It's another one of those Shanghai long weekends and as per there is lots to do. There are the festivities of Dragon Boat Festival, the epic INTRO Festival returns on Monday, Danish pop star Christian is at Bandai Namco Shanghai Base, there's brilliant all-male comedic ballet from Les Ballets Eloelle, the new Pirates of the Caribbean is in cinemas, and not to mention things are going to get hot as a heatwave is expected to hit. See below for our full list of picks.
FRIDAY 26
The Meantraitors
Russian psychobilly act The Meantraitors return to Shanghai as part of an extensive China tour that's taken them as far afield as Chengdu, Dongguan and Hefei.
Yuyintang 851 Kaixuan Lu. 9pm. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale).
Rough Lover
Two of our favourite Shanghai bands - Mirrors and Dream Can - combine at Chair Club, with funk act Peace and Wave rounding out the bill for this free show.
Chair Club (Jingan) Building 12, 555 Haifang Lu. 9.30pm. Free.
Summer of Haze & Saburov
Antidote brings Moscow 'goth trap' and witch house producer Summer of Haze back to DADA. Apparently witch house, which we always thought was a fake genre made up by bored music journalists, is an insane hybrid beast in Russia. Who knew? Summer of Haze is joined by Hyperboloid label runner Saburov and local DJs from the Antidote orbit.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu. 10pm. 50RMB.
Say yes presents Zadig
One of the leading names in Paris’ contemporary scene, Zadig is one of the main forces responsible for the return of the City of Light to worldwide prominence as a centre for forward-looking techno. A participant in the ‘90s French rave scene in the hardcore and acid days, he has gone on to play some of Europe's top clubs and festivals.
Elevator Fourth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu. 10pm-6.30am. 80RMB.
Les Ballets Eloelle
Les Ballets Eloelle is an all male comedy ballet company, and the newest member of only a handful in the world. Founded and directed by Victor Trevino, former director and founder of Les Ballets Grandiva and featured dancer of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Ballet Eloelle features over 15 active ballets in the repertoire, all laugh-out-loud funny with plenty of slapstick. These are sendoffs on famous ballets, and will resonate with balletomanes and neophytes alike.
Shanghai Majestic Theatre 66 Jiangning Lu. Fri 26-Sat 27 May. 7.30pm. 180-580RMB. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets.
Xiaolu Guo: Once Upon A Time in the East
British-Chinese author Xiaolu Guo joins Literary Shanghai for a talk about her new book, Once Upon A Time in the East. Her memoir is a fascinating and unflinching look at a childhood in poverty, the Beijing art scene of the 1990s, her quest to become a free film maker in China and then in London, and her sense of dislocation studying in the UK. In this talk, moderated by Time Out Books Editor Helen Roxburgh, Guo will talk about her work, the challenges of writing the memoir, transnational identities and her relationship with her home country.
The Tavern Bar & Grill 78 Xingguo Lu, near Huashan Lu. May 26, 7pm. Free.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
You may not think you need more Jack Sparrow in your life, but this fifth and final installment of the seafaring franchise has been dubbed a semi-pleasant surprise by critics, with particular praise for Javier Bardem's performance as the terrifying leader of deadly ghost sailors Captain Salazar.
On general release now. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets.
SATURDAY 27
Commune Market Rooftop BBQ
Commune Market is bringing you a summer barbecue at naked HUB's rooftop terrace overlooking the city. Expect designs and crafts, cool music, summer time food and drinks including barbecue, grilled meats, fresh salads, new cocktail mixes from Heike Mate and Shanghai Love craft beer.
naked HUB Fifth Floor, 89 Taixing Lu. 2pm-10pm. Free entry.
Face Me On the Stage
So this sounds nuts. Shanghai-based bands Dirty Fingers and Round Eye are going face-to-face on the same stage at the same time. Will it be absolute carnage? Probably. Will it be worth seeing? Almost certainly.
Inferno 658 Longhua Dong Lu. 10pm. Free.
Immanu El
Swedish dream pop/post-rock pioneers Immanu El return to Shanghai as part of a five city China tour from promoters New Noise. The band will be plugging their new album Hibernation, which was recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Johan Eckeborn. Support comes from Rubur.
MAO Livehouse 308 Chongqing Nan Lu. 9pm. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale).
Loudspeaker
Long-running Shanghai hardcore heroes Loudspeaker headline at Harley's with support from Moaning Lisa and Pixel Prism.
Harley's 265 Nandan Dong Lu. 9.30pm. Free.
Room 303 x Black Cotton launch party feat. Unjin
MIIIA's monthly Room 303 space techno exploration session invites Korean talent Unjin to celebrate the launch of fashion designer Daven Zang's new Berghain-inspired line Black Cotton. Installations by Daven Zang, and DJ support from MIIIA.
Elevator Fourth floor, 218 Xinle Lu. 10pm. 80RMB.
Riddim 'n' Vibe
Riddim 'N' Vibe starts the holiday right with a large serving of drum 'n' bass music, this edition featuring DJ and producer Arkaik. He's known as a pioneer of the stripped back and half time styles of drum 'n' bass with releases on Diffrent Music, Dispatch Recordings, Flexout Audio and Horizons Music. Support from Reinistate, Rabbit and MC Jado.
C's Basement, 685 Dingxi Lu. 10pm. Free.
Love Boat
Shanghai sailors, are you ready for the summer? M1NT and MVP invite you aboard the Love Boat, setting sail for adventure. Free entrance until 12.30am with RSVP at events@mvpshanghai.com, otherwise 100RMB entry on the door.
M1NT 24th Floor, 318 Fuzhou Lu. 10pm-4am. Free; 100RMB.
Dragon Boat Festival Fair at Yuyuan Garden
Immerse yourself in traditional Chinese culture at Yu Garden and participate in Dragon Boat customs like eating zongzi (rice dumplings wrapped in palm leaves), making your own fragrance sachets and trying your hand at palm leaf handicrafts. Go early, because we all know that Yu Garden can get really crowded really quickly.
Yu Garden 137 Anren Jie. Until May 31. 9am.
SUNDAY 28
Zhang Xiongguan Album Release
Talented Shanghai-based jazz guitarist Zhang Xiongguan celebrates the release of his new album Struggles with backing from Li Shihai, Danny Zanker and Ryan An and an afterparty headed up by Endy and Damacha.
On Stage 570 Huaihai Xi Lu. 9pm. 100RMB; 70RMB (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. May 28. 9.30pm. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale).
Gumei Jazz Festival
The Royal Hombres, Little Happiness and Tom Peng's New Grass Band are among the acts performing at this street-side jazz festival for Dragon Boat weekend. The festival will also feature a kids play area and a selection of market stalls.
Gumei Jazz Culture Square On the corner of Gudai and Longming Lus. Sun 28-Tue 30 May. 1pm-7pm. Free.
Medusa
Shanghai’s queer glitter rave returns to its home 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. 10.30pm. 50RMB.
Our Time on the Moon
Our Time on the Moon is a series of seven silkscreens made by the Chilean artist Camila Pino Gay. The fascinating works are inspired by the great space race, and the first images of UFOs discovered in the 1950s. The work examines an exciting time of exploration, and one that has permanently altered humanity's perception of the universe around us.
FLIP Pop Gallery 361 Xinfeng Lu. Until 28 May. Free.
MONDAY 29
INTRO Festival
After its storming Shanghai debut last year featuring DJ Koze and Kevin Saunderson, Beijing-born INTRO Festival returns to Shanghai with another impressive line-up from the worlds of techno and bass. It's an all-night two stage affair at Bandai Namco Shanghai Base (formerly QSW). Headliners from the techno side include Munich singer and producer Virginia and the UK's Dax J, and bass offerings are headed up by DJ Paypal and MikeQ. Support from a strong list of locally-based DJs including MIIIA, Osheyack, Kilo Vee, Hyph11e and Howell.
Bandai Namco Shanghai Base 179 Yichang Lu. 6pm. 200RMB early bird, 280RMB (presale); 380RMB (on the door). Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets.
Christopher
Danish pop singer Christopher - or Christopher Nissen if you're Googling him and want any hope of returning relevant results - makes his Shanghai debut with a show at Bandai Namco Shanghai Base's Dream Hall. Christopher apparently got his record deal with EMI by showing up at their Copenhagen offices and demanding one, which seems easier than it ought to be, but they presumably saw something in him beyond mere gumption. He's since won a host of awards back home for his Bieber-esque sound, including New Thinker of the Year from Spotify.
Bandai Namco Shanghai Base 179 Yichang Lu. May 29. 8pm. 480RMB. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets.
Teenage Hate with Morgan and Sacco
Morgan and Sacco's dance party returns to Smash. This pair are more a performance art piece than a DJ set. They’ll be playing classics from the '80s as well as a bunch of rock n roll dance tunes.
Smash 685 Dingxi Lu. 10pm. Free.
Triangle Psychedelia Festival
Excellent local band Dream Can headline this music and market event also featuring Dolphy Kick Bebop, Shuimending and Acid & Aming performing live, plus tattoo artists, vinyl stalls, silk screen printers and lots more.
On Stage 570 Huaihai Xi Lu. 2pm. 120RMB; 100RMB (presale).
House of Co:Motion
Co:Motion takes over Elevator on Dragon Boat Monday night, bringing in Co:Mo residents, old friends of the label plus fresh faces to the Shanghai scene. Expect doses of house, minimal, acid and techno and a dancefloor in heat. Longtime label friend Misloop teams up with new crew member Baozi for a late night round of pummeling techno. VOID mainstay Provoda brings his distintive take on techno, acid and electro. Zorimira makes her Elevator debut and new Co:Motion resident Finascia will get things moving with a blend of house and tech.
Elevator Fourth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu. 10.30pm. 50RMB.
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