[Updated] Music Scene Mourns Mao Livehouse's Slow Demise and (Absolutely) Final Show

[Updated Apr 15, 3.40pm] The lineup has expanded to include several afternoon sets. The ticket price for the evening gig has also gone up. Here are the details:

• Afternoon lineup: Children Cinema, Muppets, Byebye Noise, Super Lads. RMB 60 early bird online, RMB 80 at the door.
• Evening lineup: Escape Plan, Wenqi Li, Residence A, Self portrait. Presale RMB 200, RMB 300 at the door.

Li Chi also responded to our interview request. Click here for more.

[Updated Apr 13, 4.00pm] Ticket price and show time finally announced! The gig starts at 8pm. Tickets will be RMB 200 at the door, and can also be purchased in advance with the ShowStart APP.

Like a cat with nine lives, Mao Livehouse has miraculously defied death in 2016. The revered music venue limped onward for four months after founder Li Chi declared in December that rising rent, meddlesome officials, and a vicious copyright spat would soon lead to its demise. As the live house quietly continued to put on shows throughout the winter and spring, Beijing’s mosh pit rats held out hope for a happy ending. But alas, the inevitable finally appears to be upon us – Mao Livehouse show promoter Qian “JIDE” Zhiyuan tells the Beijinger that its last gig will be held on April 24.

Li did not respond to repeated requests for comment before presstime, so specifics remain scarce about how the venue has remained open since he initially detailed its dire straits, why the closure is happening now, and what he plans to do next (we will update this post if he responds). Qian did say that the April 24 swan song gig will feature beloved diva Li Wenqi (of The Voice of China fame), veteran local indie rock troop Escape Plan, and post-punk darlings Residence A (both of whom are also managed by Li). Residence A frontman Gou Zhaozhao says it’s an honor to help bid Mao adieu for one last climactic performance. “We have a special feeling for this stage, not only because of our relationship with Li Chi, but also because it feels like we grew up together with Mao. This live house has witnessed us from the beginning.”

Numerous music insiders are also lamenting the venue’s departure. Among them is Sophia Pederson, who coordinated numerous gigs at Mao when she was the media and project manager at Split Works, before moving on to work at LeTV as a business development manager. She calls the soon-to-be defunct venue “a staple of the Chinese rock scene.” Aside from its legacy of hot gigs, Pederson says the live house left an even greater impression because it, “like many of its peers … encouraged growth in the music industry by hosting international bands and also giving local artists a place to call home.”

And while Mao’s shuttering can be seen as part of a troubling overall trend in Beijing’s music scene – given the recent closures of 2 Kolegas, XP, its predecessor D22 and more – Pederson remains optimistic. She can’t deny that the slew of closures has “left a gaping hole, that I hope will be filled with similar artist friendly venues.” But she insists that “even though venues are shutting down, Beijing still has hope. Indie record labels are flourishing and local artists are getting international recognition. It's a positive sign.”

Indeed, many local music diehards would agree that there’s no reason for complete despair; Mao’s fellow midsize live house Yugong Yishan is still going strong; School Bar continues to flourish as a hotspot for in-your-face, gritty grimy punk and hard rock; Temple Bar remains a hot spot for a wide swath of acts; Dusk Dawn Club (DDC) has quickly ballooned as a preeminent platform for folk and avant-garde since its 2014 debut, while the neighboring Jianghu Bar has also maintained a strong folk following. What’s more, Mako Livehouse survived a recent closure and relocation from Shuangjing to Sanlitun, leaving a positive precedence for music fans that are already mourning Mao Livehouse's closure.

Mao Livehouse's final gig will be held on April 24. Ticket prices and showtimes were not given before presstime but we will update this post when that information becomes available. Otherwise, catch punks doing what punks do best with Human Centipede, The Diders, LaiSee, and more at Mao this Friday.

Photos: Mao Livehouse