Another weekend of musical shenanigans in the  Big Red – just friggin overload at this point. Winter has only just officially begun, and there’s no stopping the onslaught of shows this month. Check out what’s in store be sure to check out the calendar for details.

FRIDAY

The Dong Dong Music Festival kicks off tonight with a bang – over at Temple, shoegazing noise rocking outfit Skip Skip Ben Ben, join trance rock power foursome WHAI, along with Bian Yuan, of Joyside fame – meanwhile over at Yugong Yishan our own chrome disco rockers Nova Heart join European groovers ST.LÔ and classical techno masher upper Francesco Tristano out of Luxembourg. If you looking for something with a little more bite, I’d wager checking out Yang Haisong’s post punk duo After Argument, who have been killing it this past year with their bare bones rock em sock em punk ethos – they’ll be at XP along with French spazz blues duo One Lick Less. Up the street at Mao Livehouse, punk goes old school with fist pumping, anti-establishment mainstays Discord and Gum Bleed, who join Soju Legion and DreamKi for a little mayhem. Scream Records brings together a assortment of young and eager scrappers at School including The Big Wave, Montoffee, Speed of Light, and Heat Mark. More happenings across town at Dos Kolegas where Japanese pop singer IK joins the new Devils at the Crossroads. And finally, stop by the Hot Cat Club for ska courtersy of The Offenders from Germany, trash blues from Guiguisuisui and Fast Son at 69 Café, and Xinjinag flamenco from Tursun and friends at Jianghu Bar.

SATURDAY

Dong Dong continues its reign of terror – catch Steely Heart, Carsick Cars, and perverse juggernaut Euro rockers Bonaparte at Yugong Yishan, while electro prankster Pacalolo and We Are Not Invited join Nanjing noise rock outfit Plastic Heads at Temple. Split Works pulls another ace from their sleeve as the bring misanthrope aggrsively loud Australian band Witch Hats to Dos Kolegas – they’ll be joined by Shanghai shazz rockers Hu Jia Hu Wei (who just released their debut). Core in China, China’s platform for all that’s hard – complies volume three of their favorite heavy hitters at Mao Livehouse including Four Five, Multi-Ego, Eternal Wings, Nower, SUSD, Sweet Escape, and Tai Feila. The real hardcore crew however will be at School – where Scream Records has gathered up xxitneverhappenedxx, Return The Truth, and The Last Resort for some righteous moshing. Mako Livehouse continues to bring the goods – tonight knee slapping cross talking folk rock group Slap perfrom. Finally, one can find Mongolian outfit Dolan at Jianghu Bar, and freak folksters Daniel Taylor, El Cuco, and Robin at 69 Café.

SUNDAY

Dong Dong goes out with a bang bringing power house French act Telepopmusik at Yugong Yishan. No day of rest for punk as Soju Legion, The Flyx, Chinese Modern Guys, and Zuihouyizhao look to tear it up at School. Things get heavier at Mao Livehouse as sludge stoner metal outfit Never Before join Tractor, Electric Lady, Velvet Highway, and Long Hual for some fun. For those looking to ease in the new week, I’d check out folk singer-songwriter Lin Xin Tong at Mako Livehouse, or jazz folkster Wangjia’ni at 69 Café.