Weekend Live Music Roundup: British Lady Gaga (?), Sound of Yunnan, Folk on Grass

Named by Time Out London as one of the "40 Men And Women Who Make London", Family Affairs star, the beautiful glamour puss, now seems developing herself into a black Lady Gaga, Ebony Thomas (well she's now named Ebony Bones! as a musician) arrives Beijing from South London with her disco punk at Yugong Yishan tonight. Let's pretend we don't know she's actually here in China for the Shanghai Expo because we are the ones living in the greatest city in the world (of Hebei).

After rock fans congregated over the May holiday and bitched about everything from the lack of water to the dirt on their shoes (I did on both), it's time for folk/world music fans to have their mayhem in a more polite fashion. On Saturday and Sunday, Ditan Park Music Festival takes place at...wait for it, it's a surprise...yes, Ditan Park. Yunnan quartet Shan Ren is among the line-ups, but you can also see them at Jianghu Liveshow Bar on Friday night. Saturday's worth-seeing acts includes Song Jie (guitarist of Miserable Faith) at Jiangjinjiu Bar, art rockers The Offset: Spectacles at Mako Live House, Seattle indie poppers Throw Me the Statue at D-22, fusion jazz from Tuanjiehu Groove at The One.

More on the grass fun, 2 Kolegas is holding a house Brazilian carnival on Sunday afternoon, shake ya ass.

Check the Beijinger Directory for venue details

Friday (May 7)

Buyi
Wu Ningyue and co. pay a regular visit. RMB 50. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu Bar (8405 0124)

Early Bus, Defy
Boys of rockabilly put ska on your face. RMB 40. 9.30pm. VA Cafe and Bar (5844 3638)

Ebony Bones, Pet Conspiracy
British singer-songwriter seeks the sounds of trumpets, synths, sound samples, electric guitars and cowbells. Helen Feng and her disco pets join the hunt. RMB 120, RMB 80 (advance). 8pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Hanggai & Friends
Friends of Mongolian mainstays greet the bar opening. Free. 9pm. Gulou 121 Bar, 121 Jiugulou Dajie, Dongcheng District (8404 3430)

Shan Ren
Folksy chaps harmonize a cappella in Yunnan style. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students, advance). 9.30pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

The Amazing Insurance Salesmen
Zhang Si’an rock with indie brothers Mao Mao and Maikel. RMB 30 (includes a drink). 9.30pm. What Bar (1590 123 6743)

The End of The World, You Mei You
Ready for hard rocking tonight. RMB 30. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

The Flyx, Gum Bleed, Hell City, Soju Legion
Punk power rises in Wudaokou. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

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

Saturday (May 8)

Acoelomate Goat, Carpet of Let, Ice Seller, The Offset: Spectacles, SAM
Experimental soundscapery takes effect with Southeast Asian flavor on sitar. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112)

Ditan Park Music Festival: Day 1
Two days of folk-on-grass with musicians from China and around the world, hopefully with the support of a little sunshine. Visit www.thebeijinger.com/blog for full lineup. Tickets at 8404 3067 or 131 2109 3098. RMB 80 (per day), RMB 60 (advance); RMB 120 (two days), RMB 100 (advance). 3-9pm. Ditan Park (6421 4657)

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

New Pants, Reflector, Wang Shengnan, Future Bicycle and Howie Lee
Give it up to Sanlitun. Free. 6.30pm. Sanlitun SOHO (5878 8888)

In Memory of the 70s
Chinese rock forefathers Zhang Chu, He Yong, Askar (of Grey Wolf) and Liang Long (of Second Hand Rose) gathers for the good old days, with dance support from BMDC. Tickets at 400 630 6016. RMB 100-380. 7.30pm. No.46 Theater, 46 Fangjia Hutong (8403 3799)

Mr. Freeman
Fusion rockers turn up the volume in a siheyuan. RMB 40. 9.30pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Nucleus, Wu & The Side Effects, Buyi
Ningxia brothers rock collectively. RMB 40. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Song Jie
Miserable Faith guitarist plays solo compositions. RMB 50. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu Bar (8405 0124)

Throw Me the Statue, Mr. Graceless, Old Fashion, Pacalolo
Indie pop from Seattle, with help from local garage, punk and electro rock. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Tuanjiehu Groove
Jazz concert behind a bus station – talk about fusion. RMB 120, RMB 100 (advance). 9pm. The One (5914 8085)

Sunday (May 9)

Ditan Park Music Festival: Day 2
Two days of folk-on-grass with musicians from China and around the world, hopefully with the support of a little sunshine. Visit www.thebeijinger.com/blog for full lineup. Tickets at 8404 3067 or 131 2109 3098. RMB 80 (per day), RMB 60 (advance); RMB 120 (two days), RMB 100 (advance). 3-9pm. Ditan Park (6421 4657)

Kit Young, Li Tieqiao
East meets West during crossover improvisation. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance, students). 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)

Sambasia
Brazilian outdoor carnival on the grass, with beats from Beijing’s community samba drumming troupe. RMB 50. 1pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Zhou Laoda & Friends
An experimental session of world music. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 9pm. D-22 (6265 3177)