The best things to do in Shanghai this week

It's hotting up, and Shanghai is serving up plenty of excuses to get out there. Speaking of hotting up, the city's two footballing giants go head-to-head in the Shanghai derby, plus there are some great markets and gigs for you to get your teeth into. 

MUSIC

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. 

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, as showcased on their chart-topping single 'King'.

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

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 20. 8.30pm. 220RMB; 180RMB (presale).

Up A Tree

A collection of Chinese and Japanese indie pop artists comes together at two venues over two days as part of the Up a Tree Festival. There'll be art exhibitions, screenings and vinyl markets in the mix too. 

Uptown Records 115 Pingwu Lu. 20-21 May. 1.30pm. 

NIGHTLIFE

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 Rabbit

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. 

Wooozy Offline Presents Soda Plains x Dis Fig

Wooozy Offline present the mold-melting sounds of Soda Plains and Dis Fig. It's club music woven with intricate threads, bottling the dark components of grime, techno, jersey, baile, and ballroom with a generous topping of rap and R&B. Sweet lullabies and anthemic lyrics collide with unsettling beats and idiosyncratic musical backdrops. Support from Scintii, Dirty K, Naaah and Sleepless.

DADA 115 Xingfu Lu. May 19. 10pm. 60RMB. 

THINGS TO DO

Commune Market 

Commune Market features an array of cool designs including jewellery, accessories, fashion, leather bags, creative housewares, children's clothing, green products, farm produce, artisan foods and craft beer. It's the place to discover fresh designs, new innovations, delicious gourmet food and passionate artisans as well as being a networking hub of entrepreneurs and talented new kids on the block.

Naked Hub Xintiandi 123 Xinye Lu. May 20. 11am. Free. 

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. 

Charity Flea Market

The transient nature of Shanghai means there is a plethora of good-quality second hand goods looking for good new homes. At this Charity Flea Market, organised by local environmental awareness group Green Initiatives, pick up some kitchenware, garden equipment, furniture, clothing and a wide array of other household items, all in the name of good causes and a real bargain prices. There will also be Nepalese food, drinks and music.

Crown Wine Cellars 59 Sublane 75, Lane 729 Suide Lu.  May 20. 11am. 10RMB. 

FILM

Power Rangers

'It’s morphin’ time!' fans will yell, as waves of light explode, colour-coded armour creeps onto bodies, and tears of recognition are wiped away. Rarely has a franchise dominated childhoods as thoroughly as the ’90s-era live-action Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, devoured on TV and cemented with action figures and toys. Today’s grown-up kids aren’t ready for the reboot, but they should be.

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

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

The latest installment 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 general release at cinemas around Shanghai. Long press and extract the QR code to buy tickets. 

CLASSICAL

Don Giovanni

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

Shanghai Symphony Hall 1380 Middle Fuxing Rd. 19-20 May. 8pm. 50-380RMB. 

ART

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 June 10. 100RMB. 

James Turrell: Immersive Light

It's your last chance to catch world-renowned Californian artist James Turrell exhibits his works of epic proportions at the Long Museum, showcasing a lifetime of experimentation with light, space and perspective.

Long Museum West Bund 3398 Longteng Avenue. Until May 21. 200RMB. 

BOOKS

Ian Johnson on China's Spiritual Awakening

The Shanghai FCC invites Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Ian Johnson for a discussion of his new book The Souls of China: The Return of Religion after Mao. The Souls of China tells the story of one of the world’s great spiritual revivals. A Q&A with Johnson will follow his presentation.

The Press by Inno Coffee 309 Hankou Lu. May 15. 7pm. 80-180RMB. 

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