Noise Pollution: Party-Approved Pop, Rock, Jazz, and Folk to Get You Through This Mess
As many of you have heard, Beijing is in hibernation mode this week due to a bunch of dudes having a hoedown at Zhongnanhai. They’ve pretty much booked everyone. But fret not – while most of you underground rockers will be hunkering down, there’s plenty of other options out there for peeps looking to get their fix. From jazz, classical, folk, to even some larger-scale rock showcases, if you squint hard enough, you’ll find it.
READ: Beijing Has Beaten the Beats: A Collection of Quiet Bow-Outs From Our Favorite Dance Spots
Friday, Oct 20
Need A Name, Childish Food, Electric Sewage at Hot Cat Club
Gotta hand to Hot Cat Club, while the rest of Gulou wisely shuts down, the last standing institute of Fangjia Hutong tosses up the finger and throws a little rock-and-roll showcase featuring a trio of up-and-coming acts, including hardcore punks Need A Name, Childish Food, and Electric Sewage. We salute you, Hot Cat Club, for going down in a blaze of glory. FREE
Just Chellin' – Joy Stuhr, Heike Wyler, Nicole Jahng at Caravan
Just Chellin' is Joy Stuhr (USA), Heike Wyler (Germany), and Nicole Jahng (USA), bringing their three cellos and three voices to the stage, whilst playing original music and fun covers with fresh creativity and a little jazzy soul. All coming from strong classical backgrounds, these three ladies grace the stage with fun, talent, and beautiful music, taking their audiences on a colorful journey through various musical genres, singing of love and hate and everything in between. RMB 50
Eluvia at Blue Stream Bar
The multi-national group – described as playing "organic roots music with hints of rock, reggae, and country seasoned with a modern variety of Chinese folk music" – bring the rhythm and groove to Blue Stream Bar, across the street from the Drum Tower. RMB 50
Joshua Redman Trio at Blue Note
One of the most acclaimed and charismatic jazz artists to have emerged in the past two decades, the Californian tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman (son of the legendary Dewey Redman) brings his expansive knowledge of the genre and thrice-nominated band to Blue Note for some top-notch jazz. RMB 420-520
Pan Xingmin at Mogu Space
Known as Amin to his friends and family in Lijiang, the Yunnan singer-songwriter, who’s been honing his skills for years in the southern Chinese province, brings his rustic folk stylings across the nation on a tour to promote his newest album. RMB 80
Joe Woo Trio/ Girasol Quartet At Chao Hotel
CHAO Hotel in Sanlitun holds the fort down with a double billing of music each evening – Friday hosts the Joe Woo Trio, as well as Canadian singer Kamilar Nasr’s bossa nova jazz quartet. FREE
Lorenzo Naccarato at East Shore Jazz Café
Piano, double bass, and some drums – get your jazz fix at the Houhai institute, opened by Liu Yuan, one of Beijing's earliest jazz aficionados. FREE
Saturday, Oct 21
Ember Swift at Yichang Café
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 (her most recent being ‘Sticks & Stones’) and fusing Mandarin, English, and French lyrics into a single intoxicating package. She’ll be chilling at the cozy (and government protected) hutong space 27 Yuan and its adjacent café. RMB 80
Misi Ke at Omni Space
Taiwanese indie-pop success Misi Ke brings her recent hit release, Don’t Make A Sound, to Omni Space as the soft-spoken singer-songwriter continues her China tour alongside her band, injecting each single with emotional heft and prowess. RMB 150
Another Story (JP), Twinkle Star at Tango (1st Floor)
Juggernaut Japanese screamo band Another Story, in many ways the backbone of Japan’s screamo scene, bring their world-famous antics to the big stage for their first-ever China tour. They’ll be joined by Beijing’s own emo punk superstars Twinkle Star, whose catchy, life-affirming, and energetic tunes infused with power pop aplomb are a staple of Beijing. RMB 220
Wang Suyuan and Captain William at Tango (3rd Floor)
If you’re looking to get stuck in a crowd of rabid female fans, then head to the top floor of Tango, where Chinese Mandopop rock singer Wang Siyuan brings his boyish charms and his band called Captain William to Beijing. Described as a ‘natural Prince Charming,’ though clearly created in a pharmaceutical lab at the secret railroad line at Dongshisitiao (you know the one), this is Chinese pop at its finest, folks.
Miranda, Tash, Dan Dan at Caravan
Caravan continues their ‘Keep It Simply Solo’ (KISS) series with a focus on the ladies of the singer-songwriter world, giving the spotlight to Miranda, singer of The Radiance, Tash, and Dan Dan. RMB 60
Gong Zhao, Qi Ming at Mogu Space
The ladies take over the Xizhimen space for an evening of folk music with performances from Gong Zhao, lead-singer and guitarist of Cold Rhythm, and folk singer-songwriter Qi Ming, who claims Leonard Cohen as her greatest influence. RMB 66
Thierry Mallard Trio (FR) at Good Bait
A seamless blend of jazz and world music, the French jazz trio – led by the classically trained and world-renowned pianist Thierry Mallard – brings their decades of experience to the stage tonight at Good Bait, the jazz joint located next to Slow Boat Brewery. FREE
Joshua Redman Trio at Blue Note
One of the most acclaimed and charismatic jazz artists to have emerged in the past two decades, the Californian tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman (son of the legendary Dewey Redman) brings his expansive knowledge of the genre and thrice-Grammy-nominated band to Blue Note for some top-notch jazz. RMB 420-520
Upper Bay, Mild Treatment, Getting Better at Blue Stream Bar
Pop rock, indie-folk, and then some – it’s a grab bag of genres, instruments, and ages at the long-standing Gulou joint, with two bands giving you the best treatment possible (it’s in their names, for crying out loud). But yeah, free rock and roll inside the second ring road. FREE
Just Chellin’/Ah-Q Jazz Arkestra at CHAO
Another double billing at CHAO with the super cello singing group Just Chellin’ (featuring Joy Stuhr, Heike Wyler, and Nicole Jahng) and the Ah-Q Jazz Arkestra fronted by Rani Geroult. FREE
Zhang Jin Quartet Jazz Experience at East Shore
Sax, bass, guitar and some drums – get your jazz on at the Houhai institute, opened by Liu Yuan, one of Beijing's earliest jazz aficionados. FREE
Sunday, Oct 22
Hot Club of Beijing at Blue Note
The high-end jazz club continues its ‘Good Day Beijing Brunch’ series, offering customers the fine pairing of brunch with top-grade music – today they’ll host the multi-national gypsy jazz ensemble, the Hot Club of Beijing, fresh off their tour of China, who’ll bring their 1930s swinging jazz, hot Latin rhythms, and gypsy waltzes to the stage. RMB 248
Veli-Matti Palomäki at Blue Stream
An independent musician from Helsinki, Finland, Veli-Matti Palomäki, who sings in Finnish, English, and Chinese brings his collection of folks tunes with a just a touch of Finnish melancholic temperament. RMB 40
Eben Trio (Czech Republic) at NCPA
Rock out in silence at the National Centre for the Performing Arts as The Czech Republic`s Eben Trio is Terezie Fialová on piano, Roman Patočka on violin and Jiří Bárta on cello. They perform a difficult and interesting repertoire and will be playing a programme that includes Hayden`s Gypsy Piano Trio, Brahms` Piano Trio in C Minor and Beethoven`s Piano Trio in D Major. RMB 100-200
Juan Ni, Zhang Ziwei, Zheng Zhi at Mogu Space
Get in your indie-folk pop kicks early with this afternoon showcase at Mogu Space in Xizhimen which’ll host three aspiring female singer-songwriters whose great slew of experiences has nurtured their talent. RMB 60 (4.30pm start)
Jess Meider, Matt Parker Trio at CHAO
This Sunday, see the Jess Medier jazz troupe playing over brunch, while in the evening, the Chet Baker-inspired vocalist and trumpet player Matt Parker delivers the goods. FREE
Mr. Moreno Donadel Trio at East Shore
Piano, bass, and drums – get your Sunday jazz fix at the Houhai institute opened by Liu Yuan, one of Beijing's earliest jazz aficionados. FREE
Still hungry for more? Check out all of our live music listings here. Alternatively, if it's nightlife that you're sprightly little legs are after, well, tough luck.
Photos: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers, jessmeider.com
