Upcoming: 2013 JUE Festival

The one thing I’ve learned since I first set ground in this fair city is that Split Works deliver the goods. Yeah, it’s easy to claim (and I’m sure they will agree as well) that they are music snobs a tad bit much, but you can’t deny that their tastes palates are pretty damn good. And come on, anyone who brings over Death Cab For Cutie can’t be that snobbish. Anywho, the team has been hard at work the past six months to deliver an even more impressive lineup of musicians and bands this year for the 2013 JUE Festival – everything from folk, to post-punk, to Celtic, even Mongolian hip-hop. It’s a packed list, already in a crowded March calendar but damn if I’m not envious a little over here. Here’s the music schedule below – for more head to their website, or if you’re looking to snag some tickets early you do so over at Yoopay.com Take a look below.

Friday March 8^th

Ital, Magic Touch, VHS or Beta at Dada

“A massive night of cutting edge live electronic music, from electro pop to disco house to abstract bass music from America.” 50 RMB

Joe Gil at The Bookworm

“American indie pop musician Joe Gil brings a special acoustic show to the Bookworm International Literary Festival. Don’t me this opportunity to hear Gil’s “gorgeous vocals, clever story-telling and impressive song crafting.” 50 RMB

Saturday March 9^th

How To Dress Well w/ Lantern Festival at Dos Kolegas

“Experimental pop producer, singer, and ethereal/R&B artist Tom Krell confronts his grief head on for a atmospherically beautiful show.” 60/100 RMB

Tuesday March 12^th

 James Harrar’s Cinema Soloriens feat. Marshall Allen (Sun Ra Arkestra) at Penghao Theater

“Cinema Soloriens is a multi-media performance consisting of James Harrar’s experimental and highly personal film and video images with a live musical rendering of soundtracks for each film. The musical concepts are created, directed and performed by Harrar (tenor sax, clarinet, flute, bulbul tarang, reeds, voice and effects) with Marshall Allen (alto sax, flute, E.V.I. and effects).” 80/120 RMB

Thursday March 14^th

Mongolian Bling premiere w/ Gennie and Quiza, Nasty Ray at Yugong Yishan

“Join JUE | Film and Asian Cinema Week to celebrate the China premiere of Mongolian Bling. The festivities kick off at 7:00PM with the film screening. Afterwards, join director Benj Binks for a Q&A session and later, a special performance by film stars Gennie and Quiza, Beijing MC Nasty Ray and members of Hanggai.” 100/120 RMB

Friday March 15^th

Matzka at Mako Livehouse

“MATZKA are a Golden Melody (Chinese Grammy award)-winning reggae band from Taidong, Taiwan – combining the traditional tribal music of their youth with the contemporary reggae, hip-hop, folk, rock and even heavy metal, MATZKA create an equally modern and traditional, completely unique “Taiwanese Reggae” sound.” 100/150 RMB

Love Bang at Dada

“Shanghai’s legendary club night Love Bang teams up with JUE | Music + Art again for a dance party at Dada Beijing. DJ Caution, Heatwolves, and DJ rs_0ne on the fast train from the south with crates of hip hop, house, Baltimore club and ghostcore, plus treats and cartoons. Free

Saturday March 16^th

Jeff Lang w/ Randy Abel Stable at Yugong Yishan

“Singer-songwriter Jeff Lang has built up a reputation for startlingly original performances, working without a set list, allowing the unique energy of each night to shape the songs – critically acclaimed as a truly great guitar player yet never allowing the guitar playing to get in the way of the music, nor overshadows his gift for hauntingly poetic songwriting.”  60/100 RMB

Computer Love at Dada

“DJ night with Bye Bye Disco’s Pei Pei Sun & friends” Free

Sunday March 17^th

Emerging Young Artists w/ Mr. Graceless, Snaplne, DICE, Residence A at Yugong Yishan

“Wooozy.cn has put together a musical programme showcasing the best of China’s rapidly expanding musical talent pool. Confirmed to appear are minimalist experimental rockers Snapline, Beijing indie darlings Residence A, young veterans of the scene Mr. Graceless and highly acclaimed new psychedelic outfit Dice with more groups to be added. On a relaxing Sunday afternoon come out and experience the talent of young (at heart) musical, artistic China.” 50 RMB

Woodie Alan Reunion Show at Jianghu Bar

“Woodie Alan is a collaboration between three Chinese and two American musicians, whose cross-cultural blues led to them being named 2008 Beijing Band of the Year by City Weekend magazine. The group stopped performing regularly when singer/songwrtier Alan Paul moved back to the US in 2009. He recounted their story in his book Big in China, which is now being adapted for film by producer/director Ivan Reitman. On March 15, they will perform together for the first time in almost two years, with original members Paul, Zhang Yong and Lu Wei joined by saxophonist Wang Tianxiao and lead guitarist Feizai, both longtime Woodie Alan friends and collaborators from the band Slap.” 60 RMB

Wednesday March 20^th

Amanda Mair w/ 16 mins at Jianghu Bar

“Only 15 and without a Myspace or Bandcamp page when a friend of hers passed a demo to Sweden’s famed record label Labrador in 2010, Amanda Mair’s subsequent rise to the top has been a thrilling one. Her first single “House” released in 2011 received immediate adulation from critics and the public, drawing comparisons to the likes of Kate Bush and Dusty Springfield. She followed it up with “Doubt,” later the lead single off her self-titled debut album and wrapped up 2011 with Big Breakthrough honors from the Swedish Music Industry survey.” 60/80 RMB

Gang of Four w/ AV Okubo, DICE at Yugong Yishan

“Legendary English post-punk quartet Gang of Four play in Beijing, albeit with only one original member – Andy Gill – who has been in town producing Wuhan-based techno-rockers AV Okubo’s latest.” 180/220 RMB

Thursday March 21^st

Grimes, Ami Dang w/ LILSAY at Mao Livehouse

“Grimes is an artist that gleefully defies classification. Having shed labels such as “post-Internet,” “grave wave” and witch house as quickly as others change socks, Grimes (neé Claire Boucher) creates a total visual and audio experience that cuts across genres as disparate as New Age, glitch, K-pop and industrial dance music (IDM) for one of the most creative voices of the new millennium.” 150/180 RMB

Nguzunguzu at Dada

“Nguzunguzu is the duo of Daniel Pineda and Asma Maroof, who originated from Los Angeles. First popping up as producers on M.I.A.’s Vicki Leekx mixtape, in the past few years the duo have worked behind the decks and toured steadily throughout Europe and North America all the while releasing free mixtapes and EPs on labels including Hippos in Tanks and Fade To Mind.” 60 RMB

Friday March 22^nd

Sound Fragment at Yugong Yishan 

“Sound Fragment is one of Mainland China’s most-beloved and well-respected indie rock bands, especially for lead singer and songwriter Ma Yulong’s poetic lyrics. Ten years together and steadfastly creating deeply serene, rich, moving and ever-changing music, Sound Fragment create magnificent illusions so real that you might reach towards the stage to touch them.” 80/100 RMB

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls w/ Contraplans at Mao Livehouse

“UK singer-songwriter and his band The Sleeping Souls will give a performance full of passionate resonance, punk sensibilities, and more as the accomplished artist, most recently seen playing at the 2012 London Olympics sets foot in China for his second time.” 120/150 RMB

Saturday March 23^rd

Trans-Pacific Improv & Noise Exchange w/ Bob Ostertag, Pierre Hébert at Dos Kolegas

“A trans-Pacific meeting of radical multi-media innovators & improvisers, be introduced with Shadow Boxing – a multi-media animation and sound art performance by Bob Ostertag and Pierre Hébert.” 60 RMB

SLV at Dada

“Antidote presents S.L.V., Downstate, Hamacide (live sets + DJ sets) and DJ Shackup. Attention people! First live set outside of hometown Shanghai for S.L.V.” 50 RMB

Sunday March 24^th

Two Wheels Keep Rolling ft. Liu Yusi and thruoutin at Jianghu Bar

“Brad Seippel (aka thruoutin) and Liu Yusi (of the Randy Abel Stable) are both musicians who enjoy riding bicycles, and they’ve both had travelled long distances by bike. On the afternoon of Sunday March 24, Brad and Yusi will talk about their how their cycling trips and riding experiences had influenced their life, thoughts and music. After the talks the two will each perform a set, and then play together in an ambient-folk-blues jam.” 30 RMB

Whoa – a lot to take in right? Chose wisely music lovers. Split Works have outdone themselves – let\’s hope they\’ve left so love for the rest of the year.