After the quiet of Chinese New Year (minus all those bloody fireworks of course) live Beijing music comes back with a vengeance – with a weekend full of big names, big artists – big shows people. Even tonight\’s Pre-JUE show with Thee Oh Sees and The Planets at Mao Livehouse is looking like it\’ll be a rambunctious shitshow. Stellar all around – treat yourself.

FRIDAY

Dark ethereal disco rockers Nova Heart are poised to hit it even bigger this year, with a new album in the makings, a nationwide tour, and more – starting tonight with a show at Yugong Yishan. She’s joined by fellow electro pop singer Jia Huizhen who I’ve mentioned my esteem for beforehand, as well as Dead J, an electronic artist whose work recently has been beyond stellar. Described as ‘fractured post-dubstep’ – visiting Spanish electronic artist Filastine music is heavy on percussion, infused with world hip hop stylings, and schizoid enough to stand out from the rest – head over to Temple and catch the fever. XP is back in business, and going electronic tonight as well with PDU, Lilium and Funky Monkey hitting the decks bringing their rock sensibilities with them. Take in the heart-warming ballads of The Lones as they bring you ballads of yesteryear and now at School. Indie rockers 16 mins continue to keep hitting the circuit, with an intimate show at Jianghu Bar. Speaking of which, funk/blues/punk hybrid rockers The Intrepid Adventurers will be hard at work over the Hot Cat Club, while closeby at VA Bar Kamilia Nasr & Pierre Brahin their world music knowledge to the stage with a soulful set. Lastly, one can catch folk artist Sunny Song at the cozy 69 Café, Ma Xiao and his band at Blue Stream Bar, and bluesmen Zhen Ren at Modernista.

SATURDAY

Catch hands down some of the finest musicians this town has to offer at Temple as progressive rockers The Amazing Insurance Salesmen and atonal guitarsmiths The Last Three Minutes hit the stage – it’s gonna be a jamtastic rowdy time. If you’re looking for something a little more out then head on over to Dos Kolegas where Pangbianr has rounded up two intensely sophisticated electronic artists from Singapore and Hong, Black Zenith and Mega Fog to twist the language of music into new territories – they’re joined by Beijing’s own experimental pioneers Soviet Pop and Damage Blanket. If you’re feeling a bit of hooliganism in ya, then join Beijing Guoan fans at Mao Livehouse as they wild out with Trash Cat, Discord, 1043 Rap Team, Life Test, Joker, and many more for an uproarious party. XP looks to be getting in touch with their soft side brining indie artist Elenore along with Leonardo da Vinci for some laid back melodies. For all you guitar nerds out there, Yugong Yishan will be hosting the 8^th Annual Spring Festival Gala Guitar Competition with a slew of guests good with their fingers. Li Yan (aka Lucifer) continues to establish his new band with a free show at Zajia Lab while nearby at the Blue Stream Bar pop folk artist Mr. Freeman returns eager to please all ears. Catch some jazz goodness with LSD at Jianghu Bar while up the street The Tore Down bring blues rock to VA Bar and The Beijing Alchemists cook up a batch of originals and covers into a joyous concoction of fun at the Hot Cat Club.

SUNDAY

Speaking of shows – these two seasoned veterans, who have been around the circuit more than a few times, touring Europe and beyond, with their outlandish set designs and ever stranger onstage antics will invade Yugong Yishan for the evening. Re-Tros is one of the most talented bands to come out of Beijing, a post-punk trio who have evolved into some sort of twisted foot stomping gothic dance punk that’s ripe with layers. Along with Pet Conspiracy, the very definition of fun – fast, high-octance, electro rock at its craziest this is a not to miss show. Other than that, there’s always the Hip Hop Party over at Hot Cat Club, which believe me, should a whole other kind of blast – expect lots of MC battles, freestyling, and old school hip hop.

Enjoy you spoiled rotten kids!!