The best parties and live music in Shanghai this week

Photograph: courtesy Club 3 1/3

Hang in there… just one more week until we all get a break for Spring Festival. In the meantime, this weekend a bunch of great gigs and parties roll into town, including Chromeo at Arkham, a five-hour set from San Proper at Electric Circus and the second weekend of That Funk Show at Shake.

Friday 25

Phtograph: courtesy Arkham 

S.T.D presents Chromeo

Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo hit Arkham for a one-night DJ set. For nearly two decades Chromeo have built up a playful funk and synth-driven empire. Head Over Heels, their fifth and most recent studio album, featured session legends such as Pino Palladino and Jesse Johnson, as well as DRAM and The-Dream. 

📍Arkham, Found 158, 168 Julu Lu, near Chengdu Nan Lu. 8pm-late. 240RMB at the door; 180RMB (pre-sale); 320RMB for two.

TGTR presents San Proper 

DJ San Proper headlines TGTR Shanghai's first instalment of 2019 with a hedonistic five-hour set. Proper has become a local legend in his hometown of Amsterdam, a city with strong music and club scene. Expect a set with retro vocals and groovy, colourful beats. 

📍Electric Circus, Seventh Floor, The Shanghai EDITION, 199 Nanjing Dong Lu, near Henan Lu. 10pm-late. 100RMB (includes one drink).

Loft Beach and Galean at Yuyintang

A local night at Yuyingtang with two indie rock outfits. Loft Beach plays nostalgic, yet optimistic dance-pop in the style of Washed Out. Expect some ‘hard folk’ from Galean (think more James Mercer).

📍Yuyintang, 851 Kaixuan Lu, near Yanan Xi Lu. 9pm-late. 50RMB.

Friday 25 - Saturday 26

Image: courtesy organiser (The Pearl)

Queen Tribute Concert 

The Pearl’s live band pay tribute to one of the most iconic and highly celebrated rock bands in recent history. Booking ahead is a must – this performance, on the heels of the Freddy Mercury biopic and fall blockbuster Bohemian Rhapsody, will likely sell out fast. 

📍The Pearl, 471 Zhapu Lu, near Haining Lu. Fri 25-Sat 26. 10pm-late. 220RMB; 180RMB (pre-sale). Extract the QR code to buy tickets.

That Funk Show at Shake

Get up and get into it: Shake brings the floor-filling funk for their second weekend of That Funk Show. Courtney Knott and the full band take you on a voyage of music by James Brown, Parliament, Marvin Gaye, Prince and more. Expect big horns, bigger grooves and downbeats heavier than a '75 Cadillac. 

📍Shake, Third Floor, 46 Maoming Nan Lu, near Jinxian Lu. Fri 25-Sat 26. 10.30pm-late. 100RMB.

Saturday 26

Photograph: courtesy organiser (Club 3 1/3)

Empire 

Club 3 1/3 brings the party vibes from ‘city that never sleeps’ with its New York-themed night. Drink tequila, Champagne and dance to hip hop from DJ Ray SJ all night. Book a table and get six free shots of Patron.

📍Club 3 1/3, First Floor, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu. Sat 26. 10pm-late. 100RMB (includes one drink and a coupon from label Bea New York); free (with table booking 6312 0931).

Snap Fizz Party

Bid farewell to Snap's Fizz Parties and ring in the Year of the Pig at The CUT Rooftop. DJ Fane will be on the decks and a tapas menu will be available all night. 

📍The CUT Rooftop, Seventh Floor, iAPM, 999 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Shannxi Nan Lu. Sat 26. 9.30pm-2.30am. Free. 

Cosign Anniversary Party at ALL 

ALL’s weekly night of experimental techno, Cosign, turns one this Saturday. Berlin-based producer TJ Hertz (Objekt) is set to headline alongside Amsterdam’s Job Sifre. Objekt has made a strong imprint on the techno community with his mathematical, hard-edged rhythms and debut album, Flatlands. Sife is a resident of Red Light Radio and De School. His Worries EP was the most played-record of Dekmantel Selectors festival a few years back. 

📍ALL, Second Floor, 17 Xiangyang Bei Lu, near Changle Lu. Sat 26. 10pm-late. 100RMB; 80RMB (pre-sale).

Sunday 27

Photograph: courtesy Luz Mendoza via Unsplash

Chinese New Year Party at Barraco

Barraco ushers in the Year of the Pig the Brazilian way: with a live samba ensemble, dance accompaniment and feijoada (traditional pork and bean stew). Those who come in red will be gifted a free hongbao to use at the bar. Food and beverages will run from 1pm; live music and dance 5pm-8pm.

📍Barraco, 559 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Sinan Lu. Sun 27. 1-8pm. Free.

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