Ready to go through the gauntlet again boys and girls. Take in as much music as physically, psychologically possible. I definitely am, and there\’s more than enough here to send you to the loony bin come Sunday. Take a look.

FRIDAY

If you’re a lover of all things heavy then get your ass over to Mao Livehouse – German metalcore band Caliban are out for blood and they’re brining two of our hardest hitting metal bands, The Falling and Four Five, for a powerful night of music. Show some love to Xian as the experimental collective System Error sets up shop at XP this weekend for some mischief and all around noise mayhem, inspired by Amnesty Internatioanl annual global report on torture – heavy stuff there – get your head straight on that one – tonight’s performers include Sikhara, Zila, Gutianle, Qinliong, and XBH, as well as our own Soviet Pop. Campus rockers with a keen sense of humor and storytelling Nanwu hit up the cozy newly renovated Jianghu Bar along with JustPlay. Xin Ma You Jiang, who are receiving quite the good word of mouth (though my pops passed out in his chair while listening to them) are joined by boozy new wave rock kids Steely Heart at the Old What? Bar. The CD Blues Festival heads into its third weekend – tonight rockabilly gods Rolling Bowling are joined by old bluesy trope Zhanren at the CD Blues Café. Angelic singer-songwriter Sara Lov outta the US looks to capture hearts with brutally honest lyrics tonight at Yugong Yishan. Lastly, one can catch Ember Swift at Temple, and the Doug Martin Trio at Modernista.

SATURDAY

The Dreamer International Festival kicks off today at the Chaoyang Sports Arena right outside of the fifth ring road – catch My Little Airport, Omnipotent Youth Society, and more across two stages. Everyone’s favorite southern rockers Shanren have finally gotten around to releasing their second album – see what the mischief makers have cooked up over at Mako Livehouse. Split Works hosts duo Wye Oak out of the US for a night of dreamy pop melodies at Dos Kolegas with Bloody Woods on supporting duties.  System Error continues their reign of terror at XP – tonight catch Bias, Hua Jiao, Yang Zhongguo, and Colourful Z-Bra as well as our own psychedelic rockers Chui Wan. Swiss folk metal – sounds like fun to me – Eluveitie hits up Yugong Yishan for some headbanging along with our own Tengger Cavalry. For some Mongolian goodness with a slice of modern rock head to Jianghu Bar to catch Ajinai do what he does best. For a shot of absinthe and fun I’d recommend hitting up Modernista to catch Mademoiselle et son Orchestre and their infectious gypsy jazz. Finally, bluegrass invades Temple with The Randy Abel Stable.

 

SUNDAY

The Dreamer International Festival continues as Shanren, Low Wormwood, and more take to Chaoyang Sports Arena. Electro hip hop out of Toronto excite anyone – well Yugong Yishan’s got you covered – as they host The Airplane Boys. Promoting the release of his latest Lop Nor, folk artist Xiao Zhou swings by Jianghu Bar for an intimate performance. Finally, Taiwanese boy band MP which stands for Magic Power look to shake a few ass at Mao Livehouse.