If you haven't heard of 'Made in China' #realhiphop act Higher Brothers yet, hit up Youku. By the time you've done that, you should've made up your mind about whether you want to get to MAO Livehouse for their live show this weekend. And if you do, we recommend you get on the presales - these guys have been selling out venues across the country on their latest tour.
And if you don't like 'em, well there's plenty more gigs taking place this weekend - including Inferno's cheeky riposte to the aforementioned rappers, some top notch experimental/noise stuff and sun-kissed indie rock peddlers Splashh. Read on for our live music highlights for the week below.
WEDNESDAY 5
Tarra Conner Jones
Florida native Tarra Conner Jones has drawn comparisons to the likes of Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, knocking audiences off their feet with her varied repertoire of jazz and soul classics. Book a table early to avoid disappointment.
Heyday 50 Taian Lu, near Xingguo Lu. 9.30pm. Free; 60RMB (Friday). Book on heydayjazz.cn.
Yahoo - Damn!
Tivoli by 696 Live hosts a night of folk featuring former Top Floor Circus frontman Lu Chen and more.
Tivoli by 696 Live Changshou Park, 260 Changshou Lu, near Xikang Lu. 8.30pm. Free.
THURSDAY 6
NOIShanghai LXXXIII
Junky's latest harsh noise showcase hosts Stuart Grant, frontman for Australian post-punk/noise-rock band Primitive Calculators (who were on the JUE Festival bill in 2015). He's joined by Jun-Y Ciao, Dee, Acid, Gao Jiafeng, Aming and of course Torturing Nurse for a night of interesting, uncompromising experimental sounds.
Chair Club Building 12, 555 Haifang Lu, near Yuyao. 9pm. 50RMB.
Splashh
London-formed purveyors of sunshine-filled, psychedelic-kissed indie rock hit Shanghai.
MAO Livehouse 308 Chongqing Nan Lu, near Jianguo Zhong Lu. Thu 6. 9pm. 160RMB; 120RMB (presale).
Experimental Jazz Night
Chenchu Rong and Charlie Wang combine at Modern Sky Lab - she on percussion and he on the sax.
Modern Sky Lab Third floor, Ruihong Tiandi, 188 Ruihong Lu, near Shahong Lu. 8.30pm. 60RMB.
FRIDAY 7
Arena Rock
Rawkasaurus Rex perform covers of Aerosmith, Blondie, KISS and more.
The Pearl Theatre 471 Zhapu Lu, near Haining Lu. 9pm. 200RMB; 150RMB (presale).
SATURDAY 8
Higher Brothers
Higher Brothers are blowing up right now. The Chengdu rappers are in the midst of a nationwide tour that's been selling out venues across the country in support of their new record Black Cab and their music - which covers topics such as WeChat and the beauty of 7-Eleven - has even been featured everywhere from Hypebeast to NPR.
MAO Livehouse 308 Chongqing Nan Lu, near Jianguo Zhong Lu. Sat 8. 8.30pm. 200RMB; 150RMB (presale).
Hardcore Brothers
Inferno hosts an alternative to Higher Brothers' MAO Livehouse show, with 'Hardcore Brothers' Death Teach Me Life, Monkeyshine, BeatGeneration 1980s and Evolution offering a heavier night of live music.
Inferno 658 Longhua Dong Lu, near Kaiping Lu. 9pm. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale).
Little Wizard
It took Shaoxing-formed instrumental rockers Little Wizard seven years to get around to releasing their first proper album, but two years on from their debut LP they're back with a follow up, the straightforwardly-titled II.
Yuyintang 851 Kaixuan Lu, near Yanan Xi Lu. 9.30pm. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale).
SUNDAY 9
ING
Torturing Nurse, Axiang + Acid + Aming, *LLND, Dee and more perform at M50 as part of an experimental showcase at M50 gallery Ying Art Centre.
Ying Art Center 97 Moganshan Lu. 5pm. 60RMB.