Noise Pollution: The Weird World of Jiafeng, BigMic Relaunches, Lonely Leary Album Release, Radwimps in Wukesong

World Cup have you sleeping at unruly hours? Extra bouts of aggression you’re projecting toward your coworkers? Well put that pent up energy to good use this weekend and unravel at one of these hot gigs – from post-punk home-comers to chic KTV retro-pop; from cathartic punk rock to avant-garde doom – plenty of places to fill that void in your life.
 

Friday, Jul 13

Jiafeng, Fishdoll, Bob Dupont at DDC
Jiafeng aka Gao Jiafeng is a peculiar beast: electronics producer, saxophonist, musical instrument designer, rapper, and talk show host. The music style includes vapor waves, disco, future bass, city pop, hip-hop, traps, and yes, ghosts – all filtered through his homemade cool-waste aesthetic VJ and TED lecture styles. It’s truly a one of a kind performance. Catch the Shanghai-based artist as he continues his nationwide tour – support from jazztronica artist Fishdoll and Djang San’s new electric guitar based trio Bob Dupont and the Outstanding Vegan Bank Owners. RMB 80

Underdog, The Sino Hearts, Larry's Pizza, Ghetto Blaster, Tomato Mayor at School
Record label and promoters BigMic are back in business and they have thrown together an all-around fun night of punk, ska, and more this evening – on the bill are ska punk supergroup, Underdog, fresh back from their tour, as well as legendary skate punk trio Larry’s Pizza, power pop trio The Sino Hearts, blues rockers Ghetto Blaster, and special guests Nanning rap-metal outfit Tomato Mayor. RMB 100

641, Empty eyes, Fair Child, Ice Moon, Sick Pupa, Purgatory, Nobleman, Long Haul, Devil Mask, Nuclear Bomb, Eternal Wings Scar Constitution, Sy, Died on Valentine at Yugong Yishan
Northern Storm, the all things heavy promoters, celebrates nine years of hard-hitting rock and roll with a two-day rock and roll extravaganza at Yugong Yishan. You know the drill – non-stop metal and hardcore rock from the early evening into the wee hours of the morning – evening one highlights include atmospheric post-metal kids Ice Moon, Tianjin staples 641, and everyone’s favorite, Sick Pupa.

Qianchuan Drugstore, Electric Lady, Early Bus at Temple
Cold Neo gets down and groovy with this crazy fun lineup at Temple Bar – which features veteran ska outfit Early Bus, stoner rock favorites Electric Lady, and the return of Qianchuan Drugstore – the eccentric indie post-punk art university kids who have been releasing a slew of new singles this year. FREE

Hang on the Box, Drunkard, V89, Zhou Fengling, Yellow Race, Noisy Jelly at Mao Livehouse
Wukesong hosts a rousing ever-eclectic lineup of rock and roll – with female punk rock stalwarts Hang on the Box joining grunge mainstays Drunkard, hard rockers V89, as well as one of China’s earliest pop rock bands out there – Yellow Race. RMB 150

Jukka Ahonen, 9 Shang, Sardine is Back & the Wheel is Broken, Jordan Darling, Jony, Christophe, Li Er Yang, DJ Boss Cuts, Chandoso at Soi Baochao
The Beijing Underground presents ‘Yes: Art and Music’ – an event featuring multiple artist/music collaborations in a live performance setting. Whether projections of the artist’s work are cast among the music or an entirely live art experience, the event is sure to be of a different kind with some seriously intriguing pairings going on. FREE

Liu Dongming at Mogu Space
Folk rock singer-songwriter Liu Dongming - a prominent figure in the folk world for years, and whose album with his band The Sand recently was awarded the Best Folk Album Prize from Douban’s Abilu Music Awards – moved to Hangzhou earlier this year to the disarray of his many fans. He returns tonight for a one-off show. 120 RMB

3Bangz, B3Rich, Huang Lige at Omni Space
As 3Bangz notes ‘instead of hiding at home with blowing air conditioners, and being forced to eat watermelon by your parents; head over to Omni Space where the Guangzhou rap sensation rolls through town with his crew and number one homie B3Rich as well as rapper and actor Huang Lige. Expect big crowds. RMB 200

Samaga at Jianghu Bar
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. RMB 60

Jasmine Monk at Snail Club (Sihui)
Indie folk artist Jasmine Monk appears at Snail Club’s new digs in Sihui next to Ciyun Temple. The singer-songwriter has been a fixture of the folk scene – a voice of pure emotion that’ll transport audiences. RMB 80

The Rebel 5 at Modernista
Formerly known as The Rotten 5, is a soul, R&B, and funk music ensemble covering some of the greatest songs of all times. You better believe The Rebel 5 is one of Beijing's finest groups to get you moving on the dance floor. FREE

Victor Bastidas Quintet at The Bricks
Columbian percussionist Victor Bastidas is according to this write-up ‘one of the best drummers live in Beijing’. He’ll be fronting will his top-notch jazz trio this evening at The Bricks. FREE

Liu Sen, Zheng Zhi at Mogu Space
Singer-songwriter Liu Sen, fresh off the release of his debut EP The Devil’s Wind gives an intimate performance in Xizhimen alongside female artist Zheng Zhi. RMB 60

Zhang Sikun, Ceng Xue Ya, Leifeng Mao at Pink Moon
Acoustic goodness at the unplugged haven for up and coming singer-songwriters. RMB 66

Saturday, Jul 14

Lonely Leary, Division Control at DDC
It’s been a long time coming but Lonely Leary, the post-punk scrappers have finally arrived. The band which formed in 2012, finally got around to releasing their debut earlier this year – one that's full of jagged edges, paranoid unease, and brooding psychedelic overtones. And while the band wears its influences on their sleeve their noise rock rowdiness and playful mischievous wordplay are all their own. Operating in the post-punk dancehall world with such confident and tweaked relish, it sticks in you like a knife. They close out their tour with a homecoming show at DDC with support from Tianjin’s own post-punk outfit Division Control. RMB 90

Discord, Labor Glory, 0190, Jungle Fever, ATL Crew, Jidi x Gao Da Quanr at School
Back in February Beijing's GuoAn football team threw the first ever "Ultras Night" at School Bar. Now they’re back with for another evening of rock 'n' roll, hip-hop, and football shenanigans – on the bill on punk legends Discord, Beijing's only Ultras punk band Labor Glory, pop punk troublemakers 0190, new school emo punks Jungle Fever, the ATL label hip-hop crew, and Guo'an fans turned internet celebrities Jidi and Gao Da Quanr. RMB 80

SAW, 82, OWAT, Awaken, Mega Soul, Fuke Daifu, Fire Monkey, Dr. Vagent, Fomalhaut, The Uncrowned, Ephemerality, Tomato Mayor, Army of Jade Kirin, Goodbye Sunset at Yugong Yishan
Northern Storm, the all things heavy promoters, celebrates 9 years of hard-hitting rock and roll with a two-day rock and roll extravaganza at Yugong Yishan. You know the drill – non-stop metal and hardcore rock from the early evening into the wee hours of the morning – evening two highlights include heavyweights Mega Soul, longstanding industrial goth rockers Army of Jade Kirin and Nanning visitors Tomato Mayor. RMB

DFA1989, Sardine is Back, Boss Cuts, Da Bian at Temple
Bring Grandma over to Temple Bar tonight for some high-octane, skull-numbing fun via these noise violators including DFA1989’s last show of the summer, surf rock ruffians Boss Cuts, improv punk rockers Sardine is Back, and Da Bian. FREE

Wang Shengnan, Du Meng at fRUITYSPACE
Two rising female indie pop singers take the small stage tonight at fRUITYSPACE including Wang Shengnan, who just released her warmly received newest LP Deep Sea Fish, which returns to the singer’s more folksy roots, and Du Meng who is returning from a stint in Japan where she was forced to change the course of her life to focus on her musical career. RMB 40

Solaris at Mogu Space
After spending some time in the recording studio, the genre-bending five-piece ensemble who dip their toes into everything from neo-psychedelia to shoegaze, Solaris, are back bringing their expansive sound to Mogu Space for a special intimate performance. RMB 65

FOX, Chinkid Viitø，K￥LLER，SLAN.G, ShuangBangEr，Bad Blood，Deformed Boi, Cang Lang, Odd Couple, N-Bomb at Omni Space
Xinjiang rapper FOX part of the CMG crew tears through Beijing with a swarm of local and visiting hip-hop artists for a rap party down in Omni Space. RMB 200

Sondia at Jianghu Bar
Chinese jazz singer Zhang Ying, aka Sondia, known as a ‘jazz goddess’ brings her contemporary jazz flavorings, supple voice, and all-star band, which includes Liu Wei, a D’Addario jazz guitarist and bassist, keyboardist, organist and member of a Grammy-award winning quartet Zhou Xia, and drummer Victor Bastidas, to Jianghu Bar. RMB 100

The Flip Side at Caravan
It’s strange to think that I can't recall any disco cover bands out there. Sure many bands dip their toes into disco for their sets but a full-on disco band – not till now. The Flip Side is Beijing’s only live disco band. Bring your boogie shoes and come prepared to freak out, shake your booty, get jiggy with it and celebrate good times. FREE

Radwimps (JP) at Cadillac Center
Japan's Radwimps plied a technical, angular, often abrasive brand of indie rock with emotive, literate lyrics, which brought them huge chart success in their own country, and despite none of their albums ever being officially released outside of Japan a huge following in China. RMB 599-899

Los Amigos at BSP Livehouse
Beijing’s first homegrown band to focus on Latin American jazz - Los Amigos, whose members are all lecturers and professors at the Beijing Conservatory of Modern Music take the stage at the stage at BSP Livehouse. 120 RMB

Rhythm Traveller at Blue Stream Bar
Indie pop outfit Rhythm Traveller, present their newest release and bring their upbeat blend of urban folk and Britpop-infused rock and roll to Blue Stream Bar. RMB 100

Tai Yi at Yue Space
Homegrown trap rapper Tai Yi, from Changping District who has steadily built a local fanbase with his pop-infused future bass hip hop, lays it all down for a solo outing at Yue Space. RMB 150

Makaya McCraven (US) at Blue Note
Makaya McCraven layers his extensive experience with hip-hop bands, African dance bands, Hungarian folk music, and indie rock on top of a deep history of “straight ahead” jazz, improvisation, and the avant-garde with beats, sampling, and electronics as a form of unique self-expression. Catch him at Blue Note this weekend. RMB 320

Nancy Jenkinson Brown Quintet at The Bricks
Nancy Jenkinson Brown alongside with her ever-skillful multi-national band presents a delicious cocktail of music and playful renditions of songs you know and love, providing listeners a new sense of joy for jazz. FREE

Steve Blaque, RoRo, Zhao Yang at Pink Moon
Singer-songwriters head over to Nanluogu Xiang’s Pink Moon for an unplugged evening of easy-going tunes. RMB 60

The Basement at Modernista
The popular student band is back for another weekend bash at Modernista. Count on your favorite '80s and '90s songs to be covered. It will be loud, it will be wild, it will be again down to the Basement. FREE
 

Sunday, Jul 15

Nekroma, Wen Liang at DDC
Experimental art-rock quartet return with their latest performance – ‘Visions from the Void’ which will ‘explore the concept of art created in a feedback loop with live music, with both the performers and audience taking part in the creative process.’ While the performers will create ambient soundscapes combined with live digital paintings and shifting found visuals the audience will also be provided with art materials with which to express their interpretations of the creations unfolding before their eyes. Strange and ethereal voices beckon from the void, let’s hear what they have to say. Support from piano-based electronic producer Wen Liang. 3pm start. RMB 50

Screaming Kong, Fancy Wall, Stay Gold, Get Better at School
School Bar closes out the weekend with an ‘all-killer no-filler’ show with a ragtag team of young and hungry bands looking to make some noise including the riotous punk-infused Screaming Kong, pop-metal ensemble Fancy Wall, melodic-hardcore punk band Stay Gold, and emo rockers Get Better. RMB 60

Greg Lamy Quartet (Luxembourg) at DDC
The music of Greg Lamy Quartet is not just jazz: sometimes walking around the cross of jazz and blues, sometimes playing a folk ballad, sometimes you think you play a swing song to dance. That is the band brings multiple melodic climates. Their music has limitless possibilities and you never know what will be the next note to surprise you. The guitar, double bass, drum, and sax outfit from Luxembourg promise to satisfy each and every demanding ear. RMB 90

Make My Day (JP) at Mao Livehouse
Longstanding metalcore band Make My Day, from Tokyo, Japan, look to ravage Wukesong’s Mao Livehouse this Sunday. The band, fresh off the release of their pulsating, nerve-wrecking EP The Awakening featuring the band’s two singers playing off each other. RMB 180

Makaya McCraven (US) at Blue Note
Makaya McCraven layers his extensive experience with hip-hop bands, African dance bands, Hungarian folk music, and indie rock on top of a deep history of “straight ahead” jazz, improvisation, and the avant-garde with beats, sampling, and electronics as a form of unique self-expression. Catch him at Blue Note this weekend. RMB 320

Rudra’s Sage, Sid Silwal at Pink Moon
Redundant Seconds singer Sid Silwal, and Rudra’s Sage (who studied sitar under The Beatles guru) team up for Beatles Night on Nanluogu Xiang. RMB 60

Shi Yuji Jazz Trio at Modernista
Enjoy relaxing Sunday evening with the finest jazzy tunes by Shi Yu Ji (sax), Da Huai (bass) and Victor Bastidas (drums). FREE

Sunshine Afternoon Kizomba at Caravan
Delve into lively genres like afrohouse, kompa, semba, and kizomba with DJs Tarraxinhua Ted and Vesse every Sunday afternoon at Caravan. FREE

Sunday Night Open Mic at Caravan
These chill weekly open mic nights are a great way to see an eclectic array of folk, blues, country and even some comedy and poetry. FREE

Images: Will Griffith, courtesy of the promoters