Every Thursday, the Beijing Weekender distills City Weekend's database of nightlife events down to the weekend parties, concerts and live shows that you simply can't miss.

FRIDAY

• DJ Brett Johnson at White Rabbit: Having unleashed his dance floor destroyers on Freerange, Fabric and Classic labels, tech titan Brett Johnson makes his Beijing debut.
• Secret Machines at Yugong Yishan: With a decade on stage and a reputation for the most feral live shows in indie rock, this New York rock trio descends on Yugong Yishan.
• Italoboyz at Lantern: After rocking Acupuncture's Intro Fest last summer, London-based minimal tech duo Italoboyz return to Beijing.
• DJ Solo at Punk: London-based house producer, DJ Solo makes you dance your ass off to some of the most forward-thinking house music in the game.
• JUE Fest: Julie Doiron at 2 Kolegas: The so-called "Fairy Godmother of Canadian Indie Rock," Doiron unleashes her fragile folk ballads at 2 Kolegas.

SATURDAY

• Jue Fest: Trippple Nippples at 2 Kolegas: From Japan, Trippple Nippples gives a nail-biting performance that blurs lines between performance art and dirty electro.
• X.L.F. Cut Off EP Release Party at Lantern: Beijing-based DJ-producer XLF comes out of the studio to launch his fresh, minimal tech double EP, Cut Off.
• JUE Fest: JD Twitch at White Rabbit: Legendary Glasgow-based DJ, JD Twitch brings his sweet sonic sorcery to the Rabbit.
• Liu Kun Album Release at D-22: Frontman for folk-rock outfit Low Wormwood, Liu Kun celebrates the launch of his debut solo album on Maybe Mars.
• Mars en Folie at Yugong Yishan: Swiss trip-hop outfit Trip In headlines this music and fashion spectacular alongside the Quebecois hip-hop of Samian and Al K Traxx's electro-hip-hop.

SUNDAY

• Desires of the Heart at Yugong Yishan: This rom-com (in Chinese with English subtitles) follows a group of city dwellers looking for love.
• Ajinai at D-22: This five-piece Inner Mongolian band deserves attention for playing true-to-form folk music.