May 3: Beijing Rock 101
School Bar is kicking off its new series "Beijing Rock 101" on Wednesday. The whole thing will be curiated by Marshall (aka DJ Chairman Wow and the singer/saxophonist behind Swinging Barbarellas), so it's bound to be good. Beijing Rock 101: Volume 1 is happening tonight (Wednesday May 3). Instrumental math rock trio Rhonda and pyscho garage rock band Swinging Barbarellas will perform.
Wed May 3, 9pm. RMB20. School Live Bar, see event listing.
May 5: Soulja Boy
Soulja Boy exploded into the US charts in 2007 with ‘Crank That (Soulja Boy),’ an irritatingly catchy tune that spent seven weeks at number one. Record sales dropped sharply after his 2008 hit ‘Kiss Me Thru The Phone.’ He’s failed to chart since 2010, and while Soulja threatened to return to the limelight by collaborating with Nicki Minaj on her third album The Pinkprint, their song ‘Yasss Bish’ didn’t make the final album cut. A perfect time for a China tour, then. He’ll be cashing in at Club Mix, where the star will be met with a raucous reception from people who aren’t entirely sure who he is.
Fri May 5; RMB260 (advance), RMB350 (door); Club Mix, see event listing.
May 5-6: James Carter Organ Trio
James Carter has been a prominent performer and recording artist on the American and international jazz scene since the 1980s. The acclaimed musician is known for his seriously impressive saxophone, flute and clarinet skills. He has performed will the likes of Lester Bowie, Julius Hemphill, the World Saxophone Quartet, Wynton Marsalis and the Mingus Big Band. He'll be taking the stage as part of the James Carter Organ Trio for two nights at Blue Note Beijing this weekend.
Fri-Sat May 5-6, 7.30-9pm. RMB280-380. Blue Note Beijing, see event listing.
May 6: The Meantraitors
We’ll give you a free copy of That’s Beijing if you can name a Russian psychobilly band. Got one? (Psyche – That’s Beijing is free). If you didn’t get one, then let us introduce you to The Meantraitors, a St Petersburg band that have been mixing punk and rockabilly since the late 1980s. The trio return for their second China tour, and you can expect raw punk energy from the School Bar stage.
Sat May 6; RMB100; School Bar, see event listing.
May 6: Twinkle Star
Beijing emo-punks Twinkle Star play a homecoming show at Yugong Yishan following a nationwide tour to promote their new album, Full of Hope. The band mixes youthful energy (new drummer Gao Wei is just 21) with bona fide music scene credentials (vocalist Zhao Meng is also one-third of legendary pop-punk band New Pants), resulting in a sound that is lively and eminently melodic. Once a festival favorite at Strawberry and Midi festivals, the four-piece have been plugging away since 2008. Their new album marks a coming of age, and an evolution in their sound since their 2012 debut, The End of the Beginning. Support comes from Tookoo, Alt Senior and others.
Sat May 6, 8.30pm; RMB80 (advance), RMB100 (door); Yugong Yishan, see event listing.
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