25 Bangin' Nightlife Events

Before we were even finished getting over last weekend's antics, here we are again at our beloved Thursday! Let's be honest, we're all pretty much gagging for a bev by now, wine o'clock anyone? Thirsty Thursdays might not be much of a thing these days but that won't stop me (or you, I think) from making it rain vodka sodas tonight. Watch out Shanghai, you better have enough soda water in stock this weekend because this queen is parched. Stay tuned to see what's happening this weekend and where you can sashay onto the dancefloor sans inhibitions.

THURSDAY

Elevator Turns 3: Batu, Ploy & MIIIA @ Xspace

This Thursday the Elevator team welcome Timedance boss Batu and its beat science prodigy Ploy back after their killer sets last year, closing with our central spice-slinging resident MIIIA to start the celebrations for their third birthday. Warmup duties come from rising talents Theory of Noise and Zorimira, with visuals from the Semicolon C crew. 

Address: 3/F, 77 Jiangning Lu, near Fengxian Lu

Hours: 11pm-5am

Price: RMB 100 pre-sale, RMB 150 on the door

Hip-Hop Night @ Arkham

Hip-Hop Night returns to Arkham with 1ster, Nasty an Chxve in the line-up. It's all about 'grillz', whatever that is, so if you know, you know. We guess.

Address: 168 Julu Lu

Tel: [phone]

Hours: 10pm-3am

Price: RMB 60

Oliver Deutschmann @ 44KW

Berlin's Oliver Deutschmann has gained a reputation over the last 15 years through his pure passion, diverse track selection and an unambiguous mixing ability. Years before he released his first EPs, he had already set himself on a path that would see him DJ all over the world, eventually leading to his adopted home of Berghain where he has lit up both rooms of the club dozens of times since first playing there almost ten years ago. Deutschmann style can range from understated house grooves to thrashing the big rooms with his grandiose brand of techno so be prepared to dance. Doors open at 9pm.

Address: 158 Julu Lu, near Ruijin Yi Lu

Price: RMB 80 pre-sale, RMB 100 on the door

Say Yes - Galaxian [Live] @ ALL Club

Razor sharp percussion blurs with shards of vocal snippets. Cinematic vistas twist into militant waste-ground electronics. Earthy ambiences morph into organic poly-rhythms. A sound as equally varied as it is evocative, Galaxian comfortably occupies a space outside of the easily definable. His sound is often hard to classify but never less than absorbing. He’s never an artist to become stagnant or take the obvious route. 

Address: 2F, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu

Price: RMB 60 pre-sale, RMB 80 on the door

Hours: 10pm-late

Luxurious Night @ Club 3 1/3

Luxurious Night returns to Club 3 1/3 this Thursday for an elegant night of sumptuous cocktails and smooth tunes. BOGO champagne cocktails also on offer. Doors open at 7pm.

Address: 1/F, Three on the Bund, Entrance on Guangdong Lu

Tel: [phone]

Minimalist @ Dada

Three quality DJ's get behind the decks this episode to bring the best blend of the freshest underground house, techno and acid house bangers! Come join on April 4th to start your long holiday weekend for QingMing in the right way for another cracking night, guaranteed good vibes, fantastic atmosphere and great tracks.

Address: 115 Xingfu Lu

Hours: 10pm-late

FRIDAY

Elevator Turns 3: Medusa @ Xspace

Shanghai's monthly dose of vogueing and disco house is back this Friday to celebrate Elevator's third birthday, which is pretty old for a club in Shanghai! Sashay into the concrete cavity of ecstacy that is Xspace and prepare to feel the glitter and the groove of our favorite night that celebrates queer realness with headliner Chris Cruse, support from Mau Mau and Michael Cignarale and visuals by 解读 (丸).

Address: 3/F, 77 Jiangning Lu, near Fengxian Lu

Hours: 11pm-5am

Price: RMB 100 pre-sale, RMB 150 on the door

MGSM - Tygapaw @ ALL Club

MGSG (Most Girls Smell Good) will host Tygapaw this Friday at ALL club, with local support from DJs and drag performer Frozen Lolita, Amber Akilla (NushvShanghai), Jiruin1l, Liquid-B and Gouachi. “Dion McKenzie, aka TYGAPAW, is a multi-hyphenate creative (DJ, designer, producer, party promoter) who has created some of the most inclusive parties in NYC nightlife. In addition to graduating from the Parsons School of Design, the Jamaica native is also a self-taught music producer known for her emotional club bangers that lend themselves to the queer, inclusive spaces she's created through parties like Fake Accent and Shottas.” -  Paper Magazine 

Address: 2F, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu

Price: RMB 80

Hours: 10pm-late

Lunice @ Le Baron

For one night and one night only, the legendary Hudson Mohawke collaborator and Kanye West co-producer, Lunice, touches down at Le Baron Shanghai. Wildly known for his paramount energy and visceral live performances, Lunice Fermin Pierre II has erupted in recent months with high-profile cult appearances and releases that have adhered to the legacy set by the young Canadian – a true embodiment of DJ and producer as a multi-faceted frontman, artist, and performer.  

Address: 7/F, 20 Donghu Lu

Tel: [phone]

Mixmag pres. Art Department @ Celia

Art Department, the infamous electronic music act, has seen almost unparalleled success within the world of dance music in recent years. Canadian Jonny White, acting Head of No.19 Music, is now the lone force behind the influential project that began as a collaborative effort with long time friend Kenny Glasgow in 2009. Art Department are still relevant though even as a solo act now, and their accolades in the DJing world are not to be underestimated. Embrace techno this Friday at Celia, with support from the local heros and heroines. 

Address: 298 Xingfu Lu, near Pingwu Lu

Hours: 12am-9am

Tel: [phone]

Price: RMB 150 early bird, RMB 200 pre-sale, RMB 250 on the door

DJ Hokuto @ 44KW

Hailing from Tokyo, DJ Hokuto will headline room KW with a cool and fresh take on hip hop, and there will be techno and heavy bass in room 4W.

Address: 158 Julu Lu, near Ruijin Yi Lu

Corrado Bucci @ Dada

DJ extraordinaire and production whizz Corrado Bucci is the latest star in the Local Talk and Compost Records galaxy. The hype is on and Corrado has already started gathering a reputation within the house music community with his symphonic sound. He is currently working with labels like Compost Records, Wonderwheel Recordings, Local Talk and BBE Recordings. His music has a melodic vein and fuses his signature symphonic sound with the Afro-Latin, jazz and funk culture vibes. 

Address: 115 Xingfu Lu

Hours: 10pm-late

Price: RMB 50

SATURDAY

Alter. @ Seul & Seul

The Alter. team have put together an all-star cast under the sunshine of Seul & Seul's rooftop terrace this Saturday. Get yourself down and soak up the rays, the tunes and the drinks.

Address: Taikoo Hui 3/F, 789 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu

Wrong Assessment @ Arkham

Wrong Assessment’s music has allowed him to play on important stages around the world including Tresor, MMA, Space (Ibiza and Moscow), Corsica Studios (London) and Khidi (Tbilisi). This intriguing part time physiotherapist / techno whizz is playing this Saturday at ARKHAM for the first time since his US and Europe tours.

Address: 168 Julu Lu

Tel: [phone]

Hours: 10pm-3am

Price: RMB 60 early bird, RMB 80 pre-sale, RMB 100 on the door

Space Panda x Adam's Angels pres. Rebels @ Caza 

Resident Shanghai party queen Sandisa is hosting Rebels this Saturday at Caza, brought to us thanks to Space Panda and Adam's Angels. Expect sultry techno and booming bass because this night is dedicated to the underground side of electronic music, from Chicago to Detroit, from house to techno through deep house or tech house and everything in between. 

Address: 2/F, 7 Donghu Lu

Sake Tasting @ Xime

Atsukan refers to hot & mulled sake - one of the most traditional ways to drink sake. Master of Atsukan (dubbed the "Sake DJ") Tsukétarō is hosting a special sake tasting session in Xime this Saturday. Tsukétarō will serve six special sakes on the day with a spring theme. The taste of each drink will vary depending on the vessel material, temperature, different combinations with tasting order and method. Each drink is 90ml for RMB 85.

Address:  1/F, 989 Changle Lu, near Changshu Lu

Soul Train @ The Pearl

A night train taking you on an uplifting journey filled with funk, soul, disco and Motown classics, leading you along the tracks and grooves with those licks of hard-hitting horns, punchy rhythms, and storming beats! There's a live band and crazy lighting & visuals to help you feel the groove! Special table packages at RMB 2500 with 2 bottles of Champagne, 1 bottle of spirit & 6 shots are available too.

Address: 471 Zhapu Lu, near Wujin Lu

Tel: [phone]

DJ Blueman & YiHung @ 44KW

Coming from Taiwan, DJ Blueman and YiHung will be bringing the sounds of 70s NYC to 44KW dancefloor this Saturday. There'll be disco and groove all night!

Address: 158 Julu Lu, near Ruijin Yi Lu

Elevator Turns 3 Cake & Family @ Xspace

It's been three years of dancing, sweat, glitter, connecting over mijiu and cucumber drinks, spacing out, homeslice and jianbing with the Elevator crew this year. To round things off with a classic finish to what is already set to be a fantastical and festive weekend celebrating their birthday is a cake and family rave, with a host of their favorite Shanghai acts to guide us from sweat-soaked peak moments through to a jianbing finish.

Address: 3/F, 77 Jiangning Lu, near Fengxian Lu

Hours: 11pm-5am

Price: RMB 100 pre-sale, RMB 150 on the door

Gully Riddim Party @ Dada

DJs Zean and ALK (Kilo Vee/Genome) bring back Gully Riddim to Dada Shanghai on the 6th of April with special guest DJs Alex Wang & Jaya.

Address: 115 Xingfu Lu

Hours: 10pm-late

Mediterranean Night @ Celia

Mediterranean Night kicks off at midnight in Celia this Saturday, and hopes to bring beautiful coastal vistas, vast expanses of golden sand and enticing warm waters like a giant swimming pool to ravers. Experience music and art melded together!

Address: 298 Xingfu Lu, near Pingwu Lu

Hours: 12am-9am

Tel: [phone]

Price: RMB 100 on the door + one free drink

SVBKVLT Compilation Launch @ ALL Club

To celebrate the release of 'Cache 01', a new compilation on SVBKVLT, the label presents an artist showcase including live performances from Yen Tech, 33EMYBW and Goose, plus DJ sets from Hyph11e and Howell.

Address: 2F, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu

Price: RMB 60 pre-sale, RMB 80 on the door

Hours: 10pm-late

Empire @ Club 3 1/3

Hip-Hop and sexy cocktails all night this Saturday at Club 3 1/3's Empire night! Doors open at 7pm.

Address: 1/F, Three on the Bund, Entrance on Guangdong Lu

Tel: [phone]

SUNDAY

Voltage Divider - Peter Kirn @ ALL Club

Peter Kirn is a musician, writer, artist, and techno-musicologist. His work includes creating platforms for exploring the connection between technology and live music and media, including running the daily music technology culture website CDM.link, co-creating the open source, ready-to-play MeeBlip hardware synthesizer, and facilitating collaborative performance hacklabs with CTM Festival and other partners in locations from Berlin to Mexico to Indonesia.

Address: 2F, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu

Price: RMB 60 

Hours: 10pm-late

Street Chefs @ UP

Six of Shanghai's hottest chefs are bringing their personal, unique flavors and styles to UP this Sunday for a brunch on their sunny terrace that is sure to not disappoint! The vibes will range from street food to Michelin-influenced cuisine with flavors from all over the world being present, whether it's Mexican or Asian-American. Starts at 12pm and 6 food tickets will cost RMB 100. 

Address: 688 Shaanxi Bei Lu

Tel: [phone]

Cover photo from Unsplash