How Kool-Aid Man bust through the Great Wall
Who would have thought last January that in 2007 we’d see such a cavalcade of top notch international acts coming through the capital? Ziggy Marley, The Roots, Killa Kela, Goldie, Laurent Garnier, Sonic Youth and Public Enemy all gave Beijing audiences ... Read More
DJs can produce more than a great party
Independent music in Beijing has gained major ground internationally due in large part to the efforts of hardworking bands and dedicated record labels. Music mavens like Martin Atkins of PIL and Blixa Bargeld of Einsturzende Neubauten sprinkled fairy dust on Beijing bands ... Read More
DJ Qbert scratches Beijing where it itches
Legendary musicians have legendary instruments. Hendrix had his Stratocaster, Page is forever linked to his Les Paul, and DJ Qbert is known for revolutionizing hip-hop with two Technics turntables and his Vestax mixer. Known by many as the world’s greatest hip-hop DJ ... Read More
In October, Beijing’s live music scene finally got the attention it has long deserved. But while we were all at the festivals celebrating our city’s bests, there were a few great heroes wandering the shadows.
Recall the last time you saw a great live gig. The music, energy ... Read More
The unique, soulful and accessible sound of UK-based Hospital Records is set to make its fourth visit to the capital on Thursday, October 18 with performances by DJ Nu:tone and MC Wrec at Vics. Drum ‘n’ bass fans have anxiously awaited the dynamic duo, and the Syndicate, Beijing’s ... Read More
Resident club DJs in Beijing have a thankless job–long nights, poor pay and ironclad playlists. Under pressure from musically fascist management, what in the West is a creative, interactive occupation here becomes a barren wasteland of Black Eyed Peas remixes. It’s a shame: the electronic and dance music ... Read More
It’s a year until the Olympics. Athletes who’ve spent most of their lives training in a single discipline will converge in Beijing for one chance to be the best. But training, dedication and focus aren’t exclusive to Olympians. The world of Beijing nightlife boasts its own version ... Read More
Last year Club Rui Fu entered the Beijing club scene with a bang. With Henry Lee, the man behind legendary bars like Neo Lounge, Vogue and Public Space at the helm, it seemed destined for the same notoriety as previous projects. Expat mags worked themselves into a frothing frenzy hailing ... Read More
All DJs are not created equal, but
judging one better than another is
almost always a matter of taste.
Some DJs focus on keeping the
dance floor moving, some position
themselves as “entertainers”
with personas to match, while
others take on the role of educator,
championing new sounds
and styles ... Read More
Recently we’ve seen the cream of the hip-hop crop come through Beijing, with visits from 2006 World DMC turntable Champ DJ Netik, 2nd place finisher DJ Yassa, as well as world class beatboxer, Killa Kela. But none of these performances would be possible without the DJs and MCs that ... Read More
Beijing is woefully lackadaisical about an important nightlife consideration–the cocktail. “Creative interpretations” of standard drinks are the norm, and ordering a Manhattan or a margarita can be an adventure as Beijing bartenders spend far more time practicing the bottle-flip than liquor decanting. The cocktail isn’t just some booze ... Read More
The biggest and boldest independent dance music event to emerge this year has to be the new Terminal party. Launched in April to a packed house, Terminal features the city’s best hip-hop in Arena with top electro DJs spinning in Amber across the hall. The next schizophrenic showdown goes ... Read More
Last August drum n bass superstar, Goldie, made his first visit to Beijing. Just another big-name DJ rolling through town, right? Anyone actually at that packed-to-capacity buffet of beats and bass would disagree, as Goldie and MC Lowqui threw down for over four hours. Goldie calls his landmark set “one ... Read More
May holiday week means big crowds, big lines and big headaches if you’re traveling. But this May Holiday the only mosh pit I want a part of is in front of a stage at the MIDI Music Festival, not in front of a ticket counter.
There’s something refreshing ... Read More
There’s a certain type of promoter I especially like in Beijing. It’s not really based on any musical preference, it’s more to do with their approach to business. Put simply, I like promoters who are broke: They are so much more charming. Sure we need the big ... Read More
Who doesn’t love the EU? For 50 glorious years they’ve kept the Russians at bay, rivaled the United States in financial might and currently ensure that China doesn’t dominate the world in international bra sales. Also, many of the world’s favorite DJs come from Europe, and ... Read More
It is often wondered of reggae how such a big, big sound came from such a little island. It’s also true that while the roots of other musical genres can be debated, reggae is, without doubt, a Jamaican thing. It is to Jamaica what the Great Wall is to ... Read More
For all the musical variety to be found in Beijing, easily the most prevalent genre is hip hop. Unfortunately, it only seems to come in a form more diluted than a bottle of whiskey from a Sanlitun bar. Britney Spears, J-Lo, Blue and any number of gay 80’s disco ... Read More
Not to be confused with drum n bass legend DJ Hype, DJ Hyper has been carving out his own pedigree on the breaks scene for a few years now and will play at Babyface East on Saturday, Feb. 3. Being a resident of London’s super-club Fabric has afforded him ... Read More
Well I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year. Special mention to the Yen crew who threw a mind blowing party, filling up their cavernous venue and keeping the crowds nicely pumped all night. Hopefully you are all fully rested and ready for another 365 day onslaught of intoxicants, heathenry ... Read More
So the night finally came: the opening of Beijing’s latest jiu ba du jour, China Doll. As the daughter of the hedonistic Valhalla, Cloud 9, China Doll has a lot of expectation. Over the past few years many valiant attempts to imitate have fallen just short; Kokomo (nee: Top ... Read More
So, 2006. What a short year. But, to invoke a phrase I swear I have never had to say before: it’s not the length that counts. Oh-six was loooong on action.
The usual slew of superstar DJ’s breezed through the capital. Armin van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Timo Maas ... Read More
A first for Beijing this month as Kode 9 plays Yugong Yishan on Thursday, Dec 7, becoming the only foreign dubstep act to have ever performed here. If you have no clue what dubstep is, this will be a perfect opener. It’s a genre of music still very much ... Read More
Ah Beijing! What capital-living laowai can’t reel off a list of things they love and hate about this city? Cheap stuff vs. heavy pollution; cultural sites vs psychotic motorists; visits by international DJ’s like Sasha vs…I think it’s obvious where I’m going with this. Yes ... Read More
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Middle 8th: The New Sanlitun Village Location Has Creative Zest
By JPDM
I tried the new Middle 8 location last night. We tried to make a reservation... >>