What's On in Shanghai: August 2017

That's Shanghai takes a look at the best events of the month:

Aug 2: Desire Soiree

This Wednesday marks the final week of this cabaret show at The Pearl. The performance features Nargis on lead vocals with a group of talented back-up dancers and special effects lighting from Industrial Magic for an immersive and sensual effect.
Aug 2, 9pm, RMB100 presale, RMB150 door. The Pearl, see event listing. 

Aug 3-6: Réversible

Réversible is the latest show from experimental circus performers the Seven Fingers. Themed around family and memory, the performers took inspiration from their respective pasts to tell stories through an innovative hybrid of theatre, circus, dance, music, and acrobatics.
Aug 3-6, 7.30pm, extra shows on Sat & Sun at 2.30pm. Shanghai Children Art Theatre, see event listing. 

Aug 3-20: Théâtre Motus: Elisapee and the Northern Lights

This table-top puppet show aimed at children aged 2-7 tells the story of Elisapee, an Inuit girl exploring her snow-covered world. The story is told through puppetry, shadow work, theater, music and lights to capture children’s imagination.
Aug 3-20, times vary, RMB230. Art Space for Kids, see event listing. 

Aug 4: A Guy Called Gerald

Local party crew Holly Sh*t team up with Redbox to bring over A Guy Called Gerald, an essential member of the acid house scene of 80s Manchester thanks to tracks like 'Voodoo Ray.' Also known an early innovator in jungle and drum 'n bass, he has released nine albums over his multiple-decade career.
Aug 4, 10pm, RMB60 presale, RMB80 door. Elevator, see event listing. 

Aug 4: Tokimonsta

Talented and multifaceted LA producer TOKiMONSTA comes to Arkham with SHFT as part of the tour for her new album, Lune Rouge, a soulful, poppy new avenue for her electronic music. TOKiMONSTA composed the album while undergoing brain surgery, and describes it as more personal than her previous work.
Aug 4, 10pm, RMB160 presale, RMB220 door. Arkham, see event listing.

Aug 4: Kyoka + Ueno Masaaki

Antidote teams up with respected German techno label Raster-notion for this showcase of two Japanese live electronic acts. Kyoka splits her time between Tokyo and Berlin and deals in broken beats and experimental rhythms. Ueno Masaaki takes philosophical inspiration from weather and biology in his releases on Raster-notion, and he’s also the found of art collective »p±h«.
Aug 4, 10pm. Dada, see event listing. see event listing.

August 4: Special Favorite Music

This Japanese band has influences of neo-soul, R&B, European and US sounds, as well as Japanese music. They describe their odd merginf of music styles an "interesting unknown chemical reaction." SFM wants their music to make listeners believe in magic.
August 4, 9pm, RMB160. Yuyintang, see event listing. 

August 4: Devil from Hell

Holokastrial, Ronove and Crusado Orchestra are all performing at Inferno, each specializing in a different type of metal. You can expect to hear black metal, death metal and a combination of syhmphony and death metal with this lineup.
August 4, 9.30pm, RMB 40 including one drink. Inferno, see event listing.

Aug 5: Elysia Crampton + Bok Bok

Experimental producer Elysia Crampton brings her electrifying live show, a mix of visuals and her complex, thematically rich electronic compositions that touch on progressive issues, feminism and Latinx culture, to Shanghai for the first Wooozy Offline Show at ALL. Joining her will be UK grime producer and Night Slugs label boss Bok Bok.
Aug 5, 10pm, RMB100. ALL, see event listing.

Aug 5: Lil Akin & Visudy

STD hosts this show from two up-and-coming Chinese electronic acts: soulful vocalist Lil Akin and producer of mellow, futuristic beats, Visudy. The two have collaborated on tracks like 'Seaside Motel' and will be performing their blend of R&B and electronic music at Arkham.
Aug 5, 10pm, RMB120 presale, RMB150 door. Arkham, see event listing.

Aug 5: 90s to Naughties

The latest installment of Smash’s monthly ode to the R&B and pop of the 90s and early 2000s will spotlight classic songs from Aaliyah, Jennifer Paige, Sisqó, OMC, Deep Blue Something and lots more.
Aug 5, 9pm, no cover. Smash, see event listing.

Aug 5: Dënver

Dënver is a duet formed by Mariana Montenegro and Milton Mahan, bothing hailing from San Felipe, a small town in Chile. The two have a signature sound that is a combination of pop and indie-rock, with a 70's vibe thrown in.  Their latest album, Sangre Cita, was listed as one of the best Latin American albums of 2016 by Rolling Stone. 
Aug 5, 9pm, RMB60 presale/RMB80 door. The Pearl, see event listing.

Aug 5: Scream 4

Scream 4 is a collection of four bands-- Second Son, Revival, Fire Head and The Naraka-- all bringing their own style of music. You can expect to hear  mix of underground rock, nu metal, independent rock, psych rock, and much more. Head to Yuyingtang for a variety of great rock bands.
Aug 5, 9pm, RMB50 presale/RMB60 door. Yuyintang, see event listing.

Aug 7: Drink & Draw

Traveling event group Shaving in the Dark bring their drink & draw party to Smash for its August installment. Art materials like paper and pencils will be provided, and Smash is extending their happy hour extra late in honor of the occasion.
Aug 7, 8.30pm, no cover. Smash, see event listing.

Aug 8: Gnash

Garrett Gnash, better known as just Gnash, is a multi-talented performer; he is a dj, singer, rapper, model and 'nap enthusiast.' He has quickly risen to fame, and his hit single 'i hate u, i love u' made it to the Billboard Top 10 in the US, and was number one in Australia. Come watch Gnash put on an incredible show and perform some of his highly acclaimed songs.
Aug 8, 11pm, RMB180 presale. Yuyintang, see event listing. 

Aug 9: Cocktail Cinema

Cocktail Cinema is an immersive movie-viewing experience held at a secret location that pairs a film with drinks from a notable Shanghai bartender. This month's featured film is The Prestige. In keeping with the magic theme, Chris Xi of buzzed-about venue Blackstone Magic Bar will be in charge of cocktails for the evening. Follow @CocktailCinema on WeChat for details.
Aug 9, 8pm. Secret location, see event listing.

Aug 10: Romeo & Julia Kören Drama Concert

This playful concept concert sees a Stockholm choir dressed in full Renaissance costume and performing madrigals from the period in a unique mix of choir and theater. The group will perform songs in English, Italian, French and Swedish.
Aug 10, 7.30pm, RMB180-580. Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, see event listing.

Aug 11: DYGL + Mitsume

Mao Livehouse hosts two Japanese rock bands in the form of fiercely DIY indie rockers Mitsume, and DYGL, who formed in 2012 when its members were in college, and released their pop-rock debut full-length, Say Goodbye to Memory Den, last year.
Aug 11, 8.3pm, RMB200 presale, RMB280 door. MAO Livehouse, see event listing.

Aug 11: Ulf Eriksson

Elevator's resident party crew Co:Motion host Ulf Eriksson, the founder of respected Swedish techno label Kontra Musik, which celebrated its 10th anniversary of releasing unique and genuine dance music last year. Eriksson also runs a music festival called Intonal and works an artistic director at Inkonst, a renowned cultural centre in Malmo.
Aug 11, 10pm, RMB50 presale, RMB80 door. Elevator, see event listing.

Aug 11: Samuel Kerridge

ALL hosts techno producer Samuel Kerridge, whose brand of slow, driving industrial techno has garnered much acclaim and led to the founding of his own label, CONTORT, in 2015. He hosted a long-running party series in Berlin and released his latest LP, Fatal Light Attraction, last year.
Aug 11, 11pm, RMB80. ALL Club, see event listing.

Aug 12: Baauer

The producer of 2012's monstrously popular track 'Harlem Shake' comes to Shanghai for a set at Arkham from S.T.D. The track was one of the first viral songs to garner an artist mainstream fame. Originally from Philadelphia, Baauer is now based in Bushwick and released his debut full-length, Aa, last year.
Aug 12, 10pm, RMB260 presale, RMB300 door. Arkham, see event listing.

Aug 12: Raw Cuts featuring Knopha

Xiamen-based DJ Knopha, who founded the label Beatween and has released on Beijing label Ran and Shanghai grime and club music label Push & Pull, hosts this vinyl night encompassing funk, soul, deep and acid house, techno and beyond.
Aug 12, 10pm, free before 11pm, then RMB50. Elevator, see event listing.

Aug 18-19: Zainab Johnson

New York-based performer Zainab Johnson returns to Shanghai, where she first performed last year. She's worked on several web series, reached the semi-finals of Last Comic Standing, and was a featured performer on All Def Comedy on HBO last fall. Catch her set at Kung Fu Komedy Club.
Aug 18-19, Fri: 9pm, Sat: 8pm & 10pm, RMB170 presale, RMB200 door. Kung Fu Komedy Club, see event listing.

Aug 19: Future of the Left

As one of the final pre-shows before their Concrete & Grass festival next month, Split Works hosts a local music showcase at Yuyintang. Featured bands include punk rock trio Lao Ayi, math rock duo Foster Parents, and psych-rock band Mirrors from Shanghai, plus Qie from Hangzhou.
Aug 19, 8.30pm, RMB60 presale, RMB80 door. Yuyintang, see event listing.

Aug 19: RP Boo

Credited as having essentially invented the genre of footwork in Chicago in the mid-90s, RP Boo has flown under-the-radar until a few years ago - around the time he dropped his debut EP, Legacy, in 2013. Past shows of his in Shanghai have been high-energy affairs, with Boo coming out from the DJ booth and dancing with the crowd. Don't miss his set at ALL.
Aug 19, 11pm, RMB100. ALL Club, see event listing.

Aug 19: Zhu

S.T.D. brings over the rising star producer and singer Zhu, who has been active since 2014 and released his first tracks while keeping his identity anonymous. His breakout track 'Faded' was nominated for a Grammy in 2015. He's performed at Coachella and Ultra Miami and collaborated with Skrillex. Catch his show at Arkham.
Aug 19, 10pm, RMB300 presale, RMB350 door. Arkham, see event listing.

Aug 22: John Escreet Group

Jazz pianist John Escreet has been based in New York since 2006, touring regularly around the US and earning the respect of his peers thanks to his highly original and vibrant compositions. His quartet the John Escreet Group comes to Shanghai for a one-night only show at JZ Club.
Aug 22, RMB120 presale, RMB180 door. JZ Club, see event listing.

Aug 23: Cigarettes After Sex

Split Works brings Cigarettes After Sex to Shanghai for a Concrete & Grass pre-show. Formed in Texas in 2008, the band serves up melancholy, ambient pop songs with confessional lyrics from frontman Greg Gonzalez. Their song 'Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby' was just featured in The Handmaid's Tale, and they are now based in Brooklyn.
Aug. 23, 8pm. RMB180 presale, RMB220 door. Modern Sky Lab, see event listing.

Aug 25: Sinjin Hawke + Zora Jones

Choirboy turned-up-and-coming producer Sinjin Hawke deals in nimble, future-forward club music and has collaborated recently with Kanye West, DJ Rashad and MikeQ. He and producer/sound technician Zora Jones bring their Fractal Fantasy audiovisual project pairing music and experimental videos to ALL.
Aug 25, 11pm, RMB100. ALL Club, see event listing.

Aug 26: Michael Learns to Rock

Danish pop-rock band Michael Learns to Rock bring their boy band aesthetic and earnest pop songs to Shanghai for a show at Luwan Stadium. MLTR has a huge following throughout Asia, and have released eight albums throughout their long career.
Aug 26, 7.30pm, RMB380-1,280. Luwan Stadium, see event listing.

Aug 26: M.E.S.H.

M.E.S.H. is a resident DJ at Berlin nightclub Janus. His debut LP, Piteous Gate, is an experimental mash of visceral, warbling electronic music and ambient sounds that veer toward the cinematic and could be the score to a creepy industrial horror film. Catch his set at ALL.
Aug 26, 11pm, RMB80. ALL Club, see event listing.

Aug 26-27: Summer Sonic Festival Shanghai

This major Japanese rock festival lands in Shanghai for the first time with a two-day event the last weekend of August. After several line-up changes (most notably the nixing of Placebo), Summer Sonic's confirmed headliners include The Fratellis, Sum 41, Travis, The Kooks and Luna Sea.
Aug 26-27, 11pm, RMB680 presale, RMB1280 for two-day pass. Shanghai Shendi Ecology Park, see event listing.

Aug 28: Ariana Grande

The pop megastar brings her Dangerous Woman tour to Shanghai in one of the biggest shows of the year. Grande started out as a Broadway and TV actress before launching her singing career and finding superstardom, breaking records with the sales of her albums and times her songs spend at the top of charts.
Aug 28, 8pm, RMB480-1,680. Mercedes-Benz Arena, see event listing.

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