Having spent the last couple of weekends giving out flyers in Wudaokou and Sanlitun (hustler’s gotta hustle), I’ve noticed a proliferation of newly arrived ravers. Each fresher-faced than the last, they stumble around Sanlitun Houjie sheepishly asking for directions to Lantern, looking for presale tickets to big-name DJs, and exhibiting a healthy disdain for Mix and Vics. Welcome, newbies – you’ve come to the right place.
Following on from a star-studded September, the EDM on offer in October is a little more low-key, but definitely more interesting. Promoters Antidote basically rule the ‘DJs-you’ve-never-heard-of-but-trust-us-you’ll-like-them’ game, and on the 19th at Dada, they’ve got Jon Kennedy, an OG British trip-hop guy who will almost certainly be very good. It’s one of those gigs where it’s difficult to say exactly what he’ll play, but it’ll likely be a combination of head-bobbing dreaminess, followed by dance-heavy beats later on.
Also at Dada the following Friday (the 25th), tried-and-trusted Beijing bass party The Drop (no relation to this column) rolls into Gulou for the very first time, with a double bill of foreign DJs: Crown Duels from the UK and Italy’s Ariel Camusso, with local support. Both play innovative, bouncy bass music – expect solid vibes.
Then, looming out from the deep end of October comes that yearly night of designated fun time: Halloween. The parties fall on the 26th this year, and if you’re looking for dependable EDM and/or to hook up with a sweaty student, go to Yen Fetish. For details, ask basically anyone. However, Lantern’s Halloween party, Spooked, gets my vote. There will be “free body paint and hair styling” (presumably for those terribly interesting people who prefer to outsource their costume creativity), and terrifyingly heavy techno from Weng Weng and the Lantern crew.
Godfather of the Month: Drop the Lime
Godfather of: Various
Origin: NYC
Age: Unknown
Fact: Originally known as Walk the Line, a promoter at an early gig misheard the name over the phone, and printed flyers touting “Drop the Lime.”
//RMB 60, Oct 18, Dada, Rm 101, Bldg B, 206 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng District (183-1108-0818; weibo.com/dadabj)
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