Re-rewind: Craig David is coming to Beijing

Noughties R&B smoothie turned DJ returns to the capital

After the news of Arrow Factory launching roast dinners seemingly brought the entire British community of Beijing to a collective, Yorkshire pudding-induced frenzy, the latest dose of nostalgia-filled, homesickness-busting good word is that UK R&B and garage legend Craig David is set to play Beijing in February.

David's name is synonymous with the rise of UK garage at the turn of the century, after he headed straight to number two in the UK charts with the Artful Dodger on 'Re-Rewind' back in 1999, and he followed it up with a string of successful solo hits, including 'Fill Me In', 'Walking Away' and '7 Days'. Back in 2009, the debut album that housed that stable of complete bangers, 2001's Born To Do It, was voted the second greatest album since 1981 by MTV viewers, to the confusion of almost everyone who has listened to music since 1981. (The only album better? Michael Jackson's Thriller, less controversially.)

Here it is: the second best album of all time since 1981!

Fast-fast-forward to 2018 and he's transformed himself from a skinny R&B singer based in Southampton, to a muscle-bound, Miami-based DJ spinning at some of the city's most exclusive pre-parties – held in his own private Miami penthouse, of course. He'll be hitting the decks here under the guise of TS5, with sets including R&B, hip-hop, house, dub, reggae and more. But, deep down, he's still our smalltown boy Craig, and we can hope he'll still drop the hits.

Craig David plays the frankly beautiful Beijing Exhibition Center on February 24 2019. To get tickets, scan the QR code below. 

For all things music in Beijing, hit 'Read more'. 

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