Dusk Dawn Club Returns to Beijing with New Venue in Ritan

For lovers of the city’s music underground, the name Dusk Dawn Club, or simply DDC, might invoke fond memories of live music shows in Dongcheng long gone. Thankfully, there’s the chance for new memories thanks to DDC’s triumphant return to the capital this weekend.

Having closed after Covid hit and initial lockdowns were taking their toll on local businesses, DDC owner 69 (Zhang Jincan) still kept the club’s Qinhuangdao venue going strong with the promise of returning to Beijing someday.

That day has finally arrived, with a whole slew of soft opening events planned for this weekend at the club’s new Ritan location.

To find out more, we spoke with 69 about the new venue, what it’s like being back in Beijing, and the future of DDC now that it’s back in action.

How does it feel to be opening in Beijing once again?
I’m really excited and nervous at the same time. We chose to leave Beijing when the pandemic was at its worst two years ago. It was a pity for us to leave the hutong, with its artsy and homely vibes, but it had to be done due to our economic losses. Around this time last year, we finally found a new site and spent a year working on space design, construction and renovation. Now everything including stage equipment, tech, bar, kitchen services and artists are ready to go.

Besides the new location, what else can we expect at the new DDC?
Our new space is certainly larger than the original. We also invited some professional interior designers who share the same aesthetic taste as us to create a high quality yet comfortable space design. The design elements are similar to that of the old DDC, with a friendly feel for audiences. We are also using more unique, professional stage equipment now. We hope to bring a new one-of-a-kind live music experience to the capital.

Having closed the original venue in the midst of Covid and having reopened with Covid still going on, do you feel more prepared for any issues it throws your way?
Although the pandemic is still ongoing, we firmly believe people’s demand for entertainment is still strong, so at some level we all have to accept the fact that living with the virus is a normal thing to do. Of course, we’re fully aware that because of current epidemic control policies here, international artists still can’t enter the country. Even though DDC has hosted international acts in the past, it still might be a long time before we’re able to host them again.

For this weekend’s soft opening, the new venue is all set and ready to go. Anyone and everyone, whether you were a DDC regular or a new comer, is welcome to come and have a drink, tour the new space, and have your senses overwhelmed by some truly stunning performances. Admission is free for the soft opening. The bands on the roster are mainly indie bands, and there are also DJs who will perform late night sets. That being said, there will be controls in place to adhere to epidemic controls.

Finally, looking to the future, what kind of direction will DDC be headed in?
Now that we’re back in Beijing, we hope to cement ourselves as an important lifestyle and cultural landmark in the capital, then China, and after that, maybe the whole world.

Ritan DDC’s soft opening weekend runs from Friday, Apr 22 to Sunday, Apr 24, 8pm ‘til late each night at their new location on the ground floor of 39 Shenlu Street. Entry is free, so just follow the official account via the QR in the poster for more details.

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Images courtesy of DDC