The best live music in Beijing this weekend

Featuring Sevdaliza, We Lost the Sea, Absolute Purity and more

Another weekend, another chance to check out Beijing's brilliant live music scene. Whether you're after music from all over the globe, or something closer to home, take a look at our picks of the best gigs going down this weekend.

FRIDAY

We Lost the Sea

Yugong Yishan. Fri 23. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale)

Local promoters New Noise bring Australian progressive post-rock band We Lost the Sea to Beijing. After selling out venues all over in Australia, this tour will mark We Lost the Sea's first appearance in China. Their latest album Departure Songs was included in numerous best-of lists and is inspired by failed, yet epic journeys or events throughout history where people have done extraordinary things for the greater good.

SATURDAY

Sevdaliza

Omni Space. Sat 24. 350RMB; 300RMB (presale)

The Dutch-Iranian experimental pop auteur first burst onto the scene in 2014 with 'Backseat Love,' a single that anchored The Suspended Kid, the first of two four-track EPs released in 2015. Her debut studio album Ison (2017) explores womanhood and power through beat-driven, heartrending music.

Allan Harris

Blue Note. Sat 24-Sun 25. 320RMB

Internationally renowned vocalist, guitarist and composer Allan Harris sums up his personal perspective on music in clear and straightforward terms. 'There is nothing that I have found that defines and gives credence to my place in this wild and mysterious universe than this thing called music.' Harris exemplifies that statement perfectly with his stunning new album Nobody's Gonna Love You Better, his eleventh album following on the heels of his highly acclaimed 2015 release Black Bar Jukebox.

Absolute Purity

Dusk Dawn Club. Sat 24. 100RMB; 70RMB (presale)

Bound in contrast and contradictions, Absolute Purity pairs fierce desperation against melancholy and innocence. The band has been quietly honing their sound in their home of Shanghai and will be making their Beijing debut this Saturday at DDC where they'll be joined by Beijing’s most radical and offbeat noisemakers including Boiled Hippo, Run Run Run and Li Jianhong.

Spill Your Guts + Struggle Session + Octopouple + SHAS

School Live Bar. Sat 24. 80RMB

Get ready for a full-on assault on the senses from what's sure to be an outstanding evening of hardcore musical offerings. Making the trek up from down south are hardcore heroes Spill Your Guts, plus one of Beijing's best live bands Struggle Session, one-man band Octopouple and making their debut, the snappily-titled Stinky Human Abuse to Subsist.

Horsefeather

Hot Cat Club. Sat 24. Free

Excellent indie expat band Horsefeather are performing a rollicking final show at Hot Cat Club before bidding Beijing farewell and riding off into the sunset. Performing on Saturday, they'll also be joined by Great Buffalo Blues.

SUNDAY

DJ Okawari + Emily Styler

Tango. Sun 25. 280RMB; 480RMB (VIP)

Japanese jazz and hip hop fusion artists DJ Okawari and singer Emily Styler appear together with full live band backing from Glam on keys, Yuki Nagata on bass, Takao Ito on drums, Jyunnosuke Fujita on the sax, and Kota Hashimoto on guitar.

For more live music this weekend, hit 'Read more'.

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