The best live music in Shanghai this week
Photograph: @higherbrothers via Instagram
After a quiet couple of weeks, there's a whole host of great gigs to get sweaty at this week, kicking off today with an oddly-stacked Wednesday line-up as John Cale and Radwimps hit town. Read on for the best of the bunch.
Wed 11
Music in the Summer Air: Blossoms, the Many Colors of B6’s Music
Photograph: courtesy MISA
Shanghai electronic music pioneer Lou Nanli, better known as B6, is joined by musicians including experimental guitarist Wang Wenwei for a special concert of his productions as part of Music in the Summer Air 2018.
Shanghai Symphony Hall 1380 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Baoqing Lu. 7.45-9.45pm. Tickets are sold out on Time Out Tickets, but there might be unofficial vendors at the door (not that we endorse them).
Bang Gang
Photograph: courtesy 247Tickets
Icelandic producer Barði Jóhannsson returns to Shanghai once more with his brand of trip hop-meets-melodic pop and his first album in seven years, The Wolves Are Whispering.
Modernsky Lab Shanghai Third Floor, Moon Shopping Mall, 188 Ruihong Lu, near Tianhong Lu. 8-10pm. Tickets are sold out on Time Out Tickets, but there might be unofficial vendors at the door (not that we endorse them).
Radwimps
Photograph: courtesy 247Tickets
Founded when they were just teenagers, Japanese act Radwimps have been together more than 15 years now and over that time have accrued an array of hits courtesy of their pop-rock sound and appearances on big-time anime soundtracks.
Mercedes-Benz Arena 1200 Expo Avenue, near Shangnan Lu. 7.30pm-9.30pm. Tickets are sold out on Time Out Tickets, but there might be unofficial vendors at the door (not that we endorse them).
Music in the Summer Air: Velvet Underground 50th Anniversary Memorial Concert
Photograph: Simon Bonaventure via Flickr
The Velvet Underground finally make it to China. Well, sort of. Yes, yes, Lou Reed and Nico might no longer be with us, but this isn't just some cashing-in-on-the-name type show - this is something potentially really special.
Shanghai Symphony Hall 1380 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Baoqing Lu. 7.30-9.30pm. Tickets are sold out on Time Out Tickets, but there might be unofficial vendors at the door (not that we endorse them).
Fri 13
Lu Chen
Former Top Floor Circus frontman releases his new solo folk album. Sample track names include: ‘Chant of Baboon Buddha’, ‘Be Sure to Use Condoms Before You Come’, ‘Porn Star Song’, ‘The Reason Why Bob Dylan Did Not Attend the Nobel Prize Ceremony’, and ‘Sexlonga’. Should be an interesting night.
MAO Livehouse 308 Chongqing Nan Lu, near Jianguo Zhong Lu. 8.30pm-late. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale).
Sat 14
Plug Fest
Photograph: @higherbrothers via Instagram
Some of China's finest rap acts are coming to an old shipping warehouse on the former Expo site in Puxi this July. Billed as a celebration of street culture, the one-day event will feature Higher Brothers, MJ116, Stooki Sound, bbno$, Young Dragon, Warz and more.
Across from the Shanghai Children's Art Theatre 800 Miaojiang Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu. 1.30-10pm. 560RMB; 420RMB (presale); 300RMB (early bird). Extract the QR code to book.
Book ahead
Mike Shinoda
Photograph: Frank Maddocks, courtesy 247Tickets
Former Linkin Park man brings his Post Traumatic Tour to Shanghai for what will be his first solo performance in the city. Shinoda has been pushing hard in the China market - one where Linkin Park have always been well-received - and filmed one of his first solo music videos right here in Shanghai.
Jingan Sports Center 116 Wenshui Lu, near Zhonghuan Lu. Tue 14 Aug. 8-10pm. 580RMB; 880RMB; 1280RMB. Extract the QR code to book.
Wolf Alice
Photograph: courtesy 247Tickets
This North London alt-rock outfit mix elements of folk, grunge, and electronic music into their '90s indie rock sound. Since announcing themselves with 2015 debut album My Love is Cool, they’ve picked up nominations for the Mercury Prize, Brits, Ivor Novello, and Grammys.
Modernsky Lab Shanghai Third Floor, Moon Shopping Mall, 188 Ruihong Lu, near Tianhong Lu. Thu 16 Aug. 8.30-10.30pm. 400RMB; 350RMB (presale). Extract the QR code to book.