Big, big weekend coming up in Shanghai, some might say huge. Whether you’re a fan of local music or more inclined to go check out an international artist, whether you’re broke or currently sitting on a phat stack of paper, or whether you prefer girly pop, steampunk, experimental jams or the rap rock, this weekend’s sure to have a place for you all to get hyphy.

The big news outta Xinhua has Minnesota native, and current Billboard #1 with the hit single "Fireflies," Owl City hitting the Zhijiang Dream Factory stage on Friday, November 20th. Brought to you by those folks at Split Works, Owl City follows everyone's favorite Shanghai songsmith Ben Houge.

Rumor has it that those pricey Owl City tickets (RMB 160) are almost sold out, so, if you're like me and still wanna git your thizz dance on, Mao Livehouse is throwing a FREE grand opening, featuring Crystal Butterfly, The Mushrooms, Jason Falkner and BIZ. Regardless of the fact that the venue's been open for eight weeks already (don't give me that "soft opening" hooey), the show is FREE, so I guess the can call it whatever they want. Additionally, there's a good chance the crowd will be predominantly local, so it should be considerably easier to get a drink, and change for that hundo spot too.

Saturday, November 21st, is equally as exciting as local rockers Boys Climbing Ropes, Boojii, Duck Fight Goose, Triple Smash and Resist Resist, team up at Yuyintang for Rock for Roots and Shoots, joined by Norwegian experimental outfit Varde. This music marathon features the crème du jour of Shanghai's indie rock scene, and, 100-percent of the RMB 50 cover will be donated to help plant trees in Inner Mongolia. For more on Rock for Roots and Shoots, check out this here 8 Questions with BCR's Jordan Small.

If, however you're a bit tired of the same old Shanghai bands, fear not; Brooklyn, New York Casio-pop trio Au Revoir Simone take the Mao Livehouse stage for the Shanghai stop on their current Asian tour. Supported by Zhong Chi, ARS are currently buzzing hard in North America. Tickets are RMB 150 (RMB 100 presale) and I've been told that there are still a couple of those exclusive RMB 500 VIP passes left. More on that here.

Elsewhere in Shanghai:

Friday, November 20th

Show Me Your Rocken Soul: Return of Korean Brit-poppers, and Shanghai's next big thing circa February 2007, Plastic Chocolate, joined by Japanese post-rock outfit Seattle Standard Café and local jokers Stegosaurus and Baby 13 at Yuyintang, 9pm RMB 30

Tom Budge Band: Obscure Australian indie-folk trio gets rowdy on the Bund at Glamour Bar of all places. RMB 150, 9pm.

T n' Ace: Self-proclaimed "only premium Rock and Roll Party Band" in Shanghai play rock covers at Live Bar, 9pm, RMB 30

Double Smile: Local college band Double Smile is joined by Bremen at Live Sound Garage, 9pm, RMB 30

Saturday, November 21st

Illegal Party: Local upstarts 拉拉樱, 骸骨寺 and 非法集会 bust out their noise jams at Live Sound Garage, 9pm, RMB 30

P.U.S.S.: French rockin' wine soiree at Live Bar (somehow that doesn't add up), 9pm, RMB 80

Sunday, November 22nd

RESO #9: Extreme experimental jams from Asthma Writers' Union, MTDM and more at Yuyintang, 9pm, RMB 30