Weekend Live Music Roundup: Suede, Punk Festival, Taylor Momsen
Blue Midi Festival just started today in Rizhao, a coastal city near Qingdao; and people are getting wild on the beach while you’re reading this article, all the coolest Beijing bands are gathered at the seaside; and I've heard that bands are a lot crazier at festivals out of Beijing. If you still feel like going, it's not too late to hop on a train or a friend's car or hitchhike to Rizhao right now (or you can take a train to Qingdao and then a bus to Rizhao) and have a weekend that you will never remember. The Blue Midi Festival goes on from today till Sunday.
If you are stuck in Beijing like me, it's actually not bad. We just had British Sea Power playing at Yugong Yishan last night - beautiful tracks were played, the guitar player jumped off the stage and jammed in the crowd; a weird robot did the worst robot dance on stage. Only the lower part of the venue was filled, but everyone had fun and film-maker Christopher Doyle (杜可风) was in the audience. The fun will continue on Friday when Norwegian's biggest pop band Montée plugs in also at Yugong Yishan, not to mention that Suede will play at Workers' Stadium on Sunday. Don't let the ticket price scare you, there's a “groupon” site that you can buy tickets for this concert half price.
Saturday is meant to be spent with your dearest one, as it’s Chinese Valentines Day. If you are dating a punkhead, then the 8th Punk Festival at MAO Livehouse is not to be missed. The celebration is for both punk and love. Meanwhile, the Tiger Translate Battle of Bands is still going on, if Suede is not an option, you catch up with pop punk Reflector at Tango on Sunday. Win tickets here. If you missed Perdel's gig at MAO last week, catch them sat Mako Live House tomorrow.
Bigger names are coming next week: Neon Trees plays at Tango on Tuesday, then Simple Plan will jam at the same venue the following day. The summer's getting intense, and it's going to keep being that way. Just a heads up: there will be at least two major music festivals in Beijing in September, and we just heard that Taylor Momsen's in one of their lineups.
Friday (August 5)
Addicted To Weibo
Metal bands tell us that they’re trapped in the online world too. RMB 50, RMB 40 (if you post the event on Weibo). 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)
Last Choice, Flyx, Soju Legion, Labor Glory
Wudaokou’s punk routine continues. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)
Lighting Of Tomorrow, Vol. 3
Larry’s Pizza, Alt Senior and five other bands gather to celebrate the launch of Pilot Records’ third collection of young bands. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 8pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)
Lone, Liu Yusi
Folk and world music for a lazy night. RMB 30 (includes a free drink). 9.30pm. What Bar
Montée
Progressive popsters from Oslo come to dominate the dance floor. See p39. RMB 50, RMB 30 (advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)
Tiger Translate Battle Of Bands (Perdel)
Local pop rock leaders supports the young powers. RMB 70, RMB 60 (students). 7.30pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112/3)
Saturday (August 6)
Peter Murchinson
Singer-songwriter Peter Murchinson is back with his folksy Americana. Free. 8pm. The Bookworm (6503 2050)
Punk & Love
Subs, Brain Failure, Hell City, etc. Twelve punk bands celebrate the 8th Beijing Punk Festival and Chinese Valentine’s Day. RMB 100, RMB 77 (advance). 6.18pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)
Song Yuzhe, Zhao Yiran
Spend Chinese Valentine’s day with Beijing’s folk legends. RMB 50, RMB 40. 9.30pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430)
Zhang Guonian, Liu Siwu
Folk lunatics chasing for the reality. RMB 40. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)
Sunday (August 7)
Tiger Translate Battle Of Bands (Reflector)
The battle continues, but the main act changes to pop-punk favorite Reflector. RMB 70, RMB 60 (students). 7.30pm. Tango (6551 9988)
Suede
We are told it’ll be the reunited original lineup, but if it ends up being just Brett Anderson with four random guys, how many people would be able to tell the difference? Tickets at 400 610 3721. RMB 280-1,280. 7.30pm. Workers’ Gymnasium (6501 6300)
Photos: Andy Willsher, Clevescene and Michelle Dai,