat Club
Get your reggae fever on as Hot Cat Club brings the good vibes to Fangjia Hutong with the help of Lucky Roots and DJ Peter Stone. Free
FoFox, Nick Parsons, Raymond, Ming at 69 Café
No strangers to the cozy 69 Café on NLGX, FoFox, Nick Parsons, Raymond and Ming bring an evening of acoustic folk. RMB 60
Beloved Orchestra at Jianghu Bar
New age folk with electronic flourishes, The Beloved Orchestra, which formed in 2008 and features known musicians Zhang Zhiwei and Yanzi take their name from an ancient expression meaning husband and wife or beloved. Catch them tonight at Jianghu Bar. RMB 60
Dizzy Di, DJ Skinny at Fruityspace
Old school break and funk, jungle DNB, and other sexy tunes galore as local producer and DJ Dizzy Di joins DJ Skinny for a Lantern Festival party at the basement venue Fruityspace. Free
Sunday, February 12
Kusoeyes, 571, Te-Schedule at Temple
Get it punk this Sunday evening as three fresh on the scene bands look get you up back on that wagon for some reckless fun. Free
Maxiaojun at Snail Hostel
Take in the downtempo folk stylings of Maxiao Jun at the ever low-key Snail Hostel in the Gulou area. RMB 30
Wan Jianguo at DDC
Classical music composer and conductor who released his latest album Slow Train last year brings his accordion and humble stories to DDC along with some friends. RMB 50
Phew! Still hungry for more? For events, videos, and photos from Beijing's thriving music scene, head over to Live Beijing Music or check out all of our live music listings here.
Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers
