Noise Pollution: Run Run Run, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Hang Tian, Kontakte, Fête de la Musique

You smell that? That’s the sweet smell of Fête de la Musique just around the corner. Sweet, sweet summer solstice tunes – get the whole down-low on that here. But before you can get to that mayhem why not take a peek under the hood and see what kind of horsepower we’ve got in store for this weekend. From visiting British troubadours and Guiyang hopefuls to abundances of hardcore hijinks to keep your grandma worried through the night, it ain’t too shabby.

READ: Fête de la Musique's World Music Day Returns to Invade Over 20 of Beijing's Venues, June 18 and 21

Friday, June 16

Zhang Qian, New Pants, Mosaic, J-Forest at Tango
China’s ‘disco queen’ returns in all her glory! The 80s pop star who set records all over the 80s like it was no one’s business, has been having a resurgence since joining Modern Sky and teaming up with indie disco rockers New Pants. She’s releasing her latest disco-infused album, and it looks like it’s gonna be a hell of a release show. Aside from New Pants members Peng Lei and Pang Kuan joining her on stage, Chengdu disco punks Mosaic will be on hand (whose 80s styled album had me giddy this year) as well as rapper J-Forest. 160 RMB

Run Run Run, The Twenties, Bang Bang Mary at Temple
Now that’s a hot ticket – Guiyang psychedelic noise rockers Run Run Run, in town recording their debut with their label Maybe Mars (speculation!) get down and dirty at Temple.Inspired by the rock of the 60s and 70s, the bands is a freefall of styles and grooves. They’re joined by the always dependable The Twenties and shoegaze reverb drivers Bang Bang Mary, whom I’ve only heard good things about. Free

Benjamin Francis Leftwich (UK) at Mao Livehouse
Rising British troubadour hits up Mao Livehouse courtesy of Spilt Works - bringing with him his beautifully hushed folk songs. The young singer-songwriter who left quite the impression last fall at the Concrete & Grass Festival in Shanghai so I’m expecting good things. 100/150 RMB

Nocturnes, The Game Gurus, Royal as Purple at DDC
Indietronica duo Nocturnes bring their soulful, atmospheric sound to DDC alongside alt rock pleasers Royal as Purple and a band I’m mighty curious about – THe Game Gurus – who are ‘inspired by the composers of video games classics, playing an organic mix of the tunes that you know and love from games such as The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and many more’ – hope they got a Metal Gear Solid track in there. 50 RMB

The Demonstrators, Struggle Session, Return the Truth, Own Up, Last Resort! at School
School Bar's "Friends Family Forever" hardcore series returns with a rollicking evening of pogo-worthy bands -mohawked street punks The Demonstrators, the stage show barn burners Struggle Session, as veteran hardcore bands Return the Truth and Own Up, and scrappy metal-punks The Last Resort. 80 RMB

Zhang Xiufeng x Gu Baishan at Jianghu Bar
Folk duo Zhang Xiufeng and Gu Baishan join forces on their cross-China tour. The two Xi’an born artists have worked together on new material before their tour, and intend to ‘tell ten stories in ten cities, even if only to an audience of ten people’. Like these guys already. 80 RMB

Tulegur at Mogu Space
World music duo Tulegur composed of singer Gangzi and guitarist Wang Zongcan ‘play nuanced, earthy folk that incorporates elements of grunge rock, with a sober outlook’. The band who recently had one of their singles appear on the German music charts and have already started plotting their next international excursion hit up Xizhimen. 80 RMB

Nancy & The Fantastic at Modernista
Formed from the cream of China’s top musicians, who perform with some of the continent’s hottest stars, Nancy & The Fantastic, a mix of cultures and backgrounds, bring their own particular blend of rock, pop, dance and RnB. The dopest of the dope if you may. Catch them tear it up over at Modernista. Free

Guns Honde Roses at Yugong Yishan
Japanese Guns 'n' Roses cover band Guns Honde Roses come to Beijing with their loud and heavy show – don’t be fooled, these cats are the real deal. Wouldn't be surprised if they’re legit better than whatever version of Guns N’ Roses is out there right now. Wonder what their Slash looks like. 100 RMB

David Cui at Yue Space
After three years, the rising britpop singer-songwriter David Cui return to stage with his band for a surprise gig in support of his latest just released album Don’t Panic – catch the romantic in his element at Yue Space alongside his swooning fans. 60 RMB

Wicked Bones, Pam, Source Code, Soul Mate, Kepler at 13 Club
Join the rough and tumble of Wudaoku and fight the good fight with the university students as they head mash their way to a A+ on their final in moshing. 80 RMB

Miss Mix, Power Powder, Time Street at Mars Club
Mars Club presents an evening of female-fronted (or loaded) band including the Patti Smith inspired 70s rocking Power Powder rock n roll chiptune outfit Time Street and the sassy power kicking Miss Mix, a festival favorite. 80 RMB

Lei Meng, Carlo, Scott, Pu Han at 69 Café
An array of unplugged performances from some of the scene’s hardest working folk acts including Carlo (of Djang San and more), and The Plum Trees member Scott. 66 RMB

Tsering at Snail Hostel
Tibetan folk artist Tsering Norbu returns to Snail Hostel with his music that’s rooted in the traditional Tibetan folk traditions from Lhasa, as well as world music from around the globe. 50 RMB

Shaw and Magnussen Cello Piano Recital (Denmark) at La Plantation
The cello-piano duo Jacob Shaw (cello) & David Lau Magnussen (piano) who formed in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2012 and have performed across the globe, and in such prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Guangzhou Opera, and the Porto Casa Da Musica, give a special folk based recital this evening at La Plantation. 150 RMB

Peter Bernstein Monk Trio at Blue Note
Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time he has participated in over 80 recordings and numerous festivals, concerts, and club performances with musicians from all generations. A master class musician – catch him over two nights at the Blue Note. 250-450 RMB

Saturday, June 17

Hang Tian at Modernsky Lab
Rugged folk rock outfit Hang Tian heads out across China on their Twelve Years Later tour, stopping in at Modernsky Lab. The veteran band brings together traditional instruments from China and America, and counts among their influences Bob Dylan and other ‘wise and timeless’ artists. 100 RMB

Steely Heart, The Hotline at Yugong Yishan
Dance punk mainstays Steely Heart, known for their inebriated, infectiously catchy and loose synth-filled sound, celebrate being on the scene ten years with a blowout showcase at Yugong Yishan with the support of their labelmates, up and coming electro rockers Steely Heart. 100 RMB

Free Sex Shop, t€knoprison€rs.de at Temple
All girl punk rock veterans Free Sex Shop bring their riotous antics to Temple Bar alongside another riotous band that has the scene ablazed as of late - t€knoprison€rs.de – who obliterate just about every assumption of a cover band in the book. Free 

Lucky Roots, Dizzy Di, Yider, Rawhx, Solgi, Wujing at Granary Bar
It’s a reggae, ska, dub, you name it – it’s the Outdoor Dizzy System - an outdoor rager at the newly opened Granary Bar located by Shuangqiao Station on the Batong Line. Reggae outfit Lucky Roots joins Mongolian electro fusion act Yider, and more for some late night mischief. 50 RMB

Lilly Joel (Belgium) at DDC
With ‘reminiscences of experimental music, jazz, rock, electro, pop, traditional music and contemporary classical music’, Belgium duo Lilly Joel, the collaboration between singer Lynn Cassiers and pianist Jozef Dumoulin, looks to explore the ‘architecture of instant composing’ – an intimate underground neo jazz concoction. Dope. 60 RMB

A.J.K at Yue Space
First up – props to Yue Space for holding the metal torch. It’s good to see them supporting the scene and give those bands an alternative. Tonight they host long standing goth metal outfit A.J.K aka Army of Jade Kirin who have been causing mayhem for well almost a decade now. 100 RMB

Kontakte (UK) at Mao Livehouse
‘Inspired by the walls of sound of bands like Godspeed You Black Emperor and Mogwai, as well as the ambient sounds of Brian Eno, mid-late 70s German electronica and the early 90s shoegaze scene’ UK’s Kontakte blend organic instrumentation within an electronic and hypnotic framework of programmed beats and pulsing synths –a sound that is uniquely and deservedly their own. 100 RMB

Escape Plan at Workers' Gymnasium
Chinese rocker Escape Plan go big this weekend, playing Workers' Gymnasium. The band who plays a mixture of indie pop and new wave have come a long ways but have only grown in popularity – just recently completing successful North American tour and releasing their newest EP Dream of the Times. Big shots, these guys. 580-980 RMB

Dirty Yue at Jianghu Bar
Wang Le, known as Dirty Yue to most – the founder of nu metal outfit Yaksa and then further down the road Mega Soul – both heavyweight festival players – gives a solo bass performance at the cozy hutong space. 80 RMB

Zang Li Er, RapaciouzC, NICO, DJ Rtsunami at Fruityshop
It’s a hip-hop hoedown at the basement hood as an array of inspiring MCs and DJs look to make their mark on the underground hip hop scene. And have a blazin good time doing it. Free

MC Hip-Hop Battle at School
Tonight the 三寸不烂之舌 (sān cùn bù làn zhī shé) hip-hop tour converges on School Bar for their Beijing stop! See who wins hip-hop freestyle battle competition or get in there yourself and throw down a few bars! 80 RMB

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

Nathan Borokfa, Qi Ming, Zhang HaoNan, DanzengZhougan at 69 Café
An array of unplugged performances from some of the scene’s hardest working folk acts including Nathan Borokfa and Qi Ming. 66 RMB

Rudra’s Sage at Mogu Space
Philippines born sitar player Rudra’s Sage, a scene regular since the heydays of River Bar in Sanlitun, returns to Beijing with his sitar for a intimate performance in Xizhimen. 80 RMB 

Zhang Yang at La Plantation
Currently a piano lecturer in the Department of Music at the Northeastern University, piano maestro Zhang Yang gives a special recital at La Plantation covering such greats like Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Kapustin. 150 RMB

Peter Bernstein Monk Trio at Blue Note
Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time he has participated in over 80 recordings and numerous festivals, concerts, and club performances with musicians from all generations. A master class musician – catch him over two nights at the Blue Note. 250-450 RMB

MF Machine, Ma, Zhang Haonan at Blue Stream Bar
Rock it out with these young scrapping bands looking to cut their teeth. 50 RMB
 

Sunday, June 18

King Krab (FR), The Twenties, Mademoiselle et son Orchestre, Templo do Samba, Capoeira Mandinga Beijing, 星星Star Band at 77 Theatre
Fête de la Musique throws a Warm-Up Party held at 77 Theatre, in Meridian Space, on Sunday afternoon with a sun-soaked family friendly outing with an array of upbeat acts including Marseille neo soul outfit King Krab, as well Beijing’s own indie rock firecrackers The Twenties, gypsy jazz staples Mademoiselle et son Orchestre, samba percussion ensemble Templo do Samba, a special performance from the Capoeira Mandinga Beijing team, 星星Star Band, and plenty of treats and thirst quenchers courtesy of Arrow Factory, Baozza, Caravan, Cheers, and Crêpanini. Yum indeed. Plus, a mobile photography workshop from filmmaker and artist Tan Siok Siok. And best of all, it's free (2pm start)

Bliss-Illusion, Dusky Star, Dissident, Suld, Lost in Space, Three Quarters Dead, The Flame Monster at Modernsky Lab
It’s a metal-tinted battle of the bands as Modernsky Lab and Rock Storm Live toss an array of bands into the arena – from post-metal/shoegaze group Bliss-Illusion, death-core/brutal death metal act Dusky Star, to Mongolian folk metal group Suld, and many more it’s anyone’s prize. But my money is of course on The Flame Monster. Come on! 4pm start. 100 RMB

Ambulance of Love, Russian Roulette, Duff Beer, and Little Wang at School
Celebrate Father’s Day with a lil bit of rock n’ roll mayhem courtesy of this motley crew of momma boys and a daddy’s girl – featuring 70s inspired punk dudes Ambulance of Love, riot girl act Little Wang, and rising skate punk ruffians Russian Roulette, always a treat. 40 RMB (free if you’re a dad and you bring your child – love it)

Wang Fei Nan w/ Brainstorming Planet, Qi Zitan, Da Wei, Fan Yitang at DDC
Transnational composer/stage performer Wang Feinan (with a Master’s at Yale University damnnnn) – a prominent figure in the New York City avant-garde scene, brings her band, dubbed Brainstorming Planet to DDC combining elements of ‘Nordic electronica, vintage pop, post-industrial, neo-classical, math rock and more’. With special guests appearances from Hangzhou neo folk artist Qi Zitan, rapper Da Wei, and singer Fan Yitang. Cool vibes from this one. 60 RMB

Runaway Snail at Yue Space
Shanghai indie rock band, Runaway Snail hit up Beijing as apart of their massive nation wide tour. The band hit it big after a couple of their singles went viral – a melodic and humorous take on living life young and alive. Sunshine pop through and through. 80 RMB

Reese’s Cluster, Charlie’s Band at Temple
Give Dad a day off and treat her to some folk and jazz for once you monster. Temple gives a lovely ode to pops with Reese’s Cluster (which I hope is a reference to either Sense8 or to Reese’s Pieces – or both simultaneously!) and Charlie’s Band. Free

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