Noise Pollution: Behind the Shadow Drops at Yugong Yishan, the Ultimate Chinese Hip-hop Tango

And just like that, we return to our regular programming ... Hope everyone had an excellent Plenum! I know I did. Pajama party all weekend long. Though with the temperature dipping more and more, it might just become a permanent pajama party over here. That won't stop me from getting my licks in at the venues across Beijing. And from the looks of it, it's gonna be a fierce weekend – one killer gig after another, with a lot of the venues getting in on the Halloween fun while they can. So hope you’ve got a costume for each and every night, 'cause it’s about to get spooky! 

Friday, Oct 27

Xie Yugang, Behind the Shadow Drops (JP) at Yugong Yishan 
Post-rock legends turn the ambiance all the way up with this musically ample pairing of Xie Yugang, frontman for Dalian post-rock titans Wang Wen and Takaakira “Taka” Goto, founder of seminal Japanese post-rockers MONO. The two have teamed up to promote their solo releases – ambient-filled wonders that will transport you and leave you dazed. Truly exceptional work that will fill up Yugong Yishan. RMB 150

Hind Brain, Gum Bleed, Struggle Session, and secret guest at Temple 
Temple kicks off their Halloween weekend with a down and dirty punk and hardcore showcase featuring the blunt and visceral Struggle Session, anti-establishment veterans Gum Bleed, and up-and-coming hard-rock ruffians Hind Brain. Plus, a secret guest. A treat， indeed. FREE

Werner Puntigam (Austria), Wang Ziheng, Ma Jin + Ake at fRUITYSPACE
Austrian multimedia artist Werner Puntigam who explores music (composition, improvisation, trombone, conch, voice, noise), visual arts (photography, video, design), and the integration of technology and visual sound, will join sax improviser Wang Ziheng, ambient laptop producer Ma Jin, and sound artist Ake. Cool offbeat sounds and expressions of music – dig it. RMB 40

The Hunters, Boss Cuts at DDC
One of the scene's hottest expat troupes, The Hunters, who combine old-school funk, soul, and rock into one intoxicating cocktail, throw a Halloween bash with the help of surf-rock sex machines Boss Cuts, who have added bass and sax to their lineup making them an act not to be missed. RMB 50

N-Bomb，Bluso，杠尖儿 at School 
It's an MC freestyle battle! Take a side and root for your favorite wordsmith as a horde of rappers from various backgrounds, including N-Bomb and Bluso, drop rhyme after rhyme in a flurry of stream-of-consciousness verses till one contender remains. RMB 80

Tash & Jeff, Ale Amazonia, Clustercuss, DJ Mr. BananaFishbones at Caravan 
Celebrate Halloween Robert Smith-style with 'Friday I'm In Love – The Cure Tribute Show,' during which an array of singers and artists including Tash & Jeff, Ale Amazonia, Clustercuss, and DJ Mr. BananaFishbones show their love for the seminal UK band. FREE

Anvil (Canada) at Tango 
Canadian heavy metal legends Anvil, who formed in 1978 consisting of Steve "Lips" Kudlow (vocals, guitar), Robb Reiner (drums) and Chris Robertson (bass) bring their epic years-in-the-making brand of metal to Tango. The band, with sixteen albums under their belt, has been cited as having influenced many notable heavy metal groups, and were made infamous by the aptly titled documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil. RMB 200

Xie Yuchi at Yichang Cafe
The classically trained Xie Yuchi will perform once again this Friday in the intimate Yichang Café, with a first set dedicated to flamenco and Latin music, and a second set dedicated to classical repertoire. 80 RMB (7.30 start)

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (US) at Blue Note
Two-time Edison Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – trumpeter, composer, producer, and designer of innovative instruments and interactive media – graces Blue Note with his wildly eclectic boundary-pushing tunes that ‘stretches the rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic conventions of jazz to encompass many musical forms, languages, thought processes, and cultures.' RMB 280 (7.30pm start)

Dan Taylor & Heike Kagler, Jordan Darling at Jianghu Bar  
German cellist Heike Kagler and The Harridans frontman, Brit-born Dan Taylor, bring their remarkable talents together for a special evening of Celtic Baroque folk with special guest, singer-songwriter Jordan Darling. 60 RMB

Redundant Seconds, Ko at Soi Baochao 
Indie-punk rock-and-rollers Redundant Seconds, who released their debut earlier this year joins Ko, who loops guitar and vocals making a ‘glorious, euphoric wall of sound’ at the Baochao dive. FREE

Mojo Hand at The Bricks
A blues supergroup made up of some of the skilled rockers of the Beijing scene, including OOC frontman Cheng Chen, bassist Wang Zheng, and guitarist Wei Wei, bring their richly flavored Chicago-style blues to the Sanlitun jazz bar. RMB 80

Lorenzo Naccarato Trio at La Plantation
Piano, double bass, and some drums – get your jazz fix at the ritzy La Plantation with the Lorenzo Naccarato Trio who are rooted in Italian culture. RMB 200 (7.30pm start)

Kamila Nasr & Pierre Brahin at Snail Hostel
Kamila Nasr and Pierre Brahin are a Beijing-based duo, who perform a wide range of styles of music. Their show is powerful, eclectic, and energetic – and explores and mixes popular and well-known folks songs from Iranian and Afghan accompanied by flamenco rhythms. FREE

The Beijing Bandits at Blue Stream
Made up of a group of Texans, The Beijing Bandits reflects their homeland with interesting blues, jazz, and traditional rock elements. Catch them at the Gulou-centric venue. FREE

The Rebel 5 at Modernista 
The Rebel 5, formerly known as The Rotten 5, is a soul, R&B, and funk music ensemble covering some of the greatest songs of all time. Catch them working the dance floor at Modernista playing the best Halloween hits for you, from Jackson’s Thriller to the mythic Ghostbusters. FREE

Saturday, October 28

Lao Ayi, Duck Trick, Dolphy Kick Bebop at School 
Righteous freak jazz, noise rock and post-punk aplomb from the Yangtze River Delta – it may not be a proper Halloween showcase, but believe me when I say this is gonna be a freak show in the best possible way. Yiwu noise jazz improvisational troupe Duck Trick bring their chaos filled jams to School alongside fellow Hangzhou psychedelic jam outfit Dolphy Kick Bebop and Shanghai post-punk female grifters Lao Ayi, a band that’s been building a strong buzz down south. Sleeper gig of the week and hell of a place to get your Halloween on. RMB 100

Boss Cuts, Hugh Reed & the Electric Shadows, Peking Floyd 
Things get theatrical this Halloween as Temple invites the deviant alter egos of some of Beijing’s livewire acts – surf rock outfit Boss Cuts morph into The Cramps, Hugh Reed will adopt a new persona for the occasion: Dr. Agula & The Guilty Undertakers. And Macondo’s Pink Floyd tribute project – Peking Floyd – will be performing the Dark Side of the Oz. If that wasn’t enough, visiting Swiss-electro rockers RizzoKnor will be swinging through as part of their China tour.

TOW, The Molds at fRUITYSPACE
Like two peas in a pod, jangly, gangly alternative punk outfit The Molds, one of Beijing’s most sought-after acts (if only due to their rare appearances), join TOW – the psychedelic folk duo formed by The Molds' singer, Liu Ge, and ex-singer of Ourself Beside Me, Yang Fan, for a mini China tour kicking off at their home base fRUITYSPACE. Expect a packed house chock full of Beijing underground rock royalty. RMB 70

AK47, Die From Sorrow, Xue Chen, The Dark Prison Massacre, Devil Mask, Xuji at Yue Space 
It wouldn’t be Halloween without a little metal. A place where long hair and makeup will be aplenty and you can mosh out to your heart’s delight. Yue Space has conjured up quite the lineup, too, including the influential Chinese industrial metal band AK47, as well as metal outfit Die in Sorrow, fresh off their acclaimed debut release, brutal death metal band The Dark Prison Massacre, ethnic shoegazey black metal outfit Xuji, and many other air guitar-worthy bands ready to tear the holiday a new one. RMB 180

Dongzi, Ma Tiao at Yuan En Space 
Folk legend Dongzi throws a release party for his new album, three years in the making, entitled Yun Meng (Cloud Dreaming), after the longstanding singer-songwriter’s hometown. Expect to be moved by his melancholic voice as his songs tell of the lives of a generation – “each song captures the essence of days past, every yesterday, and every day as it comes." Deep stuff. Location is right off of Jiaodaoku. RMB 120

Templo de Samba at Caravan
Templo de Samba will be on hand to infuse the evening with the enchanting sounds of Pagode, making us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Bossanova, Samba, and Latin flavors – it’s gonna get mighty festive, folks. Dress in your best Latin-flavored outfit for maximum effect. RMB 60

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (US) at Blue Note
Two-time Edison Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah—trumpeter, composer, producer, and designer of innovative instruments and interactive media graces Blue Note with his wildly eclectic boundary-pushing tunes that ‘stretches the rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic conventions of jazz to encompass many musical forms, languages, thought processes, and cultures.' RMB 280 (6.30pm start)

Frandé (TW) at DDC
Winner of Golden Melody Awards, Chinese Media Music Awards, and Singapore Fresh Awards, the Taiwanese indie-pop outfit with hints of psychedelic rock and roll and gothic trip-hop, hit up DDC as part of their nationwide tour. RMB 100

Mr. Miss at Snail Hostel
Retrofitted adorably cute ukulele-led indie pop duo whose old-school jazzy tunes has garnered them quite the fanbase, as well as a prestigious Golden Melody Award in Taiwan, get intimate at the cozy cafe. RMB 80

Binary Star Jazz Quintet at Jianghu Bar 
Sax player Pan Qi heads up the Binary Star Jazz Quartet. He’s joined by fellow sax player Liang Yixiao, bassist Sheng Zhi, Wang Yaoyang, and drummer Wang Feifang. The band includes young grads of China’s top music conservatories, who mix jazz, pop, classical, and rhythm styles into their performances. RMB 60

Xiao Yue at Yugong Yishan 
Folk singer-songwriter, crosstalk performer, television talent, and cutting-edge blues harmonica player Xiao Yue brings his array of talents and extensive background (including his love for Quyi opera), to Yugong Yishan with his touring band. RMB 120

Redunant Seconds at Blue Stream Bar 
Multinational indie-rock and punk act Redundant Seconds, fresh off their debut album Come Back to Beijing bring their rambunctious melodic sound to Blue Stream. RMB 50

Mujiangzi at Omni Space
The nationwide Yunnan music phenomenon hits up Omni Space as a part of their tour. Fusing folk and pop songs of the Yi culture into an intoxicating blend, the band has made their way onto television countless times and have become one of China’s ‘national bands’ – which basically means they get paid the big bucks to ‘represent’ their culture. RMB 80

Bianyuanxingzou, San Shi Shi Li, Lao Fan at Blue Stream Bar
Guizhou-based San Shi Shi Li joins neo-folk outfit Lao Fan and more for a culturally rich showcase at Blue Stream Bar. RMB 60

TK (JP) at Tango 
TK (Toru Kitajima) is a Japanese singer and musician, formerly the lead singer of the J-pop group First Reflection. After a string of hits and popularity in Japan, other parts of Asia, and even Europe, TK is now a solo artist with hits like ‘Unravel’. As per usual, expect hordes of screaming fans. RMB 500 

Sunday, Oct 29

Gai, Bohan Phoenix, J-Fever, Lil Akin, VISUDY, DJ Gunknown, itsogoo, 精气神, DJ Edi, Soul Han, Simba at Tango
Some of the best players on the rap scene join forces for this hip-hop extravaganza featuring Sichuanese rapper Gai (most well known for his stint on The Rap of China) joined by fellow heavyweights Sichuan-by-way-of-New-York transplant Bohan Phoenix and Beijing’s own offbeat and buoyant J-fever. They will be joined by the likes of Pact (plus a Nous-Underground labelmate mystery guest), Shanghaiers Lil Akin and VISUDY, Xi’an’s DJ Gunknown, the ITSOGOO crew, the Cantonese hip-hop crew 精气神, DJ Edi, Soul Han, and Simba. VJ Wujing will provide the visual backdrop for the evening. Yeah – that’s a loaded bill right there and probably the best offering of rap you’ll get this year. RMB 300

Holy Shit, The Sino Hearts, Free Sex Shop, Duff Beer, at School 
Halloween fever takes over School Bar this Sunday night and they’ve rounded up quite the bag of treats with a punk-filled evening featuring the '70s-inspired supergroup Holy Shit, power-pop trio The Sino Hearts, female ruffians Free Sex Shop, and the fast and loose Duff Beer. Bring ya costumes, ya goofs. FREE

Steely Heart, Bye Bye Noise, L-Gentlemen at Yugong Yishan 
New wave indie-rock and Britpop feelings as Yugong Yishan looks to cash in on the youthful energy of these veteran bands – from the scrappy electro new-wave rock of Steely Heart, who are quietly gearing up for their next release, to the Strokes-inspired garage rock of Bye Bye Noise, to the buoyant Britpop of L-Gentlemen, there’s a bit of something for everyone. RMB 120

Solaris, Acid Accident at DDC
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 DDC with support from up-and-coming psychedelic jammers Acid Accident. RMB 50

Wicked A Bones, Arrest and Kepler at Temple 
Couldn’t get that paint from last night off your face? Well then head over to Temple and relive the nightmare all over again with this mischievous Sunday evening of hard rock. FREE

Wang Yuguang, Xue Ting at Blue Stream Bar
Shadow puppet artist Wang Yuguang – known for adapting the ancient traditional art of shadow puppetry for a modern audience – joins Xue Ting, known for his unique approach to traditional Chinese instruments, combining them with world instruments like the didgeridoo and more for a unique and mesmerizing musical and visual experience. RMB 50

Yu Miao, Wang Chenhuai, Stefan Krist at DDC
It’s an afternoon improv showcase featuring some top-notch talent including guzheng musician Yu Miao, trombonist Stefan Krist, and double bass player Wang Chenhuai. RMB 50

Getting Better, All Sixes, Panda Eyes, SSB at Omni Space
Omni Space lets the dreamers dream as they open up their doors to a slew of up-and-coming bands looking to make their mark on the scene. Expect a lot of new faces and new sounds. FREE

Auburn at Snail Hostel
Indie alt-rock group Auburn, together since 2013, with one album under their belt, and a slew of singles which have hit the top ten on the Tencent, Douban, and Netease rock charts, head on over to Snail Hostel for an intimate unplugged performance. RMB 80

See Saw Jazz Quartet at Modernista 
Formed in Beijing, and led by pianist Feng Wei, the See Saw Jazz Quartet combine jazz, swing, cool, bebop, and hard bop, together with Latin music and Chinese minority music, into a hypnotic blend. FREE