Sam Smith, Fratellis and more: Beijing's best gigs this October

The best live music Beijing has to offer this October

Beijing's music scene frequently attracts some of the best names in music, both locally and from abroad, and October is no different. Don't miss the chance to rock out with a bunch of brilliant artists, right in your own backyard.

Alpine Decline + Chui Wan + Birdstriking

Yue Space. Fri 5. 150RMB.

Beijing indie label Maybe Mars holds a special gig for its eleventh anniversary featuring some of its biggest and best, with dreamy LA/Beijing-based duo Alpine Decline joined by the excellent Chui Wan and Birdstriking.

Bohemian Betyars

 School Bar. Sat 6. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale). 

Self-described as speed-folk freak-punk, Bohemian Betyar's music has evolved into a new, exciting mixture – including rocking punk, bouncing ska, and swooping psychedelia all spiced up with Hungarian, Balkan and gypsy elements. Expect reasonably high BPM.

Tennyson

Yue Space. Thu 11. 120RMB; 90RMB (presale). Canadian siblings Luke and Tess Pretty make up Tennyson, an outfit that blends jazz with electronica and seemingly every sound in between. The duo has made waves in the music scene for their young start and eclectic sounds, producing hits such as 'Lay-by' and 'Fault Line'. Expect jazzy rhythms and unexpected melodies.

Bruno Major

Dusk Dawn Club. Fri 12. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale). 

London-born Bruno Major has sprung onto the pop scene with his powerful vocals and poignant lyrics. Having opened for Sam Smith (see below) and making his TV debut on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Bruno has continued his rise up the fame pole, releasing his full-length album A Song For Every Moon back in 2017.

Chris Garneau

Tango. Fri 12. 180-280RMB. Chris Garneau is an American singer-songwriter and musician whose music combines elements of folk, Americana and pop. Since releasing his debut album, Music for Tourists, his soft vocals and gentle melodies have appeared on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, as well as on several movie soundtracks. Garneau returns to China in October to bring his dreamlike, haunting lyrics to Beijing.

Wednesday Campanella

Tango. Fri 19. 360RMB; 300RMB (presale). Wednesday Campanella is a Japanese music group that combines EDM, J-Pop, and hip-hop. The trio consists of KOM_I, Kenmochi Hidefumi and Dir.F, garnering a huge following in Japan and now world-wide, especially since featuring on Chvrches' single 'Out Of My Head'.

Club 8

Laifu Livehouse. Sat 20. 180RMB; 150RMB (presale). 

Swedish-indie band Club 8, with top hits such as 'Give Me Love' and 'Jesus, Walk With Me', has made waves in the European music scene. Expect chilled vocals, piano and guitar-laced backing and some trip-hop and bossa nova vibes thrown in that create a unique and piercing sound.

The Fratellis

Tango. Sun 21. 580RMB; 480RMB (presale). 

'Der der der, der der der, der der der di-er der der, der der der, der der der, der der der di-er. Der der der, der der der, der der der di-er der der, der der der, der der der, der der der di-er der der.'

Sam Smith

Cadillac Arena. Thu 25. 480-1,880RMB. Having started out as a guest on dance-pop records, soulful Sam Smith made his own mark on the music world when he began pumping out chart-topping, heartstring-pulling solo ballads. He's got a string of number-one hits to his name at the ripe old age of 26, so, fair to say the solo venture went rather well. Latch onto the dreamboat this October and find out for yourself how good he is at goodbyes. 

Zombie Chang + Siamese Cats

Omni Space. Thu 25. 280RMB; 180RMB (presale). Japanese Yung Meirin, aka Zombie-Chang, is a model and lo-fi musician making waves in alternative scenes around the world. She came to the stage back in 2013 with debut EP Atashi wa Nan Desu ka, following it up with 2015 release Koi no Vacances. She's joined at Omni Space this October by Japanese rockers Siamese Cats.

For more great things to do in Beijing this October, hit 'Read more'.

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