The best parties in Shanghai this weekend
Lots going on this weekend, but make sure you save up some energy for Sunday night – Tom Trago will be hitting POP's rooftop (and we can get you in for free) and there's a tasty-looking line-up at ALL courtesy of D-Force.
Details on those parties and all the other top spots to get down this weekend below.
Thursday 28
Einzelkind
Photograph: courtesy organiser
Frankfurt's Einzelkind joins the micro/wave crew at Elevator for another night of microhouse following his popular party here last year.
Elevator Fourth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu, near Donghu Lu. 10pm. 80RMB; 50RMB (presale).
Synth Crush
Photograph: courtesy organiser
Expect dark disco, minimal wave, electro, industrial, shoegaze, synth punk and more from synth lovers Velvet Robot and Illsee at ALL.
ALL Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. 10pm. Free.
Friday 29
John Acquaviva
Photograph: courtesy organiser
One of the original founders of Beatport.com, DJ and producer John Acquaviva returns to Shanghai for a night of deep house, house-tech, and progressive house.
Bar Rouge Seventh Floor, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu. 10pm. 150RMB; 100RMB (presale).
End Game
London-based Bala Club co-founder Endgame returns to Shanghai for a night of ferocious club music. Dirty K, Jaya, and Scintii provide scintillating support.
ALL Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. 10pm. 80RMB.
Most Girls Smell Good x Shade Seoul
Photograph: courtesy organiser
Shade Seoul return to Shanghai, partnering with Most Girls Smell Good for a DADA takeover. DJs Ligrye, Net Gala and Seesea are joined by drag queens Nana and Charlotte Goodenough and locally-based support from TOY, Amber Akilla and Medusa mastermind Michael Cignarale.
DADA 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu. 10pm. 80RMB; 60RMB (before midnight).
Saturday 30
C'est Qui
Photograph: courtesy organiser
China Social Club presents Korean duo C'est Qui – comprised of Closet Yi and Naone and one of Seoul's rising underground electronic stars. Expect house and disco sounds, plus support from Frau, PCJ, and Michael Cignarale.
Arkham Found 158, 168 Julu Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu. 10pm. 100RMB.
DAMARHA + Caliph-8 + Nonplus
Photograph: courtesy organiser
Visual artist and producer Jessika Khazrik, who switches her time between Beirut and Paris, and appears here under her DAMARHA name, is joined by two Manilla music makers in Caliph-8 (no stranger to Shanghai) and Nonplus for a night of everything from off-kilter hip hop to experimental club tracks.
ALL Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. 10pm. 80RMB.
Prismatic Force
Photograph: courtesy organiser
VOID core member Prismatic Force – usually known as Shanghai_Ultra, but appearing here under a new guise – delivers a new-look live set 'that blends rhythm and funk with tense dubbed out shadowy strains of techno and machine paranoia'. Sounds great. Nat Alexander and Provoda are on support duty.
Elevator Fourth Floor, 218 Xinle Lu, near Donghu Lu. 10pm. 50RMB.
Sunday 1
D-Force Summer Nights Series
Photograph: courtesy organiser
This latest instalment of quality music from the Douban record label features Shanghai's own 33EMYBW and Gooooose – excellent solo projects from two members of Duck Fight Goose – plus PlayRec co-founder Wang Changcun, DuDu and RMBit. So basically some of the best alternative electronic music talent in the country right now, all on one night.
ALL Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. 10pm. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale).
Tom Trago
Photograph: courtesy organiser
Aware that Shanghai's sweltering summer isn't all that amenable to dancing on a terrace, Alter. are bringing their rooftop party season to a close (for now). But in doing so, they're bringing in their biggest booking so far: Amsterdam Dekmantel star and influential globe-trotting DJ Tom Trago. All ticket prices include one drink.
POP Bar Seventh Floor, 17 Guangdong Lu, near Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu. 2pm. 160RMB; 140RMB (presale); 120RMB (early-bird).
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