Weekend Live Music Roundup: Secret Machines, French Folk, Triple Nipples

Despite the fact that big international bands keep failing to make it here (by "big" I mean famous, not necessarily good), promoters are still trying their best to bring quality acts to Beijing. Krautrock trio The Secret Machines (see interview here) and singer-songwriter Julie Doiron (see interview here) are playing tonight at Yugong Yishan and 2 Kolegas, while Zuoxiao Zuzhou (see interview here) performs his first solo in eight years at Century Theater. On Saturday, Japanese synth punk band Triple Nipples drive into 2 Kolegas for a night of god-know-what-would-happen. On other sides of the town, French folk duo Vialka and world music group Dawanggang jam at Tiny Salt Coffee Club, whereas Low Wormwood frontman Liu Kun releases his solo debut at D-22 with supports from some of Beijing's best folk musicians. Heavy weekend for live music, so take out your wallet now, you know musicians need money more than faith to keep rocking.

Friday (March 19)

Anymore, Dexter, The Raving Radio, Saint Flag, AJK, Saving Molly, 641, Egofall
Beijing’s extremist makes Yonghegong a metal land. RMB 80, RMB 60 (adavance), RMB 120 (VIP). 8.30pm. The Star Live (6425 5677)

Brett Johnson
Dallas-based DJ brings a night of soul, disco, house and techno. RMB 70. 9pm. White Rabbit (6417 2588)

Buyi
Indie veterans rock in a courtyard. RMB 40, RMB 30. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Elise Liao, Demos
Indie pop on guitar and piano. RMB 80. 7.30pm. Song Music Bar and Kitchen (6587 1311)

Hanggai
Mongolian chiefs make a stop at CBD. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance), RMB 30 (students). 9pm. Tiny Salt Coffee Club (5900 0969)

Italoboyz
Minimal house and techno take maximum effect. RMB 80, RMB 50 (advance). 10pm. Lantern (135 0134 8785)

JUE Festival: Julie Doiron
Canadian singer songwriter visits Beijing. RMB 50. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

JUE Festival: TOOKOO, Bigger Bang!, Rubber Phonograph Needle, The Me Guan Me's, The Disagree
JUE Festival embraces local bands in emo, disco rock and experimental formats. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Kite
Panjir guitarist David Mitchell’s edgy new quartet with Nico on drums, Hu Hao on bass and Li Tieqiao on the sax. RMB 30. 9.30pm. Obiwan (8322 1231)

Li Zenghui, The Offset: Spectacles, Vialka
Avant-garde sax jams with the alt rockers. RMB 50. 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

MC Cha Cha, Drunk Monk, Deville
Members of Shanghai reggae group make an effort to make boat fly, supported by house DJs. RMB 50. 10pm. The Boat (6460 5512)

Sacrifice, Specter Of Doom, Blood Fluke, Rampant, Perish The Skeleton, Body Of Blood
As dark as you can imagine, welcome to metal land, get out you little sunshine. RMB 40. 9pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

The Amazing Insurance Salesmen, Audiobots Deploy
Friday night with indie rockers. RMB 30 (includes a drink). 9.30pm. What Bar (1590 123 6743)

The Secret Machines, RandomK(e), Girl Kill Girl
The Dallas krautrock machines show you how to get Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Who in one band. RMB 200, RMB 150 (advance). 9.30pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Xia Jia Piano Trio
Jazz pianist operates on his keyboards. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Zuoxiao Zuzhou
The Chinese Tom Waits? The man’s more than that, especially on a concert directed by Ai Weiwei and Jia Zhangke. RMB 180-1,280. 7pm. Century Theatre (6466 4805, 6468 3311 ext 3126)

Saturday (March 20)

Arrows Made of Desire
Classic rockers jam in hutongs. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Bear Babes
Feel the spring breeze with Taiwanese indie pop. RMB 150, RMB 100 (advance). 8pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Dawanggang, Vialka, Li Tieqiao
Song Yuzhe and friends showcase original recordings and remixes of folk songs collected on the road to China’s remotest parts, supported by French gypsy and freestyle sax. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9pm. Tiny Salt Coffee Club (5900 0969)

Fuzzy Mood
Alternative blues in process. Price TBD. 8.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

JUE Festival: Optimo
Glaswegian DJ duo brings sounds from across the spectrum. Donald Summer and Maxime support. RMB 70. 9pm. White Rabbit (6417 2588)

JUE Festival: Trippple Nippples
This Japanese synth-punk band better sound good. RMB 50. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Liang Ying Jazz Quartet
Jazz night at Wudaoying. RMB 20. 9pm. VA Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)

Liu Kun, Zhang Weiwei & Guo Long, Wu Tun, Dong Zi, Wu Ningyue
Low Wormwood frontman perform folk solo and drops his debut album. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Liu Yuan Saxphone Quartet
China’s jazz forefather keeps the Houhai shores smooth. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Maiko, Zhang Jun & Friends
Local band sing covers of Radiohead. Free. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Nanwu
Folk rock group sings own compositions with electro guitar and bamboo flute. RMB 50. 9pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

The Dama Llamas, Yuan Jing
Qingdao rockers joined by electro musician. RMB 30 (includes a drink). 9.30pm. What Bar (1590 123 6743)

Trip In, Samian, Al K Traxx, Labiur
Electro hop rhythms from all French speaking parts of the world. Tickets at the Alliance francaise in CCF, Xihai and BLCU from Mar 10. Free. 7pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Wang Fanrui
Pop goes acoustic. RMB 60. 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

X.L.F.
Acupuncture man launches his “Cut Off” EP. Free. 10pm. Lantern (135 0134 8785)

Sunday (March 21)

Ajinai
Mongolian ensemble bring the sound of the grasslands. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 9pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Eagles of Loulan
Xinjiang rockers play flamenco. RMB 40. 10pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Li Xintong
Folk with electronic elements. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Moreno Donadel Trio
Italian pianist collaborates with a few Beijingers. Free. 9.30pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

The Dama Llamas, Luoti Wuqu
The Liamas rock two days in a row, joined by secret guests. RMB 30. 9pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Youji Paodan, Black Fox, Ci Qin, Cui Longyang
College bands don’t care about Mondays. RMB 20. 8pm. Tiny Salt Coffee Club (5900 0969)

Zhu Guangyu
Hubei born singer songwriter sings his poetic folk. Free. 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (6405 4482)

Check the Beijinger Directory for venue details