SH Weekender Nov 5-8: Still Outside, For These 25 Parties, Shows, and Pop-Ups

Melodic orchestral post-rock out of Portugal, Indignu has made a name for themselves in the post-rock scene over the past two decades, making the kind of grandiose instrumental rock that I’m a sucker for - particularly since there are strings involved. With tinges of progressive and psychedelic rock, their music can be heavy, haunting, and stirring - conjuring a brooding, sometimes doom atmosphere that’s hard to turn away from - ‘the thickness of the guitars only offset by the sweetness of the strings’. Post-rock catnip - the band will be supported by one of Shanghai’s finest - the heavyweight instrumental rock outfit An Corporation.

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Now bigger, scarier, and more death-defying than ever before, Shanghai's world-famous, oft-replicated-never-duplicated original Tribute Show is happening over two nights this weekend (saving themselves the hassle of doing it last weekend). Now in its 20th year, the annual concert features over 50 Shanghai musicians across the spectrum of genres, dressing up as and performing as the iconic rawk! acts of yore. Read on

Rock and roll cut with old-school ferocity and raucous combustibility - this Friday rounds up a spread of fuzzed-out garage rock, wavy surf rock, psych-infused blues, and anthemic punk music to quench your thirst for blood. Special guests for the night are the legendary UK rockers New Model Army, who became known in the 1980s for combining the gut-level force of punk with the anthemic political fervor of U2 and the Alarm, as well as the urban working-class folk of Billy Bragg. Founding members Justin Sullivan and Dean White will be giving a special acoustic set tonight alongside Beijing’s Low Bow and Shanghai’s own The Psyders.

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Like a moth to a flame, the lost souls of C-Park converge on Cedar Land, trapping themselves in a dizzying, looping flight as they spiral toward the light. This fatal attraction comes in the form of a series of producers, singers, and performers constantly exploring and twisting sound to their will - hypnotic, beguiling, and perhaps even lethal in its transfiguration. Sharing the glow tonight will be Beijing experimental drone duo Cloud Choir, electronic singer-songwriter Ma Lu, ambient soundscaper Nervious Whistle, and Wabi-Sabi sound explorer Shu Ride.

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Scattered about Zhejiang, indie outfit Zoogazer has continued to stretch themselves sonically over the years, indulging in synth pop theatrics and indie pop stardom along the way. From gliding on jazzy chillwave melodies to riding on soaring reverb-filled hooks, or from the synth pop-meets shoegaze sentimentality and, most shockingly, screamo emo theatrics - the band is deftly innovative and assured, taking audiences on quite the journey. The band is fresh off their latest LP, pastday - once again finding new avenues to strut their woozy, wistful sound. Read on

Made up of various members of Beijing’s indie scene - Xu Bo, Kuo Zhen, Hu Xike, Hu Anyao, Shi Xudong, and Nong Andiof of bands such as P.K.14, Uncle Hu, Juju, Future Orients, and The Swan and Blossoms - Manmanche is the kind of musical supergroup a studio producer can only dream of. The six-piece band brings their wealth of expertise and styles to the wonderfully distinct and rich LP Mawen Road 马文路 26-5 - released with Modern Sky - ‘a labyrinth of melodies and wordplay’ that weaves pop, jazz, post-punk, blues, funk, and more into an intoxicating sound - one ripe with spirited agility and raucous instrumentation. Light on its feet yet intricately crafted - it’s a blast from start to finish - a band effortlessly firing on all cylinders. Read on

                             

Event picks by

Heatwolves

Writer, producer, founder of the music label/collective, Love Bang, and a Shanghai character since 2007.

Some fierce house music all night long from an all-star lineup from Shanghai and beyond, including the return of And I Stay who hasn't played a Shanghai dancefloor or bathhouse in a minute. Lineup: And I Stay, Bluecaaat, Floating, and Butterfly. Recommended.

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Two venues, one ticket, one night. DIY art/theater group New Writing Supermarket is teaming up with La Social for a whole night that starts with a potluck, live music, activities like TCM pulse reading, drinks from Cuba and Spain, and KTV at their venue in 889 Plaza and then moves to Latin club La Social at midnight and goes late. New Writing Supermarket events are always mad fun and unexpected. Read on

Excellent Friday night bookings at new Xingfu Lu club Doop as long-running label/promoter Yeti brings in influential Belgian DJ/radio host Lefto Early Bird to headline the night. For over 1,000 episodes, his weekly Kiosk Radio show has been a constant source of vital new music and gems from the past across numerous genres, from bass and club to hip hop, jazz, and beyond, played with skill and finesse. He's joined by Arthur Yeti b2b Tom Yeti, Kilo Vee, 61H (live), Haaizey, and Cho Room (b2b). Read on

Promoter Pulse celebrates nine years in the game with a big lineup across two-floors of this C-Park Club. Headlining the night is Irish rapper Buckshot, who came up with US horrorcore/blown-out-trap outfit Haunted Mound before he started collaborating with fakemink. It's kinda like, The Hills Have Eyes meets Salem meets Chief Keef type shi, and he's joined by fellow Haunted Mound artist Oscar 18. Read on

Grumpy Dog makes some really decent hot dogs and sides, and they're taking over The Drinkery on Wuding Lu for an afternoon pop-up on November 7. This one starts off at 3pm with drinks, food, music, and DJ sets from Feunard, Kepler, Ragboy, and Don Na taking turns behind the decks throughout the day.

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One for the DNB heads. Bass Master Lab is 19Hz’s new international DNB series, bringing together OGs from underground scenes around the globe. This time the guest is DJLow, who's been active since the late 1990s, building Malaysia’s bass scene as a DJ, promoter and label founder. Read on

November is here and the daytime party at this Jing'an pizza bar is stilllll goin' strong. Same story as always: six DJs playing sets, pizza by the slice and whole pie, and beers and spritzes gettin drank on the sidewalk and in the venue. Always a good vibe and always free entry. Read on

People believe they can tell what is “real,” but what happens when that sense of reality is shaped by the ideas, values, and narratives of others? Authentic by JK Opole Theatre combines physical performance, imagery, and space in a theatrical exploration of reality, featuring a cast of Polish performers and two gorillas on stage.

Saxophonist and composer Carlos Vega leads a five-piece ensemble for three nights of Latin hard bop, combining the punchy sound of hard bop jazz with the vibrant rhythms of Latin music and salsa. Joined by Jeremy Sinclair on trumpet, Trigger Su on piano, Danny Zanker on bass, and Victor Bastidas on drums, the quintet brings together tight arrangements, improvisation, and energetic musical interplay.

Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson brings his new Op. 109 program to Shanghai, placing Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 30 at the centre of a program that also includes works by Bach and Schubert. Read on

Singapore theatre practitioner Alvin Chiam presents his first solo work, Last Luncheon, a minimalist performance about solitude, memory, and acceptance. Through a man, a table, a can of luncheon meat, and a cassette tape recorder, the production explores a journey of reflection and the search for meaning.