Weekend Update

Alright you animals, I’m taking my sabbatical at the great wall (party) this weekend so while I may not be around as much this weekend, there’s still plenty of fresh shows around town – expect to be seeing a lot of international acts in the next month or so, as things heat up around town – seriously sweating like a dog in my room at the moment. On that note, here’s what you better get into this weekend.

FRIDAY

After a year, Temple is well beyond takings its first baby steps – celebrate the one year anniversary of the crackbaby that just can’t be stopped – tonight brings the hard rock with Kick Ass and Jacky Danny on hand – check out my interview with Jacky Danny here. Did I mention it’s gonna be sloppy. The other big show in town would have to be Hanggai, who took my advice (not really…but I like to think so) and are doing an all acoustic show on Dos Kolegas’s lawn with a lot of their new material – sounds pretty rad to me. Djang San, who impressed the hell out of me last week will be bringing his electro folk to Zajia Lab. At XP, ‘mutant blues’ group One Lick Less from Paris will be taking stage alongside post-rockers Glow Curve. It’s the semi-finals of the Tiger Translate Battle of the Bands at Mao Livehouse – who the hell is left?– well if wanna know then get over there as the guests tonight are metal gods Suffocated. Ningxia royalty Buyi take the imitate stage at Jianghu Bar. For something on the noisy side, head over to Wudaoku’s 13 Club to catch Ready To Die, Silent Resentment, Nightingale, and Lacerate or to the Old What? Bar for Return the Truth, Gum Bleed, Early Bus, and All is Unknown. For something more low-key get over to VA Bar to see indie group Arrows Made of Desire, and C60, or to Hot Cat Club for some offbeat electronica courtesy of Nostalgia For The Stars, Cam Norton, and Knowledge. Finally, head to Mako Livehouse to see the ever-touring ethnic minority group the Dong Chorus.

SATURDAY

Temple continues to celebrate one year on the circuit – and tonight it’s gonna be an all out bro fest with Rolling Bowling, Skarving, and DJ Green Monkey keeping smiles wide and grinning. It the Brits’ coming out party this year – an all day party is being thrown at Yugong Yishan to shed light on great things British – at nightfall Brit rockers Exile Parade will be joined by Residence A, CNdY and Elenore. All things indie at the Old What? Bar with Arrows Made of Desire, Fuzzy Mood, and Low Bow – that’s a nice trio of distinctly different bands who deserve a little more attention. Franz Nicolay, one of NYC’s staple artists, brings his talents tonight to the Hot Cat Club. The second half of the semi-finals of The Tiger Translate Battle of the Bands will take place tonight at Mako Livehouse with guest Omnipotent Youth Society on hand. Mao Livehouse gets down and dirty tonight as GumBleed, Trouble Trouble, R.W.F, and Steely Heart take the stage. Longjin and Velvet Road go unplugged at the Blue Stream Bar. The Rock Rhino himself Wang Wei makes an appearance at Jianghu Bar, while Brazilian funk masters Mama Funker bring it down over at Le Petit Gourmand. Australia’s pub blues group Plan B continues making the rounds here in Beijing – catch them tonight at VA Bar. And finally, you can catch China’s premier samba group Tempio do Samba over at Dos Kolegas.

SUNDAY

For those left with life in them, then take it easy at XP, as Franz Nicolay and punkers GumBleed give acoustic sets. Mao Livehouse seems to be going all out tonight as they bring in Da Bang, Jia Huizhen, Children’s Cinema, Billow’s Fairy Tale and more for a night fresh and catchy music. Popular folk flamenco group Toy Captain release their new album over at Mako Livehouse. Catch some folk at Blue Stream Bar with Red and Dimo, or capitalize on another chance to seee Guizhou ethnic group The Dong Chorus at Jinghua Bar.