The best things to do this weekend

Featuring Marty Baller, Jake Bugg, Cinco de Mayo and more

With May well and truly here, it's time to get outside and enjoy Beijing's blue skies and warmer weather. Take a look at our guide for the best live music, parties, exhibitions and stage shows going down this weekend. 

THINGS TO DO

Art for Nature

Café Zarah. Sun 5. Free

This Saturday, Café Zarah teams up with The Bulk House and Global Environmental Institute to host an all-day event aimed at raising awareness of environmental conservation and sustainable living. Events include a local sustainable market, talks about living a zero-waste lifestyle, as well as an evening party with live DJs.

FOOD AND DRINK

Pinko de Mayo

Palms LA. Sat 5. Free

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Palms LA with an all-day DJ live show, urban pool party, freshly made tacos for 15RMB and pours of Jing A beers and tequila shot specials for only 35RMB.

MUSIC

Jake Bugg

Tango. Fri 4. 280RMB

Nottingham-born troubadour Jake Bugg, who burst to international fame as a teenager with his 2012 eponymous debut album, will be in Beijing plugging latest effort Hearts That Strain this week. An exclusive solo acoustic tour, expect intimate renditions of some of his biggest hits.

Marty Baller

West. Sat 5. 120RMB; 80RMB (presale)

Although yet to gain his 'A$AP' prefix and thus full membership of the A$AP Mob, trap rapper Marty Baller has worked with many of the crew, and is the protégé of and official hype man for leading light A$AP Ferg.

Joshua Radin

Omni Space. May 6. 180RMB; 150RMB (presale)

American singer-songwriter Joshua Radin creates dreamy, folk-tinged ballads. Having amassed over 75 film and television song credits on shows such as Scrubs, One Tree Hill and Brothers & Sisters, notable fans include Ellen Degeneres and Zach Braff.

NIGHTLIFE

San Soda

Dada. Fri 4. 60RMB

Classic house and techno with a rough, Chicago and Detroit bent is the Berlin-based DJ's main preference, interspersed with cheerful disco and timeless electro cuts. Preferring extended sets with proper rotary mixers, San Soda is a gimmick-free selector who avoids tricks and effects.

Disco Extravaganza

Migas Mercado. Sat 5. Free

Lip-sync, dance, spoken word, stand-up comedy – anything goes at this rip-roaring queer night, formerly held upon the rooftop of the late Sanlitun Migas. Seasoned drag performers and new up-and-comers often use this popular night to try out new looks and material, and best of all, all proceeds go towards supporting the Beijing Gender Health Institute.

STAGE

NT Live: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

UCCA. Sun 6. 120RMB; 200RMB (ticket package)

In the early hours of the morning on the campus of an American college, Martha, much to her husband George’s displeasure, has invited the new professor and his wife to their home for some afterparty drinks. As the alcohol flows and dawn approaches, the young couple is drawn into George and Martha's toxic games until the evening reaches its climax in a moment of devastating truth-telling. A screening of the acclaimed UK production starring Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones).

Antonio Andrade: Mi Carmen Flamenca

Century Theatre. Sun 6. 180-880RMB

Antonio Andrade's Andalusian flamenco company presents an adaptation of Bizet's tragic opera Carmen, in a production that incorporates elements of jazz, salsa, flamenco and Arabic music. By doing so, Mi Carmen Flamenca reshapes the classic opera, both in music and dance, combining both traditional flamenco with the spirit of modern flamenco.

ART

The Beatles, Tomorrow

Today Art Museum. Until May 27. 80RMB

Multimedia exhibition The Beatles, Tomorrow, retraces the career of one of the biggest bands in history. Visitors can view more than 250 newspaper and magazine clippings, vintage video clips of live performances, vintage vinyl records as well as a reconstruction of the Ed Sullivan Show set that hosted their breakthrough live performance. 

Olafur Eliasson: The unspeakable openness of things

Red Brick Contemporary Art Museum. Until Aug 12. 160RMB; 120RMB (weekdays)

A retrospective of Olafur Eliasson's most iconic works, The unspeakable openness of things is the revered Icelandic-Danish artist's first solo show in Beijing. Encompassing Red Brick Museum's eight exhibition halls, visitors will be able to journey through a series of large-scale immersive installations – including Eliasson's seminal work The blind pavilion – which playfully explore light, mist, geometry and illusion.

FILM

The Young Karl Marx

On general release Fri 5

This sturdy biopic examines the life of Karl Marx, and his journey from firebrand young journalist to eventual co-writer of The Communist Manifesto, alongside trusted friend and collaborator Friedrich Engels. A fascinating portrait of the fractious proto-socialist ferment of the time.

For more cracking things to do this weekend, hit 'Read more'.

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