Shanghai's rains may have arrived but thankfully this week has some terrific things worth braving the weather for, including punk legend Mike Watt, a host of art openings on the West Bund and little old St Patrick's Day with the accompanying celebratory drinking. See our highlights for this week below.
MUSIC
Alpine Decline
Formerly Beijing-based husband and wife psych-rock duo Alpine Decline make a very welcome return to China and to Shanghai, with brilliant labelmates Dream Can – one of our Shanghai bands to watch in 2017 – in support. Don't miss.
Harley's 265 Nandan Dong Lu. Fri 17. 9pm. 90RMB; 70RMB (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.
Dujia 1028 Wenhui Lu. Sun 19. 8pm.
NIGHTLIFE
Benji B
Benji B went from London’s club scene to working as music consultant and producer on Kanye West’s Yeezus, starting successful London night Deviation on the way. Expect soulful electro to hip-hop, house and beyond.
Le Baron 20 Donghu Lu. Sat 18. 9pm. Free.
Luca Bachetti
The Italian DJ and producer, now based in Barcelona, has been producing house and techno for labels such as Wagon Repair and Ovum for years, but with an ever-changing style. He’s at all-night party spot Lola on the back of February’s Vento EP.
Lola 46 Yueyang Lu. Fri 17. 11pm. 150RMB.
FOOD & DRINK
Shake's New Gospel Sunday brunch
Following the modo that there's no point in doing something unless you're doing it right and making it special, Shake has launched a new brunch, with a live gospel performance by Tarra Connor Jones and a free-flow Bloody Mary drinks option. The a la carte menu includes highlights like fried oyster and smoked ham, Thai basil scramble, lobster grilled cheese roll, Sriracha-lemongrass buttered sweet corn, Malaysian-style Bak Kut Teh (Herbal Pork Rib Tea) and more.
Shake 120 Jinxian Lu. Every Sunday until June 25. 11am-3pm. 150-200RMB.
St Patrick’s Day drink deals in Shanghai
This Friday is the day when everyone's got a little Irish in them (or at least is a little more green than usual). Shanghai's watering holes are naturally rising to the occasion with St Patrick's Day drinks deals.
Long press and extract the QR code above for venue locations.
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.
Sing
This delightful animated feature from the studio behind the Minions movies is a fun, toe-tapping animated musical about various animals living in the city and pursuing their dream to be singers. It takes a tired idea – a comedy set around a talent contest – and turns it into something winning and witty.
Cinemas around Shanghai. Long press and extract the QR code above to buy tickets.
THINGS TO DO
Yeti presents Jameson Day Fest 3.0
Once again, the Yeti DJ crew have teamed up with Jameson and Shanghai's creative community to celebrate St Patrick's day with a daytime bash featuring music, fashion pop-ups, food and more. This time, it's a rooftop party at ArtPlus with awesome views of the Shanghai skyline. Expect three rotating Jameson bars (for cocktails, shots and beer), Daliah's fashion swap shop, beer pong and more, with food by Fly by Jing, Hooked and Daliah. Check yetiout.com for the full line-up.
Art+Space 579 Waima Lu. Sat 18. 2-7pm. Free.
Comume Market: Hello Spring
Get down to naked HUB on Hunan Lu to check out Commune Market’s spring discoveries. There’s designer jewellery, vintage clothing, decorative art pieces, eyewear, apothecary, hand-crafted beer (Love Shanghai) and more. Designers include Bianca’s Atelier and Cousu fil de Blanc. And on the food front, expect homemade pies, dumplings, curries and tacos.
naked Hub 328 Hunan Lu. Sat 18-Sun 19. 11am-7pm. Free.
Wil Sylvince at Kung Fu Komedy
Wil Sylvince (Chris Rock's Top 5, Chappelle's Show, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and more) is coming to KFK as part of his China tour, featuring Byron Murphy, Lincoln Daw and Storm Xu; hosted by Laurent Dupont.
Kungfu Comedy Club 1 Xiangyang Bei Lu. Sat 18-Sun 19. 8-11 (various shows). 200RMB; 170 (presale).
People's Republic of Comedy: St Patrick's Day special
KFK improvisers Christopher Brantley and John Everett turn audience suggestions into unscripted hilarity. This week the team are joined by special guest Joe Schaefer for a St Patrick's special. In true improv fashion, the show has never been seen before and will never be seen again.
Kungfu Comedy Club 1 Xiangyang Bei Lu. Thu 16. 8.30pm. 50RMB.
ART
Sha Sha Sha
Sha Sha Sha by Liang Shaoji presents the unique and thought provoking work of an artist dubbed a recluse for residing in a remote mountain, and spending his time creating large-scale ecological installations.
ShangART Gallery West Bund 2555 Longteng Avenue. Sat 18 until May 6. Free.
Dark Wave
On display alongside Sha Sha Sha by outlandish installation artist Liang Shaoji, understated Hu Liu presents a series of intricate and understated pencil drawings in her first solo show.
ShangART Gallery West Bund 2555 Longteng Avenue. Sat 18 until May 6. Free.
Our Traits
The West Bund contemporary gallery brings together Japanese artist Toshiyuki Konishi’s latest oil on canvas and paper works, created over the past three years. The exhibition title refers to the artist’s panoramic depiction of common characteristics in human behaviour.
Aike Dellarco 2555 Longteng Avenue. Sat 18 until Apr 22. Free.
CLASSICAL
From Forbidden City to Hutungs of Peking
Conductor Yu Long leads the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in an eclectic programme of Aaron Avshamalov's symphonic poem Hutungs (sic) of Peking, Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No.1, Paganini's Sonata for Gran Viola and Orchestra, and Manfred Honeck's Turandot Suite. With Scott Lee (viola) and Yalun Wang (piano).
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall 1380 Fuxing Zhong Lu. Fri 17. 8pm. 180-580RMB. Long press and extract the QR code above to buy tickets.
Rudolf Buchbinder’s Beethoven Sonata Cycle (II)
Rudolf Buchbinder is one of today’s legendary performers. For more than 50 years he has appeared in concert all over the world with the most renowned orchestras and conductors.
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall 1380 Fuxing Zhong Lu. Mon 13. 7.45pm. 80-300RMB. Long press and extract the QR code above to buy tickets.
FAMILY
Free football coaching sessions
Dulwich College Minhang is hosting two free football coaching sessions on March 4 and 18. The classes are open to all international school students from across Puxi, with each session being two hours long. At these classes, pupils will cover a range of drills and skills and finish off with friendly matches. Spaces are limited so to register your child please contact Dulwich at oliver.leaver@dulwich-shanghaiminhang.cn.
Dulwich College Shanghai Minghang 2000 Qian Pu Jing Lu. Mar 4-18. 8.30am. Free.
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