As the heat finally begins to return to more reasonable levels, leaving the comfort of a breezy 17 degree air conditioner is once again an option. This weekend offers plenty of outlets to have fun and enjoy a cool beverage, here are some of the best.
FRIDAY 28
Shanghai Urban Aesthetics Fair
This three-day event at M50 has a solid line-up of DJs to provide aural accompaniment to all the other creative stuff they have going on up there. Swimful (Friday, 6.30pm), Zean (Saturday, 4.30pm) and Naaah (Sunday, 9pm) are among the highlights.
M50 50 Moganshan Lu, Putuo district. July 28-30. 60RMB; 40RMB (presale).
Call of the Newborn
Cathay, Prajna Seashore, OVE and Death Teach Me Life come together at Inferno for a night of metalcore, folk metal and more.
Inferno Unit 6-103, Ground Floor, 658 Longhua Dong Lu, near Kaiping Lu. 9pm. 40RMB.
Friday Rock
A quality collection of local acts are joined by Korea's project:Impair for Friday rock. Representing the home team are Foster Parents, Lao Ayi, Mirrors and Nameus.
Yuyintang 851 Kaixuan Lu, near Yanan Xi Lu. 9.30pm. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale).
Qiko Project
Soul singer Chico and guitarist/singer-songwriter Yang Hanqi join forces at Chair Club for a brand new soul and RnB project that they could've called Chico and The Man, but didn't. Still, plenty of talent on show here.
Chair Club (Jingan) Building 12, 555 Haifang Lu, near Yuyao Lu. 10pm. Free.
Love Bang Soundsystem
'What's cooler than Family Mart kongtiao? Love Bang Soundsystem, with a big bag of hip hop, club trax, R&B, and loft party vibes'. Hard to argue with that. Heatwolves and DJ Caution play it cool this Friday at Le Baron. There's no cover, but email holler@lovebanguniverse.com for guest list to make sure you get in.
Le Baron Seventh Floor, 20 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu, Xuhui district. 10pm. Free.
Malaa
Balaclava-clad EDM hot property Malaa has been rumoured to be a side project for DJ Snake, Tchami and Mercer, but after making waves on the electronic music scene for well over a year now, still no one seems quite sure who's responsible for the producer and DJ's take on house music.
Arkham Found 158, 168 Julu Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu, Huangpu district. 10pm. 260RMB; 180RMB (presale).
Rocco Universal
Rocco Universal - who you might also know from his releases as Patrizio Cavaliere - has picked up endorsements from the likes of Ivan Smagghe and Osunlade over the years, which gives you a good idea of where his psychedelic disco-touched sounds pitch up.
Craft Donghu Hotel South Wing, 7 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu, Luwan district. 10.30pm. Free.
Showtek
The hard partying Dutch EDM duo behind the likes of 'Booyah' and 'Cannonball' (no, not The Breeders or Damien Rice song) get hands in the air at Linx.
Linx 98 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu, Huangpu district. 10.30pm. 200RMB.
Summer Love
Saxophonist Blaine Whittaker joins DJ Javi Kalero for a night of tropical tunes and funky vibes at Unico, with promises of palm trees and dream catchers. Use the password 'Coco' at the door from 10pm-midnight to get in free.
Unico 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu, Huangpu district. 8.30pm. Free.
Techno Femme
Jasmine Li and Lina K take you through until morning at Celia with a night of quality techno music.
Celia 298 Xingfu Lu, near Pingwu Lu, Xuhui district. 11.59pm. Free.
Saturday 29
BREW Beer Fest
BREW Beer Fest is back for its eighth year. Expect to see the likes of The BREW, Goose Island, Boxing Cat, Little Creatures, and Kaiba, while there will also be food from Big Bamboo, The COOK, Brothers Kebab and more.
Kerry Parkside 1378 Huamu Lu, near Fangdian Lu. Sat 29 and Sun 30. 11am. Free.
VOID 10 Years Series: Albert Van Abbe
One of Shanghai's best nightlife collectives mark a decade in the game with Dutch techno producer Albert Van Abbe, a regular at some of Europe's biggest festivals and clubs, including Awakenings and Berghain.
Address TBA. 11pm. 100RMB.
Truncate
Having graced the decks at Berghain, Fabric, Concrete and more, David Flores brings his Truncate project to Shanghai for a night of deep, raw techno. His productions and label have garnered praise from the likes of Modeselektor, Ben Klock and Marcel Dettmann - come and find out what the fuss is about.
Elevator Fourth floor, 218 Xinle Lu, near Fumin Lu, Xuhui district.10pm. 80RMB.
Pinku Saido
French-Japanese punk outfit Pinku Saido play a free show at Harley's with support from Dirty Fingers and Hitobashira.
Harley's B One 265 Nandan Dong Lu, near Caoxi Bei Lu. 9pm. Free.
Zhang Xiongguan
Excellent Shanghai-based jazz guitarist plays a special series of summer solo shows.
The Mix Place Number 8, Lane 890, Hengshan Lu. 8pm. Free.
算盘 (abacus) launch party
This is an interesting one. The people behind 算盘 say that they're aiming to create 'a new body-sonic dance party' by getting away from 'one-genre clubbing' and offering a diverse range of sounds from across the globe.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu, Changning district. 10pm. Free.
Leonce
Cloud presents Atlanta producer and Fade to Mind signee Leonce for a night of dark, driving club music. Faded Ghost, Howell and Swimful provide excellent support.
ALL Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu, Xuhui district. 10pm. 80RMB.
Lost Stories
Indian EDM pair Lost Stories, who broke into the Top 100 DJs list last year, are in town to play a Budweiser-backed promotional show that aims to give Shanghai clubbers a flavour of the world famous Tomorrowland festival.
Arkham Found 158, 168 Julu Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu, Huangpu district. 10pm. 150RMB.
Storm Xu: Shanghai Gangsta
Shanghai's very own Storm Xu is headlining Kung Fu Komedy with his show Shanghai Gangsta. Having recently performed in the US and at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, expect stories of his travels abroad combined with his hilarious contempt for foreigners - English teachers in particular. The show is hosted by Drew Fralick and features Björn Dahlman, Kent Kedl and Mohammed Magdi.
Kung Fu Komedy 4/F, 1 Xiangyang Bei Lu, Near Julu Lu, Jing'an district. 8.30pm.70RMB; 50RMB (presale).
SUNDAY 30
Reunion Festival
A collection of local acts - including Fighting Back, Beat Generation 1980s and Nerve Passenger - join forces for an afternoon of rock, metal and more.
Modern Sky Lab Third floor, Ruihong Tiandi, 188 Ruihong Lu, near Shahong Lu. 2pm. 40RMB.
Dirty Fingers and Friends
Two of our favourite bands in the city, Mirrors and Dirty Fingers, join Motorbike Girls and Dee for a night of top-notch local rock and punk.
Neo Bar Sanhao Wan Plaza, 333 Guoding Lu, near Handan Lu. 9pm. Admission TBA.