That's PRD takes a look at the best events of the month:
May 4: ASAP Mob & Marty Baller
Two-time BET Awards-winning hip hop group ASAP Mob are visiting Guangzhou this month. The American group is made up of rappers, record producers, fashion designers and music video directors. The New York legends will be accompanied by ex-member Marty Baller, who is known to ignite excitement and fervor in the group’s adoring fans. This is one party that Guangzhou’s hip hop fans will not want to miss.
Fri May 4, 10pm-late; RMB120. Hangover Bar. See event listing. Tickets.
May 6: Hand in Hand International Children’s Music Festival
This is China’s first international music festival intended for the whole family. Disappointed in the lack of new children’s music in China, Chinese singer-songwriter and author Liu Jian and his American journalist wife Rebecca Kanthor created Hand in Hand so their children, and all kids in China, could have a chance to hear the best live music for families from around the world and learn about different cultures through music. Over the next five years, Hand in Hand will bring the coolest bands for kids from 10 countries to tour 100 cities throughout China.
Hand in Hand's Guangzhou stop will feature Grammy and Emmy-winning husband and wife duo Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, from the US, as well as Hippe Gasten from Holland.
Sun May 6, 4.30pm; RMB160-560. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. See event listing. Tickets.
May 8: Rhodes
Known for his haunting vocals and ethereal electric guitar, British singer-songwriter David Rhodes has captivated fans since releasing his first single ‘Raise Your Love’ in 2013. For anyone who carries a torch for the bruised melancholy of Jeff Buckley or the soul searching tenderness of Antony and the Johnsons, expect to find an echo in Rhodes’s upcoming Guangzhou performance.
Tue May 8, 8.30pm; RMB120 presale, RMB160 at the door. T:union. See event listing. Tickets.
May 8-9: Bocuse d’Or Cooking Competition
Bocuse d’Or, often described as ‘the Olympics of cooking’, is a biennial event that draws top chefs from around the world to compete for glory in Lyon, France. For the very first time in the history of the contest, the Bocuse d’Or Asia-Pacific is taking place in China. Guangzhou will be hosting the continental selection round of the prestigious gastronomy contest. Register on bocusedor-asiapacific.com to witness some of the world’s most skilled chefs in action.
Tue-Wed May 8-9, 9am-5pm. Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center. See event listing.
May 12: Guangzhou Evergrande Host Hebei Fortune FC
Local football giants Guangzhou Evergrande will go head-to-head with their visiting northern foes on May 12 at the team’s home stadium in Tianhe. This will be Guangzhou fans’ only chance to see their ‘boys in red’ live in the city this month in what is sure to be a gripping showdown.
Sat May 12, 7.35pm, Tianhe Stadium. See event listing.
May 12: Joshua Radin
Even if he never intended to become a live performer, when Joshua Radin’s first song ‘Winter’ was featured on an episode of Scrubs, popular acclaim drove him to a record deal and countless world tours. Now, a half million record sales later, Radin has seen his songs featured in more than 150 different films, commercials and TV shows. He tours China in support of last year’s album, The Fall, which was the first produced by himself.
Sat May 12, 8pm; RMB150. Mao Livehouse. See event listing. Tickets.
May 15: WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne
The renowned German orchestra is making their first visit to Guangzhou since their last appearance in 2015, this time performing under the baton of Finnish maestro Jukka-Pekka Saraste. Masterful in their exploration of the depths and essence of classical music, the orchestra will accompany two German choruses – WDR Rundfunkchor and SWR Vokalensemble – to present Beethoven’s time-tested ‘Symphony No. 9.’
Tue May 15, 8pm; RMB280-1,580. Xinghai Concert Hall. See event listing. Tickets.
May 16: The Bilinda Butchers
This San Francisco-based band take their name from shoegaze group My Bloody Valentine’s vocalist and guitarist – Bilinda Butcher. The band experiments with genre-mixing and dramatic themes to create cinematic soundscapes. Their music is also influenced by Japanese music to some degree, as demonstrated in their first album Heaven.
Wed May 16, 8.30-10pm; RMB150. Mao Livehouse. See event listing. Tickets.
May 18: The King’s Singers 50th Anniversary World Tour
British a cappella ensemble The King’s Singers enjoyed widespread acclaim in the 1970s to 80s. With members coming and going over the years, the group has always been, by tradition, comprised of six singers. Today, The King’s Singers bring their diverse repertoire, which consists of both pop and classical music, to audiences across the world. The ensemble will stage a concert in Guangzhou this month as part of their 50th anniversary tour.
Fri May 18, 8pm; RMB100-680. Xinghai Concert Hall. See event listing. Tickets.
May 18: Fengzi
This rambling troubadour is plugging in his well-traveled six-string and gracing Guangzhou audiences with tales of the road. Having trekked and hitchhiked in some of the nation’s most unforgiving frontiers and after synthesizing his experiences into his latest release The Deepest Self, Fengzi is taking his musical travelogue on a nationwide tour. Catch him as he rides into T:union on a northwest wind.
Fri May 18, 8.30pm; RMB80 presale, RMB100 at the door. T:Union. See event listing. Tickets.
May 19: Mono Inc.
Fans of German Gothic rock are rejoicing this month as heavyweights of the genre, Mono Inc., prepare to make their innagural China tour. The Guangzhou leg of the tour will feature a stop at Mao Livehouse. With such carefree titles as ‘Voices of Doom’ and ‘Symphony of Pain,’ the show promises to be a light-hearted and whimsical musical experience.
Sat May 19, 8.30pm; RMB380 presale, RMB480 at the door, RMB880 VIP. MAO Livehouse. See event listing. Tickets.
Until May 20: Where Are You Going Tonight
In this exhibition, staged at the newly opened K11 mall, artist Chen Wei creates the artistic equivalent of a film scene. Chen’s creation is inspired by modern literature and conceptual photography in the 20th century, boasting a cinematic feel. By creating an exceptional space that straddles the boundaries between virtuality and reality, the artist allows audiences to become the protagonist in their own scenes.
Daily until May 20, 10am-9.30pm; RMB50. 4/F, K11. See event listing.
Until May 22: Transcendent Landscape: Artworks of Lin Yong
This exhibition showcases Chinese painter Lin Yong’s recent works on mountains and rivers. From the 40 or so art pieces on display, audiences can enjoy scenes of wild mountains, miscellaneous trees and flowers, bamboo groves tangled in old vines and smoky countryside tableaus, among other scenes.
Tue-Sun until May 22, 9am-5pm; free. Guangdong Museum of Art. See event listing.
May 25: Nerve Passenger
This Shanghai-based psychedelic rock trio has been honing their previously melancholy sound into a mature and well-rounded post-rock vibe that's worthy of the national stage. Now, the group’s six-city tour is taking the magic to Guangzhou with an appearance at Panyu’s NT Livehouse.
Fri May 25, 8.30pm; RMB60. NT Livehouse. See event listing. Tickets.
May 25: Juntian Yunhe
Juntian Yunhe is an instrumental ensemble who perform Chinese traditional music with the steady hands of seasoned professionals. Each of the band’s members boasts cultivation and education in traditional Chinese music and is an excellent solo performer in their own right. See them perform live at Guangzhou Opera House this month.
Fri May 25, 7.30pm; RMB80-680. Guangzhou Opera House. See event listing. Tickets.
May 26: Revel's World of Shakespeare
Written and performed by globally acclaimed actor Joseph Graves, Revel's World of Shakespeare is coming to Guangzhou this month. Drawing heavily on his considerable personal experiences with Shakespearean plays and extensive study of the plays’ articulations, Graves magically weaves a wildly comedic and deeply moving tale of childhood confusion and exploration, relating it all to the greatest of English writers, William Shakespeare.
Sat May 26, 7.30pm; RMB180-380. Guangzhou Opera House. See event listing. Tickets.
May 26: REBEL Fighting Championship Guangzhou
Three highly anticipated bouts will take place on May 26 at Guangzhou’s Tianhe Sports Center, pitting some of the best MMA fighters in China against their highly-skilled, international counterparts: Australia's Chris Morris and Brazil's Marcelo Tenorio, along with Konstantin Linnik of Ukraine, will face off against Wu Chengjie, Liu Wenbo and Wang Sai respectively. Visit REBEL Fighting Championship's website for more information.
Sat May 26, time and price TBD. Tianhe Sports Center. See event listing.
May 26: AmCham Studio 54 East Spring Ball
The now-defunct Studio 54 in NYC was formerly a world-famous, exclusive nightclub and disco from the 1970s that was favored by celebrities. Entry was only admitted for those in style. Today, its golden times can only be witnessed in photographs. This May, however, AmCham South China’s Spring Ball will bring the legend of Studio 54 to life with a night filled with disco, confetti and pageantry. For tickets, contact Ms. Wing Xian / Joyce Hu at wxian@amcham-southchina.org / jhu@amcham-southchina.org or 8335 1476 ext. 12 / 20.
Sat May 26, 7pm; RMB1,000. LN Garden Hotel, Guangzhou. See event listing.
May 26: Castle in the Sky (Concert)
The classics of Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki come to life this month at the Xinghai Concert Hall in an audiovisual extravaganza. Performers from some of the country’s best conservatories will come together to deliver a sensational, family-friendly musical rendering of such pioneering anime legends as Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro and Valley in the Sky.
Sat May 26, 8pm; RMB180-480. Xinghai Concert Hall. See event listing. Tickets.
May 26-27: Food and Drink Showcase by The Wine People
Guangzhou Loves Fusion is a culinary occasion conceived by The Wine People. The two-day event is composed of two parts: Black Tie Dinner, to be held on May 26 at Park Hyatt Guangzhou, will see top Guangzhou chefs each compose a signature dish to dazzle judges and attendees with exceptional ingredients, creativity and excellent flavor, while The Wine People provide hand-selected wine pairings. The following day, the same venue will play host to Sunday Kitchen Party, wherein some of the city’s outstanding restaurants will set up live food stations to offer food and wine tastings. All proceeds from the weekend will benefit the Wilber Foundation. For more information, contact Giulia on WeChat (ID: GiuliaBibi).
Sat May 26, 7pm; RMB1,400; Sun May 27, 12.30-3.30pm; RMB380; Park Hyatt Guangzhou. See event listing.
May 26-29: A Michelin Experience at the Taikoo Lounge
Enjoy an exclusive four-day ‘wine and dine’ experience prepared by Nicolas Boujéma, a renowned Michelin-star chef from the legendary Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo’s one-star Michelin restaurant Signature. Chef Boujéma will showcase his remarkable culinary and plating skills by offering diners two set menus: a three-course lunch and a seven-course dinner.
Sat-Tue May 26-29; RMB288/488 for lunch, RMB788/1,188 for dinner, plus 15 percent. The Taikoo Lounge (Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou). See event listing.
Ongoing: TWG Tea Mother's Day Afternoon Tea Set
Throughout the month of May, TWG Tea is offering Guangzhouers a glamorous afternoon tea set with a Parisian twist for two people. Enjoy a selection of dainty canapés and pastries and tea-infused gourmet sandwiches accompanied by a cup of Renaissance or Paris-Singapore tea. Also included in this tea set is a St. Honore cake infused with vanilla Bourbon tea, as well as two scoops of TWG Tea’s signature tea-infused ice creams.
Daily all month, 2-6pm; RMB388 for two, RMB168 for take-away cake. TWG (IGC, Taikoo Hui). See event listing.
Ongoing: Happy Hour at Bar 5
Choose one beer or cocktail from a wide range of tipple options and pair it with savory dim sum dishes and crispy tacos at LN Hotel Five’s newly redecorated rooftop bar. Set against the beautiful Pearl River views afforded by Bar 5’s rooftop position, this promotion offers you a scenic and tasty night ‘on the town.’
Daily ongoing, 5.30-8.30pm; RMB198 plus 15 percent. Bar 5 (LN Hotel Five, Guangzhou) See event listing.
Ongoing: Delicate Japanese Cuisine at Sheraton Guangzhou Hotel
Sheraton Guangzhou Hotel presents a popular Japanese buffet and innovate series of a la carte dishes. Over 80 courses have been created by hotel chefs, boasting an extensive selection of seafood, including New Zealand shrimp, Argentina red shrimp and abalone sashimi.
Daily Ongoing; 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30-9.30pm. Bene Seafood Restaurant (Sheraton Guangzhou Hotel). See event listing.
Until June 30: Wine and Dine in Mediterranean Style (Seasonal Menu)
Enjoy classic Mediterranean fare with a local twist in a contemporary setting. Alfresco’s new menu combines Mediterranean cooking techniques with ingredients commonly used in local cuisines. The menu’s main focus is on prawns, crab, seabass, cod and other seasonal seafood cooked using olive oil to produce healthy dishes with a light flavor.
Daily until June 30, 6-10pm; various prices. Alfresco (Langham Place, Guangzhou). See event listing.
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