20 awesome things to do this August

Photograph: Julia Grossi

With July and its 50°C heat index (that's ∞° Fahrenheit for those unfamiliar with Celsius) behind us, August promises to be a vast improvement. Ariana Grande takes centre stage at the Mercedez-Benz arena while the Fratellis and The Kooks headline Summer Sonic Shanghai. As well as these great musical offerings, there is all sorts going on this month. See below for our full list of picks.

Top gigs and parties

TOKiMONSTA

Jennifer Lee makes a welcome return to Shanghai courtesy of SHFT. Lee - better known as TOKiMONSTA - has worked with the likes of Anderson Paak, Kool Keith and Thirsty Fish, dealing out ethereal electro and hip-hop-influenced beats.

Arkham Found 158, 168 Julu Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu, Huangpu district. Fri 4. 10pm. 220RMB; 160RMB (presale); 100RMB (early bird).

Elysia Crampton + Bok Bok

Wooozy present an incredible double header with two visionary electronic producers/composers: Elysia Crampton and Bok Bok. The former, whose music has been labelled 'borderless, expansive and intelligent' by Pitchfork, is renowned for her epic, deeply layered and ultimately beautiful electronic compositions. Crampton is reason enough to make it out to this show on her own, but apparently that's not enough for the people at Wooozy, who have decided to put Night Slugs founder Bok Bok on the bill too. 

ALL Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu, Xuhui district. Sat 5. 10pm. 100RMB.

Gnash

Singer, lo-fi rapper and DJ/model Gnash has, in the words of Vogue been 'accruing the type of digital currency that could easily rival a Kate Perry or Lady Gaga' in the last few months. He might not be playing venues the size of Yuyintang for long, so if you're a fan of his global hit 'I Love U, I Hate U' check him out in an intimate setting while you still can.

Yuyintang 851 Kaixuan Lu, near Yanan Xi Lu. Tue 8. 8.30pm. 180RMB.

RP Boo

The godfather of footwork returns to Shanghai for what will be one of the happiest sets of the month. RP Boo always plays with a massive grin on his face and his enthusiasm is genuinely infectious.

ALL 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. Sat 19. 10pm. 100RMB.

Summer Sonic Shanghai

Major Japanese music festival Summer Sonic is set to launch a Shanghai spin-off event this summer. The festival has been cooperating with MAO Livehouse to take Chinese bands to Japan to appear on its stages for several years now, in addition to hosting occasional 'warm-up' events here. A fully-fledged Summer Sonic Shanghai has long been rumoured, but this is the first time they're attempting to do a proper festival in the city.

Shen Di Ecology Park 188, Lane 399, Shendi Dong Lu. Sat 26-Sun 27. 11am. From 680RMB.

Ariana Grande

Actor-turned-worldwide pop sensation Ariana Grande makes her Shanghai concert debut, bringing hits such as 'Problem', 'Dangerous Woman' and 'Side to Side' to China.

Mercedes-Benz Arena 1200 Expo Dadao, near Shangnan Lu. Mon 28. 8pm. 480-1,680RMB.

Delicious food and drink

elEfante Dumbo Truck pop-up

elEfante welcomes Peruvian chef Eduardo Vargas (Colca, Azul) to the Dumbo Truck for its monthly guest chef brunch.

elEfante 20 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu. Sat 12-Sun 13. 11.30am. 250RMB.

askJerry x Jing Republic Cocktail class

Make like Tom Cruise in this boozy cocktail and cooking class. Aimed at beginners, the class teaches you how to prepare all the party essentials – fancy booze and bites – in less than an hour.

Jing Republic Bldg 2, 3 Fenyang Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu. Sat 19. 2pm. 249RMB; 450RMB for two people.

Film screenings

Cocktail Cinema: The Prestige

Sip on film-themed drinks at Social Supply's Cocktail Cinema where bartender Chris Xi will be working his magic to The Prestige. It's fair to say you can expect a few tricks up their sleeves at this one. Follow @CocktailCinema for more info.

Venue and time tbc. Wed 9. 

Time Out Screenings: Still Life

Time Out Shanghai shows one of the greatest Chinese films of all time in Glam, M on the Bund, with complimentary gourmet popcorn and specially tailored drinks. This month it's director Jia Zhangke’s critically acclaimed Still Life. 

Glam Seventh Floor, Five on the Bund, 20 Guangdong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu. Sun 20. 4.15pm. Free.

Baby Driver

Music sounds better when you’re on the road. In Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright takes the car-chase action film – loaded with tyre squeals – and weds it to a cracking jukebox playlist. The result is the most supercharged piece of motorised choreography since John Landis destroyed a fleet of cop cars in The Blues Brothers.

Cinemas around Shanghai. From Fri 25.

Art shows

Closed Circuit - Open Duration

Open Duration is a large-scale installation that consists of several overlapping works. The work uses soil, plants, light, sound, video and various scientific research media such as carbon and oxygen sensors to examine different aspects of the human-nature relationship. 

Chronus Art Centre Building 18, 50 Moganshan Lu. Until 3 Sep (Every day except Monday,Tuesday). 20RMB; 10RMB for students (free on Wednesdays).    

Zhan Wang: Forms in Flux

The Long Museum hosts the largest solo exhibition to date of Chinese artist Zhan Wang’s works, presenting sculptures which reflect traditional Chinese cultural elements and craftsmanship, while also addressing various issues of contemporary life and space.

Long Museum 3398 Longteng Avenue, near Ruining Lu. Until Aug 22. 50RMB.

Valérie Belin: Meta-Clichés 

Shanghai Center of Photography's latest exhibition presents works by the world-renowned Parisian artist Valérie Belin. The show is a retrospective of unique photography, from Belin’s very first projects to her latest new media experiments in digital technology and overlay techniques. 

Shanghai Center of Photography 2555 Longteng Dadao Longlan Lu. Until Aug 24 (Every day except Monday). 40RMB; 30RMB (students).

Stage

Jekyll and Hyde (Mandarin)

There are few more famous duos than Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, even if they were two halves of the same person. Even those unfamiliar with Robert Louis Stevenson will affix a Jekyll-and-Hyde label on a mercurial personality. But Stevenson’s 1886 gothic novella captured our collective imagination – after all, who really knows the stranger that lurks inside us all? 

Shanghai Grand Theatre 300 People's Dadao, near Huangpi Bei Lu. Until Aug 9. 2-4pm, 7.30-9.30pm. 80-650RMB.

Things to do

Deco after Dark

From the Broadway Mansions to the Bund, this after-hours walking tour from Historic Shanghai leads you around the city’s Art Deco masterpieces lit up in all their glory. En route you’ll hear the stories of Shanghai’s hedonistic past. Meeting point on RSVP at info@historic- shanghai.com.

Venue revealed after RSVP. Sat 5. 7pm. 200RMB (members); 300RMB (non-members).

KFK Presents: Zainab Johnson

Zainab Johnson, a stand-up comedian and actress, is quickly being propelled as one of the most unique and engaging performers on stage and screen. Zainab’s comedy is based on her unique point-of-view, which was shaped growing up in Harlem as one of thirteen siblings in a Muslim family.

Kung Fu Komedy Club 1 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Julu Lu. Fri 18 and Sat 19. 9pm Fri; 8pm and 10pm Sat. 200RMB; 170RMB (presale) 100RMB (early-bird).

Happy Friday

The final in a trio of summer parties at the Jing An Kerry Centre with food, drink, retail and fitness booths sprawled out across the central piazza. See @socialsupplyshanghai for more information.

Jing An Kerry Centre 1515 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Changde Lu. Fri 25. 5pm. Price tbc.

Commune Market

Swing by this community artisanal market for hand-crafted creative wares and a mouthwatering selection of gourmet food and craft beer.

Zhang Yuan 99 99 Taixing Lu, near Wujiang Lu. Sat 26-Sun 27. 11am. Free. 

Goose Island BooshKaBaash festival

Community festival BooshKaBaash returns for its ninth year with the tagline ‘music for everyone’. Expect free live music from an eclectic mix of local and international bands and artists ranging from rock to reggae to soul funk.

Shanghai Centre 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Tongren Lu. Sat 26-Sun 27. 11am. Free.

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