It's here. It's finally, finally here. O. M. G.
It's felt like an interminable couple of months of anticipation and hype – not to mention swirling rumours surrounding who'll be appearing – where nothing else on the Shanghai nightlife scene has quite been able to compare while we waited, waited, waited... But at long last we've reached the all-important weekend for one of the electronic music events of the year. Yes, The Mansion is reopening on Saturday.
Elsewhere there's low-key, under-the-radar festival brand Ultra pitching up in China for the first time with a bunch of relative unknowns: Armin Van Buuren, The Chainsmokers, Carl Cox, Sasha and Digweed, Martin Garrix and Zedd among them. Plus Optimo, Free the Robots, Lex Luger and Shyboi are all in town for club nights. It's a pretty stacked weekend.
Read on for the full details of the above as well as for lots more party highlights for this weekend.
THURSDAY 7
Girl Night Out
Because not every party has to be about experimental beats or big name DJs, Bar Rouge hosts a night of cocktails, manicures, dancers and more with Contesta Rockhair, Inglot and promoters MVP. Entry is free until 12.30am with the password 'MVP'; otherwise it's 100RMB.
Bar Rougue Seventh Floor, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu. 9.30pm. 100RMB; free with password until 12.30am.
Jaunt 10 Year Anniversary
British party brand and now record label Jaunt is celebrating its tenth birthday with a globe-trotting tour which this Thursday pitches up on Xingfu Lu.
Celia 298 Xingfu Lu, near Pingwu Lu. 10pm. 50RMB.
Ogg Vorbis
RJ the Alien, Y.too.K and Swimful take over Elevator for a night of 'bumping tracks with banging bass and high energy' – think grime, drum 'n' bass, experimental hip-hop, dancehall and 'anything else that rides'.
Elevator Fourth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu, near Fumin Lu. 10pm. Free.
Tapestry Thursdays: Beast
Siesta's monthly d'n'b series at DADA welcomes a jungle set from Beast.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu. 10pm. Admission tba.
FRIDAY 8
Don Diablo
Dutch DJ and producer, credited as one of the leaders of the future house wave, brings his big beats to M2.
M2 Fourth Floor, Hong Kong Plaza, 283 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Huangpi Nan Lu.
FKJ
Expect funky hip-hop and groovy house as French Kiwi Juice drops in to Shanghai once more courtesy of the Yeti Out crew. Tom Yeti, Fader One and Allan Marshall provide support.
Arkham Found 158, 168 Julu Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu. 10pm. 250RMB; 200RMB (presale).
Free the Robots
LA-based beatmaker and DJ Chris Alfaro – aka Free the Robots – returns to Shanghai for what ought to be an eclectic, interesting set blending hip-hop, jazz, soul and more.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu. 10pm. Entry tba.
Love Bang Soundsystem
DJs Caution and Heatwolves are back at Le Baron this Friday, weaving a good times audio tapestry of hip-hop, R&B and more. As ever at Le Baron, entry is technically free but only if the bouncers are smiling on you, or if you ping an email to holler@lovebanguniverse.com before 6pm on Friday to get on the guest list.
Le Baron Seventh Floor, 20 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu. 10pm. Free.
micro/wave 1 Year Anniversary featuring Einzelkind
Einzelkind – whose entertaining RA bio describes his music as 'fuckinvoodooacidgoatribaljazztechousesync style' – helps celebrate one year of micro/wave's microhouse parties at Elevator with support from MIIIA, Thomas Futoso and Leon C.
Elevator Fourth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu, near Fumin Lu. 10pm. 80RMB.
Matt Tecson + Thegn
ALL hosts a pair of Canadian producers who both have a penchant for the darker edges of avant-garde.
ALL 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. 10pm. 60RMB.
SATURDAY 9
Ultra Festival
The Miami-founded, internationally renowned music festival makes its China debut with a who’s who of of upper echelon EDM stars on the bill including Armin Van Buuren, Dubfire, Martin Garrix, The Chainsmokers, Zedd and Nicky Romero, alongside a few big-name, old-school acts too, with Carl Cox plus Sasha and John Digweed joining.
Expo Garden Park Shibo Avenue, near Zhoujiadu Lu. Sat 9-Sun 10. 1pm. 1,280RMB for two days.
Optimo
In 1997, Glasgow-based DJs JD Twitch and JG Wilkes’ came together to create a new night at Sub Club as a reaction to what they saw as the then-domination of run-of-the-mill 4/4 techno on the nightlife scene. Two decades on the Optimo brand has travelled the world, mixing together all manner of genres and hosting guests such as Four Tet, LCD Soundsystem and Peaches in pursuit of eclectic, essential club events.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu. 10pm. Entry tba.
Kayzo
DJ and producer Kayzo, best known for his trap and hardstyle remixes, hits BNSB for a show backed by Live Nation's new EDM wing and branded with the Creamfields logo. With a prominent 'Cream China' banner on the flyer, the event appears to be a trailer for the forthcoming Creamfields Hong Kong in mid-December.
Bandai Namco Shanghai Base 179 Yichang Lu, near Jiangning Lu. 11pm. 360RMB; 280RMB (presale).
Lex Luger
SHFT bring hip-hop producer Lex Luger back to Shanghai two years on from his packed out appearance at their warehouse Halloween party. He's produced for the likes of Kanye West, Jay Z and Snoop Dogg in the last five years or so and you can expect this to be a big night at Arkham. Louie Louie and Kin J provide support.
Arkham Found 158, 168 Julu Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu. 10pm. 180RMB; 120RMB.
Mansion Soft Opening
After a two month absence from Shanghai nightlife, The Mansion is back. Three overhauled floors will host ten DJs including James Lealand, Tommy Hendriks and Rainbow High.
The Mansion 851 Hongjing Lu, near Hongqiao Lu. 10pm. 100RMB before midnight; 150RMB after.
Shyboi
New York-based multi-disciplinary artist Yulan Grant brings her Shyboi project to ALL for a night of 'sonic disruption'. The Jamaica-born performer and #KUNQ queer art collective member 'uses sound to interrogate ideas of identity, notions of power, perceived histories and the entanglements that happens within these topics.'
ALL Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. 10pm. 80RMB.
VOID presents Motor City
Shanghai's long-running techno crew return to Elevator to celebrate Detroit with 'Shanghai’s answer to the Belleville Three': WenSen, Provoda and MHP.
Elevator Fourth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu, near Fumin Lu. 10pm. 50RMB.