Spring is in the air, and that means less layers needed to get out and about until silly o'clock. Thankfully Shanghai is serving up another fine selection of nightlife offerings this week, including a pretty ballin' bingo night celebrating its eighth birthday. See our highlights below and the full list of nightlife events right here.
THURSDAY
Bingo night at Mr & Mrs Bund
The monthly bingo night at Bund-side institution Mr & Mrs Bund is a rowdy booze-fuelled affair that’s a far cry from the stereotypical bingo hall. This time they're celebrating an auspicious eight years of bonkers bingo. It's a fun alternative night out, and bingo cards are provided with any of the dinner or drinks packages on offer.
Mr & Mrs Bund 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu. Apr 13. 11pm. Free with any dinner or drinks package.
Love Bang Coloring Session 2: Cybernetic Love
Crayons, cartoons, coloured pencils, rare prizes, cybernetic sounds, pink cats, and 'your inner child' meet on Thursday night at Elevator. Because colouring is good for the soul (or your ghost?). Italo Disco and synth-soaked tunes by Illsee, DJ Caution, and Heatwolves. Colouring contest from 8pm (art supplies provided); ping pong and dancing until late. Free slice of Homeslice pizza for the first twenty cats. Xu Dongmei will decide the winners around 11pm and hook them up with some fresh Love Bang gear.
Elevator 218 Xinle Lu. Apr 13. 8pm. Free.
The Whooligan
Julio Galvez also known as The Whooligan is a California-born DJ and self-described 'global citizen'. He's the head of global booking for Soulection, an international platform for moving culture and sounds, ranging from baile funk to smooth R&B with cult success. He's an established tastemaker known for his curation of music, and has played guest mixes from Boiler Room to Radar Radio.
Le Baron 20 Donghu Lu. Apr 13. 10pm. Free.
Capsule Party
The legendary (already forgotten) Capsule party return. For years the Capsule spaceship and its crew were based in Shanghai but they had to explore new planets to spread the love and groove. This time they will be landing on Earth with more cosmic energy to spread than ever. Free entrance for all earthling creatures. DJs Cher, Charp, and Monsieur Arthur.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu. Apr 13. 10pm. Free.
FRIDAY
The Good Block Party
The two neighbouring bars Smash and C’s join forces for their first block party. Spread yourself between the two venues as DJs play hip-hop, disco, club trax, house and rare grooves. Smash on a street level is welcoming Amber Akilla for her first Smash show as well as China Social Club hosts, PCJ and Frau. Downstairs C’s is hosting T Plus, Livewire and Mao Mao Q.
Smash 685 Dingxi Lu. Apr 14. 9pm. Free.
12'' of fun
Join 12" of Fun residents Tobias Patrick and Lindberg on their adventures in the land of weird and wonderful dance music. Disco, house and outernational techno jams all night long.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu. Apr 14. 10pm. Free.
Choice 37
Choice 37 is an American-South Korean record producer, songwriter, and DJ at YG Entertainment. He has worked with some of the company's most notable artists including Big Bang, G-Dragon and iKON, and is the man behind some of the biggest hits to come out of Kpop in recent years. Before his venture into Kpop he collaborated with indie favorites like Blu and Aloe Blacc. Nowadays, he’s both expanding the repertoire and treating casual listeners to innovative soundscapes, applying his hip-hop roots to create bangers for YG Entertainment and performing his DJ sets at clubs all across Asia.
Le Baron 20 Donghu Lu. Apr 14. 9pm.
Tou-JAM: DJ Cavo
DJ Cavo is something of an '80s/'90s underground NYC legend: early member of ska kings The Toasters and co-lead of hip-hop/reggae fusion pioneers Unity 2. He then moved on to a diverse career, from founding South Asian/hip-hop fusion group Dum Dum Project to even managing a nightclub in Shanghai from 2008 to 2010. He's back to DJ in Mainland China for the first time in years. He'll be joined by 'Shanghai's #2 DJ' DJ B.O with block party vibes, funk, soul, old school hip-hop and more.
The Parrot 7 Donghu Lu. Apr 14. 11pm. Free.
SATURDAY
Wooozy Offline x Genome: Gaika
London-based Gaika Tavares plays powerful, adventurous dancehall, electronic gospel music for the modern church. It’s political, observant, relevant, but also danceable. The Brixton-based producer and singer has been called 'electronic music’s answer to Basquiat', and Pitchfork called him 'Wondrous, variable and strange.'
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu. Apr 15. 10pm. 80RMB.
Tou-JAM/Asahi: Golden Age of Hip-Hop Pioneer
Tou-JAM and Asahi present a night of legit hip-hop from the tip top headlined by a DJ/producer/rapper straight from golden age NYC: DJ Cavo. The night will celebrate the international hip-hop scene while also paying respect to the originals with a mix of Western and Eastern DJs/MCs. Shanghai-based rappers Mr. Weezy, Tone Perignon and Mastermix Masta will be the MCs for the evening, and the Popasuda sounds of Skinny Brown will also feature. Cavo is in Shanghai for the weekend, but this will be the only time to hear him spin hip-hop.
Dope Shifu 318-8 Changping Lu. Apr 15. 9pm. Free.
Süper Disko Vol. 2
After three years, Shiny Shoes and Şanghay Köfte Club are back with the second installment of Süper Disko. Headlining this time is Mehmet Aslan aka 'Mechanical Turk'. He is 'on a mission to mesmerise and revitalise dance floors' blending the rich heritage of Anatolian folk hymns, Turkish cosmic space and '70s and '80s Istanbul funk-rock remixed with four-on-the-floor contemporary electronic beats. Mehmet will be supported by Miki Discosnot, giving one of his last performances before he flies off to a new future in Europe.
Craft Shaanxi Nan Lu. Apr 15. 10.30pm. Free.
SUNDAY
NTS Radio Live from Shanghai: One Year Anniversary
April 16 marks one year since the China Social Club boys began the NTS Live from Shanghai series, a monthly radio show pushing local Shanghai and Chinese DJs, musicians, crews, selectors and homies. For the anniversary they're putting on the show in their bricks-and-mortar space Smash. Line-up: 3pm Will A, 4pm China Social Club, 5pm Amber Akilla, 6pm Scintii.
Smash 685 Dingxi Lu, near Niuqiao Lu. Apr 16. 3pm-10pm. Free.
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