The weather may be miserable, but Shanghai is offering up some great reasons to leave the house and brave the elements this week. There are a few days left of the Shanghai International Literary Festival, Beauty and the Beast is hitting cinemas, Mike Watt and the Missingmen are in town and Subs hit On Stage as part of their nationwide tour. See below for our best picks this week.
MUSIC
Subs
Led by frontwoman Kang Mao, long-running Beijing punk band Subs are still one of the best live acts in China. Catch them at On Stage as part of their latest nationwide tour.
On Stage 570 Huaihai Xi Lu. Sat 25. 9pm.
The Fallacy
Henan-formed post-punk outfit The Fallacy make a welcome return to Shanghai, performing their accomplished live show as part of an extensive nationwide tour.
Yuyintang 851 Kaixuan Lu. Fri 24. 9pm. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale).
Mike Watt and The Missingmen
Founder of legendary punk act The Minutemen, bassist for the re-formed Stooges and a renowned solo musician in his own right, Mike Watt is coming to China for the first time for a nation-wide tour with Shanghai rockers Round Eye.
Various venues around Shanghai. Tue 21, Sat 25.
NIGHTLIFE
Trus'me
Prime Numbers head honcho Trus'me returns to Shanghai, this time at Elevator. A Manchester scene stalwart, Trus'me is known for his soulful take on techno and eclectic DJ sets. Last year he returned with his fourth full length Planet 4, this time veering into intergalactic techno, taking inspiration from his interest in deep space, physics and dark matter.
Elevator 218 Xinle Lu. Fri 24. 10pm. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale).
Push & Pull Label Launch Party
After nearly four years as a monthly home for fresh club-focused sounds in Shanghai, Push & Pull launches as a record label with four tracks from some of China's most exciting producers. The first release is a beautiful track called 'Me Or The Other Guy' from Xiamen's Knopha, with remixes from Hyph11E, Dirty K and Naaah. DJs on the night: Knopha, Hyph11E, Dirty K, Zean and Naaah.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu. Fri 24. 10pm. Free.
Smash Opening Night
It's the opening night of Smash, a Dingxi Lu bar from China Social Club boys PCJ and Frau. They sell it as 'a place to hang in the afternoon with a coffee, beer or a wine paired with great playlists and turning into more of a bar and club vibe later on'. They promise quality club bookings from local crews and internationals too. Opening night has music from Lindberg and Tobias Patrick and a few more guest appearances.
Smash 685 Dingxi Lu. Fri 24. 6pm. Free.
THINGS TO DO
Shanghai International Literary Festival 2017
It's the last few days of LitFest 2017, and amongst others you can catch Mei Zhang and her talk on Travels Through Dali With A Leg Of Ham on Tuesday 21 at midday. Check out our interview with Zhang here.
M on the Bund 20 Guangdong Lu. Until Wed 22.
Bingo x District x Aboro Foundation
District's second community charity bingo extravaganza, this time raising funds for the Aboro Foundation in advance of their Knockout charity boxing and kickboxing event on April 2. The Aboro Foundation provides career-oriented fitness and wellness training for underprivileged young people in China. 100RMB for one bingo board and one drink. Bingo starts at 5.30pm with prizes from the likes of Alan Wong's, UnTour food tours, FIELDS China and more.
District 284 Yuyuan Lu. Sat 25. 5pm. Free.
Becycle Ride For Rescues charity spin
Join Becycle, Spare Leash and Wheat Healthy Eatery for a charity bike spin. Joining the session costs 200RMB, and all proceeds will go to animals being cared for by animal charity Rose's Rescue. Seating is limited to 14 bikes, and should be booked in advance. The session includes some healthy post-workout snacks and juices from Wheat.
BeCycle Spinning Studio 667 Changhua Lu. Sat 25. 2pm. 200RMB.
ART
Sublime Bodies
FU Space present Sublime Bodies: A Tale about Architectural Problems in the Postdigital Age, with a collection of projects by Austrian Architects Matias del Campo and Sandra Manninger. Set in the unique and inspiring architecture of the Fab-Union Space, the venue is the ideal environment for a show questioning the future of design in an ever-evolving world.
FU Space 2555 Longteng Avenue. Until Sun 14 May. Free.
Song Dong: I Don't Know the Mandate of Heaven
RAM hosts a monographic exhibition by leading avant-garde installation artist, Beijing-born Song Dong. In a show that transforms the entire building both inside and out, the museum presents some of the innovative artist’s best-known works and imposing installations.
Rockbund Art Museum 20 Huqiu Lu. Until Sun 26 March. 30RMB.
FILM
Beauty and the Beast
The virtue of courage is high up on the list of Disney princess must-haves (just below kindness, beauty and a strapping prince in tight trousers). And three cheers for director Bill Condon and star Emma Watson for having the courage to make a live-action musical adaptation of the adored 1991 animation with 2017 gender politics and a diverse cast. Not only is Belle the most feminist Disney princess ever, Beauty and the Beast also features the first (and second) ever interracial kiss in a live-action Disney movie and the first openly gay character in a Disney movie fullstop.
Cinemas around Shanghai. Long press and extract the QR code above to buy tickets.
Logan
In what may be his final film as Wolverine, Hugh Jackman takes it deeper and darker in an appropriately apocalyptic superhero movie. Jackman has repeatedly suggested that Logan will mark his farewell to a character he's been tied to for 17 years and seven films. If so, it's a fitting swansong: in stark contrast to most Marvel movies, particularly last year's peppy but pointless X-Men: Apocalypse, this feels more like a wake than a party.
Cinemas around Shanghai. Long press and extract the QR code above to buy tickets.
Lego Batman
The breakout star of 2014’s The Lego Movie now gets his own action-packed, completely batshit superhero spinoff. For Batman's solo debut, the plot may draw on another creaky comic cliché – Batman inadvertently adopts adorable orphan Robin (Michael Cera) and has no idea what to do with him – but The Lego Batman Movie is so jam-packed with ideas, asides and barmy cameos (Lego Bane! Lego Marlon Brando! Lego gremlins!) that there’s barely time to notice.
Cinemas around Shanghai. Long press and extract the QR code above to buy tickets
PERFORMANCE
Shanghai Ballet: Jane Eyre
Shanghai Ballet will perform for one night only at the Shanghai Grand Theatre with their unique and innovative take on Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte's much-loved work. The production is modern interpretation of the piece, focusing on the love triangle between Jane, Mr Rochester and his mad wife, usually hidden in the attic.
Shanghai Grand Theatre 300 People's Avenue. Fri 24. 7.15pm. 280-480RMB.
Iveta Apkalna Organ Recital
The Latvian Organist Iveta Apkalna impresses with deep musical sense, technical brilliance and a keen sense of the impact of music. Iveta Apkalna has succeeded to lend a specific perception to the 'queen of all musical instruments'. Iveta Apkalna made it her mission to bring the splendor of organ music into concert halls.
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall 1380 Fuxing Zhong Lu. Sat 25. 7.45pm. 80-180RMB.
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