Another scorching Shanghai weekend is upon us, but luckily there's plenty of cool stuff to do. See what we did there... It's the Shanghai Craft Beer Festival, LA rockers The Warbly Jets are in town, footwork pioneer Traxman hits ALL, Taiwanese rapper Miss Ko is on the mic at Modern Sky Lab, there's yoga and brunch at Bread etc. and Tamby Chan is headlining Kung Fu Komedy. See below for our full list of weekend picks.
FRIDAY 21
I Love Summer Nights
Hot town, summer in the city... Modern Sky Lab comes over all tropical as they host Shanghai post-rock stalwarts 21 Grams, one of the city's best new bands Lao Ayi plus Something Against Y and Heimu (he of Non-Plus of Color fame) for a night of post-punk, experimental psych-rock and more.
Modern Sky Lab Third Floor, Ruihong Tiandi, 188 Ruihong Lu, near Shahong Lu. 8.30pm. 30RMB (includes one drink).
The Warbly Jets
LA-based quartet bring their Americanised Brit-rock to Shanghai as part of a China-wide tour with Sony-signed Beijing indie rockers Next Door Band.
Yuyintang 851 Kaixuan Lu, near Yanan Xi Lu. 9pm. 180RMB; 160RMB.
Motown Night
Shake hosts two nights of classic soul hits with this 'story of Motown' show produced by guitarist Ben Misterka. Also on stage will be Tarra Conner Jones, Redic, Hazel Gould and Smokey.
Shake Third Floor, 120 Jinxian Lu, near Maoming Nan Lu. Fri 21 and Sat 22. 10pm. 100RMB.
12 Inches of Fun
Seoul-based DJ, writer and label head honcho Airbear joins regulars Tobias Patrick and Endy Chen at DADA for this instalment of 12" of Fun. Expect rare dance music, South Korean funk, disco, psychedelia and more.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu. 10pm. Free.
Traxman
Renowned footwork pioneer Traxman is in Shanghai with what ought to be a lively set of ghetto house, juke and more at ALL.
ALL 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. 10pm. 80RMB.
Virtual Riot
German producer and DJ Virtual Riot deals in bass heavy beats that weave in dubstep, drum n bass and electro influences. He's at Arkham this weekend courtesy of SHFT.
Arkham Found 158, 168 Julu Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu. 10pm. 180RMB; 100RMB (presale).
VOID: Motor City
Shanghai's premier techno crew hosts their regular Detroit-dedicated night at Elevator. MHP, Shanghai Ultra, Wensen and Provoda are on decks duty.
Elevator Fourth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu, near Fumin Lu. 10pm. 50RMB.
China Social Club presents Noise In My Head
Noise In My Head (Michael Kucyk) is one of Australia’s most respected DJs, radio hosts and selectors. His knowledge of esoteric dance music is like no other. His DJ sets see him casually switch between genres of house, disco, breakbeat, jungle, synth as well as new releases that seem to have been missed by even the most discerning diggers.
Smash 685 Dingxi Lu, near Niuqiao Lu. 9pm. 60RMB.
KFK Spotlight: Tamby Chan
2016 China International Comedy Festival finalist Tamby Chan is headlining Kung Fu Komedy. He'll be supported by Ben Frank, Jorge Castellanos, Laurent Dupont and Mohammed Magdi, while the show will be hosted by local boy Storm Xu.
Kung Fu Komedy Club 1 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu. 9pm. 70RMB.
SATURDAY 22
Shanghai Craft Beer Festival
The 2017 Shanghai Craft Beer Festival is back and better than ever for the seventh year in a row. With over 30 craft beer brands from Shanghai, Taiwan, Hong Kong and America, beer is sure to be flowing all weekend long. Gourmet food vendors will be there to drum up tasty options to pair with, and live music and DJ lineups will keep the energy up all day.
Jingan Kerry Centre 1515 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Changde Lu. Sat 22-Sun 23. 12pm. 50RMB.
Spice Off Spicy Eating Competition
Join Shanghai Tattoo and Hot Box for an afternoon of fiery food and drink at their Spice Off Spicy Eating Competition! Expect loads of hot sauces (naturally), plus barbecue, beers, Bloody Caesars and super hot 'Devil's Baijiu'. Competition prizes from Hot Box, Shanghai Tattoo, Monster Energy and Operation Chiin Chilla.
Shanghai Tattoo Fourth Floor, 1 Maoming Nan Lu, Yanan Lu. 2pm. Free.
Jululu Indie Book Fest 2017
Join the Jululu Indie Book Festival for a celebration of the city's independently published books and magazines. Support independent artists and join panel discussions, a marketplace and an exhibition. Attendees will include designers, writers, editors and printers, including locally-published LOST and The Shanghai Literary Review.
Daliah 408 Shaanxi Bei Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu. Mon 17-Sun 23. 10am. Free.
Mega Sens Lab: Daddy G
Massive Attack maestro Daddy G returns to Shanghai for a DJ set at the new W hotel. He'll be backed by a live set from Redshape plus local heart-throb Cavia. That's at the property's Woo Bar.
W Shanghai - The Bund 66 Lvshun Lu, near Machang Lu. 9pm. 260RMB.
Sarah Farina
A rising star in the crowded clubbing world of Berlin, 'rainbowbass' producer Sarah Farina hits DADA for a night of edgy breakbeat and more.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu. 10pm. Free.
Imaabs
Chilean producer and Mexico City-based NAAFI crew member Imaabs lands in Shanghai for a night of Latin diasporic club jams.
ALL 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. 10pm. 80RMB.
Triple Happiness: Kingdom, Young Queenz and Junkie T
Fade to Mind-signed producer Kingdom heads up the latest instalment of Yeti's birthday party, bringing in experimental electronica mixed with rap and RB.
Arkham Found 158, 168 Julu Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu. 10pm. 220RMB; 150RMB (presale).
Kno You Will
Shanghai scene stalwart and drum n bass maven Siesta joins Tsunano at Le Baron for the fifth outing of KYW.
Le Baron 20 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu. 10pm. Free.
Medusa
Shanghai’s queer glitter rave returns once more for an all-night house music back-to-back session featuring residents Michael Cignarale and Mau Mau. Throw on a wig and expect to try something new.
Elevator Fourth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu, near Fumin Lu. 10pm. 50RMB.
Dying Tonight
Kunming-based post-hardcore act Dying Tonight hit Inferno as part of a China-wide tour. Fighting Back and Pray For Awakening provide support.
Inferno Unit 6-103, Ground Floor, 658 Longhua Dong Lu, near Kaiping Lu. 8.30pm. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale).
Flow Up
Award-winning Taiwanese rapper Miss Ko, who recently took to the stage at Glastonbury Festival, is joined by Japanese hip-hop duo Yurufawa Gang at Modern Sky Lab. Dazzy, Kin J and Tone Twxsted are in support.
Modern Sky Lab Third floor, Ruihong Tiandi, 188 Ruihong Lu, near Shahong Lu. 8pm. 200RMB; 150RMB (presale).
SUNDAY 23
SoundScape CD Release Party
After around seven years on the Shanghai scene, world music collective SoundScape are calling it a day and releasing a CD in the same show. Expect a mix of Tibetan and Indian singing, harmonium, didjeridoo, Algoza triple flutes from Pakistan, Moroccan guembri, Chinese erhu and various percussion from around the world.
Yuyintang 851 Kaixuan Lu, near Yanan Xi Lu. 8pm. 80RMB.
Yoga and brunch session at Bread etc
This week, do yoga and have brunch at Bread etc. It will be an energetic experience to boost your energy and body with suryanamaskar morning flow yoga and an energy brunch. The menu consists of choice of eggs, rye flour bread, quinoa salad, mini cup mix (avocado blend, red beans, sesame paste, dry fruits, fresh fruits, granola yogurt), fresh juice and hot drinks.
Bread etc 1486 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Tongren Lu. 8am. 177RMB.
Entangled in Duality
Hu Weiqi makes an attempt to unveil how deep of an imprint China's eye-catching and lightning-fast social, political and cultural transition has left on the mentalities, consciousness and beliefs of the country's people.
Art + Shanghai Gallery 191 Suzhou Nan Lu, near Sichuan Bei Lu. Until Jul 30. Free.
Midsummer
Qu Fengguo's new solo exhibition Midsummer, his third at Don Gallery, presents the paintings that belong to the series Four Seasons composed between 2015 and 2017.
Don Gallery West Bund Building 302, 2879 Longteng Dadao. Until Jul 23. Free.
Body·Media II
Continuing the theme of 2007's Body Media exhibition, this new edition re-discusses the close ties between new media and body within the new era context totally revolutionised by advancing technologies.
Power Station of Art 200 Huayuangang Lu, near Miaojiang Lu. Until Jul 30. 20RMB.
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