40 awesome things to do in May

It's May and summer is within touching distance. The weather is heating up and there's plenty to do in our great city. Whether it be music, nightlife, art, food and drink, stage, screen, or sport, Shanghai definitely has something for you this month. See below for our May picks.

NIGHTLIFE

The Drop presents Outlook Festival Official Shanghai Launch Party

The Drop team up with Outlook festival for their Chinese launch party with a trio of headline acts: London-based producer Stray (former Ivy Lab), who has featured on the legendary Blue Note records as well as appearing on Fracture’s Astrophonica imprint; Conrank will join as a part of his 4 Letter Future Tour; and Arkaik, who will also perform at this year's Outlook festival. Extra support from Siesta and Oshi. It's set to be a big one.

DADA 115 Xingfu Lu. May 5. 

Alan Walker

Norwegian producer and DJ Alan Walker has been churning out dance hits since he was 19 years old. His biggest single, 'Faded', hit over 1 billion views on YouTube and received platinum awards in more than ten countries. He's back in China for what ought to be another jam-packed hand-raising show.

Linx 98 Huaihai Zhong Lu. May 11. 10pm. 480RMB; 380RMB (presale). 

Oliver Heldens

The quirky and innovative Dutch DJ and producer comes to Shanghai to spin his distinctive future and electro house beats that get crowds up and moving to the max. Coming in at number nine on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs and with a slew of number one electronic hits under his belt, Heldens is one of the innovative greats amongst today’s new generation of house music stars. Expect a feel-good, energy-packed, super-fun set that won’t slow down for a second.

M2 283 Huaihai Zhong Lu. May 12. 10pm. 200RMB. 

Nathan Fake

British electronic musician Nathan Fake is acclaimed for his rich, atmospheric compositions. After gaining notoriety in the ’00s, he signed for super-cool independent label Ninja Tune in 2016 and this March released Providence, his most experimental LP yet.

DADA 115 Xingfu Lu. May 17. 10pm. 

Genome presents Rabit

Houston-born producer Rabit combines industrial, hip-hop, noise and sound collage to foster sonic spaces for the exploration of sexuality, gender, race, embodiment and injustice. His future dance music is brought to Elevator by Shanghai’s forward-looking Genome crew.

Elevator 218 Xinle Lu. May 19. 10pm. 80RMB. 

MUSIC

Clean Bandit

Cambridge-formed Clean Bandit claimed the Christmas number one spot in the UK last year with their radio-friendly mix of light electronic pop and crossover classical elements.

Bandai Namco Shanghai Base 179 Yichang Lu. May 21. 9pm. 360RMB; 280RMB (presale). 

Years & Years

British dance-pop trio and friends of Sam Smith and Katy Perry make their Shanghai debut as part of a spin-off show from Beijing's MTA Festival. The group specialise in dancefloor-friendly, breezy electronica,

Bandai Namco Shanghai Base 179 Yichang Lu. May 19. 9pm. 400RMB; 320RMB (presale). 

JZ Spring 2017

JZ Spring is back for 2017 as part of the city's celebrations of International Jazz Day. This three-day, largely free event from the JZ people will feature performances from locally-based musicians in a variety of locations around Jingan - Jingan Park, Réel Plaza, Jingan Kerry Centre and Crystal Galleria.

Shanghai Centre Theatre 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu. Sun 30-May 2. 10.30am. Free.

Megadeth

Thrash legends Megadeth return to China following their 2015 appearance at Shanghai Grand Stage. They're here in support of last year's Dystopia album which garnered them their best reviews in years and led to the band picking up their first ever Grammy.

Bandai Namco Shanghai Base 179 Yichang Lu. May 12. 8.30pm. 980RMB. 

Crystal Castles

Ethan Kath's synthy electro-punk project and cool kids favourite comes to Shanghai with Edith Frances (who replaced Alice Glass in 2015) adding a melodic edge to Kath's disco metal beats.

Bandai Namco Shanghai Base 179 Yichang Lu. May 12. 8.30pm. 980RMB. May 13. 9pm. 

Cold Cave

Wesley Eisold brings his revered synth-driven darkwave act back to China as part of a spin-off event from Douban's Wetware festival in Beijing.

MAO Livehouse 308 Chongqing Nan Lu. May 19. 9pm. 

Low

Signed to Sub Pop, Minnesota outfit Low first emerged as part of the '90s indie-rock movement and have continued to produce gloriously infectious slow-burn tracks ever since as well as moving into more experimental rock territory over the course of more than ten albums in 20 years.

Bandai Namco Shanghai Base 179 Yichang Lu. May 12. 8.30pm. 980RMB. May 20. 8.30pm. 220RMB; 180RMB (presale).

INTRO Festival

After its storming Shanghai debut last year featuring DJ Koze and Kevin Saunderson, Beijing-born INTRO Festival returns to Shanghai with another impressive line-up from the worlds of techno and bass. Headliners from the techno side include Munich singer and producer Virginia and the UK's Dax J, and bass offerings are headed up by DJ Paypal and MikeQ. Support from a strong list of locally-based DJs including MIIIA, Osheyack, Kilo Vee, Hyph11e and Howell.

Plus Space 228 Tanzijing Lu. May 29. 1.30pm. 380RMB; 280RMB (early bird); 200RMB (presale).

FOOD & DRINK

Plantopia: Shanghai International Vegan Festival

Apart from the upcoming musical festivals, we have caught wind of something slightly different - Plantopia. This is Shanghai's second International Vegan Fiesta, proudly brought to you by Shanghai's vegan community and Tencent Holdings Limited. It's time to fall in love with nature as this three-day festival has a series of enriching programmes lined up. 

Yuexing Shopping Centre 168 Aomen Lu. Apr 29-May 1. 

Mayita's Cinco De Mayo Party

Mayita will be hosting its annual Cinco De Mayo Party on its rooftop on Friday. Mayita will have Shirley Maria’s Latin Band as well as Mexican face painting from Kathryn Robbins. The party will also feature a DIY Margarita station and a handy Olmeca Altos Tequila trolley.

Mayita 98 Shouning Lu. May 5. 5.30pm. 150RMB. 

First Annual Shanghai Hot Sauce Festival

Head to Jalapeño on Saturday 6 May for the First Annual Shanghai Hot Sauce Festival. The inaugural fest will celebrate all things spicy, with a focus on hot pepper sauces both available in Shanghai via retail and homemade by local restaurateurs and chefs. Sample hot sauces from around the globe, participate in hot food eating contests and more.

Jalapeño 399 Weihai Lu. May 6. 2pm. 250RMB. 

FEAST

The third instalment of Social Supply’s home-grown food festival hits town. Featuring chefs including Juan Campos (Raw Eatery and Wood Grill), Beth Cosgrove (Alan Wong’s Shanghai), Paul Eschbach (Jean-Georges and Mercato), Danyi Gao (Shake), Jenny Gao (Fly by Jing) and many more. In the booze department, try stellar cocktails from bartenders Daniel An (Taste Buds Cocktail Palace and Shrine), Raphael Holzer (Hong Kong's Yardbird and Ronin) and Colin Tait (Shake and Heyday). New to this edition of FEAST is a craft beer garden, featuring Song Craft Beer, Goose Island and Moody Tongue’s ‘culinary beers’, as well as a wacky Iron Chef-style live cooking competition between select chefs at the feast.

The Place 457 Jumen Lu. May 6-7. Midday-8pm. 80RMB at the door; 50RMB per day or 90RMB for both days (presale).

China's annual Shuck Off Oyster Festival

China's second annual Shuck Off Oyster Festival is a celebration of food and drinks aimed at recognising and inspiring oyster shuckers around China. This year's festival is going to be bigger and better, with events happening across three cities: Shanghai, Beijing, and Fuzhou.

The Plump Oyster 169-171 Jianguo Zhong Lu. May 19-21. 488-1,588RMB. 

ART

Windswept

Shanghai-based womenswear brand Arete is ditching the conventional runway shows in favour of inviting the public to view its latest clothing collection at Pata Gallery in M50 art district. The brand has collaborated with contemporary artist Tracie Cheng to create a ‘fashion art’ exhibition, presenting Arete’s current SS17 clothing collection alongside Cheng’s oil paintings – the inspiration behind the garments.

Pata Gallery 50 Moganshan Lu. 6-30 May. Free. 

Fantastic Color Bar

Hidden in the basement of Ying Art Center is artist Wang Chienyang's Fantastic Color Bar, with the ordinarily dull room transformed to capture the dazzling colours of the internet age. The vibrant setting makes the perfect spot for some WeChat selfies, and has drawn crowds of young hipsters since its opening. 

Ying Art Center 97 Moganshan Lu. Until Nov 17. Free.

Julian Opie

British contemporary art legend Julian Opie arrives in Shanghai for the first time, bringing with him over 50 of his signature graphic works. His art, which is featured on the cover of Britpop band Blur's 2000 Best Of album, is internationally renowned for its skilful simplicity but extraordinary clarity.

Fosun Foundation Art Center 600 Zhongshan Dong'er Lu. Until Jun 10. 100RMB. 

Paradox of Reality: Latest Works by Shen Hua

Including a unique series of painted images on mirrors, this exhibition sees Sichuan-based artist Shen Hua present his pictorial conclusions of recent reflections on realism. With minimalistic abstract works and themes including post-modernity and the relationship between language and reality, it's a heavy and thought-provoking show.

Art+ Shanghai Gallery 191 South Suzhou Road. Until Apr 21. Free.

Liu Bolin 

In the first exhibition at MD Gallery's new space on Beijing Dong Lu, artist Liu Bolin presents his famous photography series Hiding in the city, in which he disappears until he becomes invisible. The artist now broadens the field of his iconography by camouflaging not only in emblematic urban decorations but also in famous classical paintings such as Delacroix's Liberty Guiding the People.

MD Gallery 256 Beijing Dong Lu. Until May 20. Free. 

KAWS: WHERE THE END STARTS

This summer, the Yuz Museum welcomes pop and graffiti art master Brian Donnelly, aka KAWS, from Brooklyn NYC. The illustrator, painter, sculptor, designer, and toymaker recently helped envision the latest version of the Air Jordan Retro 4 sneakers, with the sole of the shoe accented by one of KAWS’ signature art works.

Yuz Museum 35 Fenggu Lu. Until Aug 13. 150RMB. 

FILM

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

The latest instalment from the Marvel universe and sequel to 2014 hit Guardians of the Galaxy, the film features a star-studded ensemble cast including Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Sylvester Stallone, Karen Gillan and Kurt Russell and continues the team's adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage. On Friday 5 May 247 Tickets and Time Out Shanghai are teaming up to put on a special private premiere at IAPM's Palace Cinema and you can bag exclusive tickets to the screening at Time Out Tickets. Click 'read more' below for more details. 

On general release In cinemas around Shanghai. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

The Pearl Movie Night - Trainspotting

Catch Trainspotting, the 1996 British black comedy drama film directed by Danny Boyle, and starring Ewan McGregor at The Pearl Theatre. 

The Pearl Theatre 471 Zhapu Lu. May 2. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

Smurfs: The Lost Village

The third instalment is an all-new take on the Smurfs animated series. Follow the cute blue creatures on their rollercoaster journey full of action, adventure (and danger) that leads to the discovery of ‘the biggest mystery in Smurf history’. We can’t wait.

On general release In cinemas around Shanghai. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

Battle of Memories 

Leste Chan’s sci-fi thriller about a near-future world where memory-manipulation has become commonplace boasts Huang Bo in the lead role and a surprisingly large budget for a Chinese film.

On general release In cinemas around Shanghai. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

The Fate of the Furious 

Big tough bald men drive cars fast and make them go boom in the eighth(!) installment of The Fast and the Furious series. The perfect movie to see if you feel like turning your brain off for a couple of hours and letting the spectacle wash over you. Starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell and Helen Mirren.

On general release In cinemas around Shanghai. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

PERFORMANCE

Twelfth Night - TNT Theatre Britain

TNT returns to China with Shakespeare's last true comedy, and his finest. This is a fairy tale of love and laughter in an imaginary land where twins cause confusion in romance and war, drunken knights pick fights with miserable bureaucrats and everyone is in love with the wrong person at the wrong time.

Shanghai Grand Theatre 300 People's Avenue. 5-7 May. 2pm; 7.30pm. 120-380RMB. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

Wicked

This musical prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the critically acclaimed hit show Wicked looks at what happened in the Land of Oz from a different angle. It tells the story of the witches of Oz, whose initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships until the world decides to call one 'good' and the other one 'wicked'.

Shanghai Culture Square 36 Yongjia Lu. Until May 14. 7.15pm. 200-780RMB. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

The King's Singer

The King's Singers are a British a cappella vocal ensemble founded in 1968. They are named after King's College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six choral scholars.

Shanghai Oriental Art Center 425 Dingxiang Lu. May 14. 7.30pm. 180-580RMB. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

4:48 Psychosis

Written during playwright Sarah Kane's battle with depression, 4:48 Psychosis has no specific setting, characters or stage directions, while also not sticking to a strict timeline or narrative. An insight into depression and the struggles and thoughts it encompasses.

Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre 288 Anfu Lu. Apr 27-May 7. 2pm; 7.30pm. 180-280RMB. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

A Beethoven Marathon: Lars Vogt & Royal Northern Sinfonia 

German pianist Lars Vogt rose to prominence after winning the second prize at the 1990 Leeds International Piano Competition. In 2015, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, which has a history of more than half a century, was appointed Vogt as the new music director. Vogt and the musicians from the Royal Northern Sinfonietta will lead the audience to enjoy the beauty of Beethoben’s five piano concertos.

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall 1380 Fuxing Zhong Lu. May 21. 8pm. 80-580RMB. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

Mozart: Don Giovanni

Casanova, Lothario, Romeo, Don Juan – he goes by many names, but Mozart’s Don Giovanni is the most controversial of them all. This month, conductor David Stern returns to lead the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in Mozart’s darkest opera.

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall 1380 Fuxing Zhong Lu. May 19-20. 8pm. 280-580RMB. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

Les Ballet Eloelle

Les Ballets Eloelle is an all male comedy ballet company, founded and directed by Victor Trevino, which will be performing their greatest hits. Don't miss. 

Shanghai Majestic Theatre 66 Jiangning Lu. May 26-27. 7.30pm. 180-580RMB. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

SPORT

IAAF Diamond League Shanghai

The second leg of the 2017 Diamond League comes to Shanghai featuring a host of big names from the world of track and field. World record holder David Rudisha will run in the 800m; Olympic gold medalist Omar McLeod is in the 110m hurdles lineup; Rio champion Elaine Thompson runs the women’s 100m, while the men’s event will feature Justin Gatlin and Chinese star Su Bingtian.

Shanghai Stadium 666 Tianyaoqiao Lu. May 13. 6pm. 50-180RMB. 

AFL: Gold Coast Suns vs Port Adelaide

The AFL is Australia’s elite Australian football competition, and this historic match between Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide in Round 8 of the AFL season will be the AFL's first-ever clash for premiership points outside of Australia and New Zealand.

Jiangwan Stadium 346 Guohe Lu. May 14. 1.15pm. 

Shanghai Shenhua vs Shanghai SIPG

Shanghai Shenhua take on Shanghai SIPG in the most hotly contetested derby in the Chinese Super League. Watch the likes of Carlos Tevez, Obafemi Martins, Oscar and Hulk go head-to-head to see who's the number one team in Shanghai football.

Hongkou Stadium 444 Dong Jiangwan Lu. May 20. 7.35pm. 

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