Noise Pollution: The Cribs, Mimik Banka, Discord, Supper Moment, Henry Butler, Neel Sarkar

We’re in the sweet spot folks – you can’t ask for better weather and if you do, you’re going to find yourself stinking up the joint like a junior high school locker room going through puberty. Seriously, it’s downright magical out there so instead of wasting around with your creepy cats who you regret shaving cause now they looked like poodle alien rats, grab a cold one outdoors and then head into the countless musical glory holes you can find about town. Run on sentences for the win! Here’s your weekend roundup.
 

Friday, May 11

Mimik Banka, Bupishu at Fruityspace
Harbin’s Bupishu – the five-piece band who "skirt the boundaries between folk, post-rock, and electro-psychedelic rock 'n' roll"  are in town for a special showcase alongside a live VJ. Joining them will be Mimik Banka (formerly 16 mins) – the shape-shifting alternative rock quartet, whose genre-bending contemporary style will see the band releasing a new album by the year’s end (read my recent interview with them here). Some seriously alluring sounds at Fruityspace – not to be missed. RMB 60

Beijing Eastside Jam Squad and Friends at Floso
Shout out to the Ran Music x Floso Workshop – which has ushered in musicians and instrumentalists to the record store and boutique shop, bringing their unique electronic music sets and sharing with audiences tips and tricks for their improvised performances. In their 39th edition already, they’ll have the Beijing Eastside Jam Squad, made up of Lu Ye and Demone and variety of rotating guests – who bridge the world of electronic music and through a heck ton of hardware. Expect guest spots from Yu Yu, J.R.G, and Fishdoll. Hot damn. 7pm start. FREE

Jungle Mico Project at Temple
The live drum ’n’ bass band – and one of Temple’s biggest hitters – return this Friday - led by the well known electronic drummer Mico, the ensemble mix elements of ‘live drum'n' bass, dubstep, dub, breakbeats, deep techno and more – all performed live on real instruments in real time.’ Expect a wild 'n’ out-there crowd. FREE

Discord, The Demonstrators, Never Before, Labor Glory, Tractor at School
Get ready for an evening of punk rock and stoner metal to welcome the weekend – set to play are Beijing punk legends Discord, street punk regulars The Demonstrators, stoner psychedelic rockers Never Before, ultras punk band Labor Glory, old school metal punks Tractor. Good dirty fun at the ground zero for good dirty fun. RMB 80

Luka, MaoMao, DJ Wildwata at Caravan
Ethnic music crossed with reggae and electronica, catch Hong Kong didgeridoo musician join others for an evening of good vibes and ethnically flavored tunes. FREE

Ember Swift at DDC
Known for her unique, jazz-influenced guitar playing, and elastic vocals, the Canadian born Beijing based singer-songwriter Ember Swift has been a fixture of the Beijing music scene for years releasing an array of LPs and melding Mandarin, English, and French into one intoxicating package. Catch her and her full band tonight at DDC. RMB 60

Supper Moment (HK) at Tango
Four-piece Hong Kong pop group Supper Moment comes to Tango 3with their catalog of pop hits, prestigious pop awards, and a trail of sold-out shows in Macau, Hong Kong, and London. RMB 190

Fu Yi at Yue Space
Indie folk artist Fu Yi appears at Yue Space as part of his nationwide China tour. The artist, singer, and songwriter who popped up on everyone’s radar in 2016, is just releasing his first solo album with help from Kuyusi Studios and is expected to make lots of folks happy. RMB 100

Husband Killers at BSP Livehouse
Husband Killers know what they’re doing – stealthy injecting down and dirty melodies into their dusty rugged blues-ridden rock and roll, it’s a big sound with an emphasis on rich storytelling and old school magnetism. RMB 100

Djang San at Temple
East-meets-West fusionist and veteran show stopper Djang San – a jack of trades include ‘zhongruan player, philosopher, poet, composer, guitar hero, DJ, one-man orchestra, and explorer of new sounds’ bring their hypnotic buck wild tunes to the one and only Jianghu Bar. RMB 50

Anti-Tune, Auburn, Gentle Grapes, New School Punk Band at Yugong Yishan
Pop punk rising stars Gentle Grapes join Britrock outfit Anti-Tune, indie crooners Auburn and up and coming, and most ridiculously named, New School Punk Band for some old school fun at the newly reopened Yugong Yishan. RMB 120

Bang Bang Mary, Buliao Xiake at 69 Café
Aiming to shoot up dance floors with tunes that will have the audience sweaty and exhausted, the four-piece rock outfit, made up of one Brit and three South Africans draw influence from artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Fokofpolisiekar, and Pretty Viscous. They’ll join other fresh-faced rockers this evening in Wudaokou. RMB 60

Caffe-in, 4U, Curry 3000, BanBand, The ProzaX at Laifu Livehouse
It’s clear as day now that Laifu Livehouse in Shuangjing means business and is filling up the void left by the late (old) Mao Livehouse – with a solid rotation of shows featuring some of the indie-pop scene’s fiercest characters – from the emocore band The Prozak, J-pop rockers Caffe-In (a blast from the past!), 4U, Ban, and Curry 3000, a name that raises many damn questions. This show clearly isn’t for everyone but hats off to Laifu Livehouse. RMB 120

Yan Baizhou, Fofox, Li Eryang at Yichang Café
A trio of acoustic singer-songwriters with vastly different backgrounds take the stage including the 70s invoking rockers Li Eryang, fingerstyle guitarist Yan Baizhou, and Fofox. 7.30pm start. RMB 60

Dawa Lao Wu & Buer, Li Bo, Zou Xinli, Lao Meng, Wang Yunfeng at Hot Cat Club
More folk! This time at the still going strong Hot Cat Club on Fangjia who deserve a medal of some kind at this point. But yeah, homegrown folk tales and acoustic guitars warming up the hutongs. RMB 60

Chi Ren at Mao Livehouse
The band composed of several true blood hutong-residing Beijingers, bring a rich national style and full-bodied performance fit for the whole family, adding humorous stage performances and other hijinks to their show. RMB 180

Peter Manheim and Old Friends at The Bricks
International drum man of mystery Peter Manheim, a menace to drums everywhere, joins some of the jazz scene’s finest including Nathaniel Gao, Chae Heung Lim, and Eunhye Oh for some jazzy fun. FREE

Great Buffalo Blues at Soi Baochao
Great Buffalo Blues is a three-man electric blues group who weave storytelling tunes with funk rhythms and blues. Catch them at the tail end of Baochao. RMB 55

The Hunters at Modernista
Beijing’s hottest crowd-pleasing outfit One of Beijing’s best foreign cover bands The Hunters combine old school funk, soul, and rock classics with intoxicating delivery. FREE

Henry Butler and The Jambalaya Band at Blue Note
Composer, educator, and jazz artist Henry Butler has been on the scene for more than 40 years. Whether he’s playing music or taking photos, he’s always pushing the boundaries of the possible. Butler swings through Beijing with his Jambalaya Band. RMB 380

Eric Allen at Blue Stream
Singer-songwriter Eric Allen brings the soulful sounds of America's heartland to the Beijing stage this Friday at Blue Stream. FREE

Saturday, May 12

She Never Sings Our Songs, Macondo, Nocturnes, Rhonda at School
Keep Calm and Fly On…or enjoy immensely these genre-smashers for a rich evening of atmospheric sounds as instrumental post-rockers She Never Sings Our Songs, synth-heavy soundscapers Macondo, hard-edged instrumental wranglers Rhonda, and indietronica duo Nocturnes converge on School Bar. RMB 60

 

Mural Bimurat at Caravan
Mural Bimurat brings his expansive knowledge of traditional Kazakh music to Caravan along with his Dombra, whose use he perfected across many years and many collaborations. RMB 60

General Tsao, Hugh Reed & Electric Shadows, TOSS at Temple
The ‘punk lovechild of alternative blues & indie rock with a dash of polka, metal, k-pop & cha cha cha’, General Tsao from Shanghai are looking to spill blood on their trip up to Beijing and they’ve got the perfect guests to lend them a hand – punk rock showstopper Hugh Reed & The Electric Shadows and grunge torchbearers TOSS. FREE

Bayan Dalai, Loop Fighter, Ni Wan Gong at Fruityspace
The Inner Mongolian singer-songwriter, formal frontman for Horse Radio and december3am, joins others including Renjian Zhinan frontman and evidently loop pedal fanatic Loop Fighter and bamboo flute tooting synth lover Ni Wan Gong. RMB 40

Er Guang at Yue Space
Er Guang combine Chinese folk art with funk rock – a blistering blend of experimental, theatrical and traditional. The five-piece ensemble stop by Yue Space for a non-stop, genre-defying rock show. RMB 150

Miss Mix, The Diagon Alley, Derby Day, Fasolla at Jianghu
Jianghu Bar turns it up a notch this evening with a rollicking showcase featuring pop rock girl group Miss Mix, Britrockers The Diagon Alley and Derby Day as well as Guizhou rockers Fasolla – each looking to kick off summer with a bang. RMB 80

Krazy Family at Omni Space
Graduates of the rap battle circuit Krazy Family, made up of Huizi, MasonBoy, Cir, and Fatso (poor, poor Fatso), has become one of China’s most sought-after hip-hop groups. They’ll be throwing a hip-hop party at Omni Space this evening. RMB 150

Samaga at La Plantation
Considered by many as one of Beijing’s most underrated musical acts, world music act Samaga has been infiltrating venues across Beijing with their happy marriage of musical traditions from India, the Middle East, and more, utilizing the sitar, the oud, and other Middle Eastern percussion instruments. 7pm start. RMB 200

Sourpuss at DDC
Kirk Kenney and Parker Trevathan been performing American traditional and blues music to Chinese audiences for years. Their travels have taken them to the mountains of Dali and the stages of China's top-tier concert halls. Catch their assortment of unique instruments, charming stories, and stage banter this afternoon. 3pm start RMB 60

Zhang Yao at DDC
Award-nominated Chongqing based folk singer-songwriter Zhang Yao, known for using an array of instruments, including the accordion, returns to Beijing with his band – a “classical musical ensemble under the disguise of folk”. They’ll be presenting their new EP Silence. RMB 90

Mojo Hand at BSP Livehouse
Blues supergroup Mojo Hand, made up of some of the skilled rockers of the Beijing scene, including OOC frontman Cheng Chen, bassist Wang Zheng, and guitarist Wei Wei, bring their richly flavored Chicago blues to BSP Livehouse. RMB 180

The Rebel 5 at Modernista
The Rebel 5, formerly known as The Rotten 5, is a soul, R&B, and funk music ensemble covering some of the greatest songs of all times. Catch them working the dance floor at Modernista. FREE

Henry Butler and The Jambalaya Band at Blue Note
Composer, educator and jazz artist Henry Butler has been on the scene for more than 40 years. Whether he’s playing music or taking photos, he’s always pushing the boundaries of the possible. Butler swings through Beijing with his Jambalaya Band. RMB 380

Neel Sarkar at Mogu Space
Neel Sarkar is a composer/instrumentalist from Shantiniketan, India, the place of the great world poet Rabindranath Tagore. After training in various musical styles and performed with many artists from all over the world, he began performing himself mainly using the classical guitar. 4.30pm start. RMB 60

Jurat, Mr. MouMou, Li Eryang at 69 Café
The Wudoakou located 69 Café gets back to basics with a solid trifecta of psych-folk artists who take inspiration from the otherworldly sounds of the 60s and 70s including Xinjiang raised singer-songwriter Jurat, Li Eryang and Mr. MouMou. RMB 66

Oskar Offermann (Germany) at InfraRogue
Known for his sophisticated yet easy going house vibes around the best clubs in the world, the Frankfurt-based producer, Oskar Offermann, brings his positive energy and incredible grooves upon the new rooftop club in the Village North. Get charmed. (And yeah I snuck in a club event – cause I was persuaded! See more of where this came from here.) RMB 60

Another Silence, Ban, Street Battle at Hot Cat Club
Get nice and ruddy this evening at Hot Cat as three bands with a thing for screaming into their mics and slaying on their guitars perform. FREE

Zhu Mei at 69 Café
The classically trained singer-songwriter and Beijing Film Academy graduate, Zhu Mei, who hails from Nantong, swings through Beijing as part of her tour to promote her new EP. RMB 60

Boplicity Studio Jazz Quintet at The Bricks
The International Dream Team Boplicity Studio Quintet, led by bonafide American guitarist Doug Martin featuring Matthew Parker on trumpet among others, hits up The Bricks tonight. FREE

Redundant Seconds, Great Buffalo Blues at Blue Stream
Great Buffalo Blues is a three-man ensemble who just want to write and play electric guitar blues group bring their story-telling grooves and funk to Blue Stream Bar alongside long-standing indie punks Redundant Seconds. FREE
 

Sunday, May 13

The Tea Rockers Quintet at 77 Theatre
Experimental avant-garde scene royalty roll through 77 Theatre in the form of The Tea Rockers Quintet – one of the most intriguing collectives out there – a tea ceremony performed by Xi Jian and accompanied by the all-stars of Chinese contemporary music including contemporary folk singer Xiao He working the zhongruan, China's leading noise artist Yan Jun, academic guqin player Wu Na and maddeningly talented instrumentalist Li Daiguo on cello and pipa. Together they create a mesmerizing blend of traditional instruments, vocalisms, noise music, and harmonious movement. They’ll be doing two shows at 4pm and 6pm to promote their new album. RMB 100

The Cribs (UK), The Twenties at Yugong Yishan
The merry rambunctious and downright righteous Yorkshire brothers return to China. The UK pop-punk rockers, known for their incredibly catchy singles and raucous live outings are in town courtesy of Split Works. Let’s be honest, if you’re thinking of going you best have your ticket already cause this baby is going to sell out in 3,2,1 ... RMB 220

Return to Delicate Past, The 16th Floor at Yue Space
Delicate, atmospheric post-rock outfit Return to Delicate Past, who hail from Jiaozuo, return to Beijing with their latest studio album Sunlight & Moonlight, a taut melancholic emotional mood piece full of post-rock cascades. They’ll be joined by fellow post-rockers 16th Floor who I’m curious to check out again. RMB 80

All Unknown, Glasses Man of Song Dynasty, Hybrid Theory, Hz, Fancy Wall at School
It’s a jam-packed Sunday lineup at School as pop rockers and School Bar favorites All Unknown, humorous world music ensemble Glasses Man of Song Dynasty, metal inflicted rockers Hybrid Theory, genre bouncing pop-rock foursome HZ, and indie rockers with abrupt nu-metal twists thrown in Fancy Wall hit the floor running. RMB 60

The Beijing Dead at DDC
Grateful Dead tunes and an afternoon barbecue – what more do you need? Well, a massive J probably wouldn't go amiss. Two sets of dusty psychedelic cowboy jazz led by drummer/vocalist Parker Trevathan and bassist Jonathan Heeter, the Beijing Dead start with the Grateful Dead’s music then get stranger, funkier, and more acid-washed then early '90s denim. 2pm start. RMB 60

Ensemble Novel at La Plantation
With a focus on popularizing and promoting modern music, including new works by contemporary young composers, Ensemble Novel, consisting of founders Li Jingyuan and Ding Mu, art director Yu Ji, and manager Gui Yunchuan, is the first full-time chamber orchestra of modern music in China. 4pm start. RMB 200

Alien Radio, Rhonda, Wasted Laika at DDC
Newly formed three-piece classic prog rockers noise maker Alien Radio join instrumental rock trailblazers Rhonda, and the ever impressive and righteous art-punk outfit Wasted Laika for a dangerously alluring evening at DDC. RMB 50

Maximilian Hecker (Germany) at Tango
Maximilian Hecker is a German musician from Berlin, known for ethereal pop or dream pop music, similar to Radiohead, Sigur Rós, Tom Baxter, and Nick Drake. He himself describes his songs as melancholy pop hymns. He returns once again to Beijing. RMB 300

Atomic Prophecy, Stabbing, Pray Unholy, Laisee at Laifu Livehouse
Things get heavy this evening in Shuangjing as death metal outfit Pray Unholy joins aerodynamic hardcore outfit Laisee, and more for some mischievous fun at Laifu Livehouse. RMB 60

Peter Manheim at Modernista
International drum man of mystery Peter Manheim, a menace to drums everywhere, joins some of the jazz scene’s finest including Terry Hsiem, Chae Heung Lim, and Eunhye Oh for some jazzy fun. FREE

Li Eryang at 69 Café
Li Eryang, who often plays a unique blend of '70s-inspired guitar folk pays tribute to one of his biggest influences – Leonard Cohen - as he performs a set of Cohen covers and Cohen-inspired originals at 69 Café. RMB 66

Tu Zheng, Zheng Zhi at 69 Café
Acoustic loving singer-songwriter Tu Zheng joins female singer Zheng Zhi for an evening of warm story-telling tunes. RMB 60

Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers