Later, 2019! 15 NYE Gigs to See the Year Out in Style
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There’s no better way to ring in the New Year than with a blast of sweet, sweet rock and roll. So throw on your party hats Beijing, down a bottle (or two) of champagne and let one of these live gigs act as the soundtrack to the countdown to 2020.
fRUITYSPACE continues its tradition of killer New Year’s Eve lineups with a psychedelic infused roundup of acts from Beijing and beyond. Special guests of honor include Zhejiang improvisational psychedelic troupe Cementin and Shanghai post-punk instrumental explores Solid Liqui, both making their capital city debut. Joining them are our own no-wave experimentalists Kaoru Abe No Future, indie songsmith Uncle Hu and the duo of Inner Mongolian singer Bayan Dalai and percussionist Deng Boyu. RMB 120
The Twenties, SNSOS, Secret Club, Hulu Boyz, Later Islands at School
Promoters D.O.G and So Nice continue their annual nation-spanning party this holiday with over twelve shows across China. Over at D.O.G’s home turf – School Bar – is a ringer of a lineup featuring instrumental rockers SNSOS, indie rockers Hulu Boyz, Britpop favorites Secret Club, post-rock slayers Later Islands and returning after a year hiatus, the always righteous and intoxicating indie rock outfit The Twenties. RMB 120
The Phoenix must burn to reemerge – that’s the ominous and almost cryptic theme behind Caravan’s barnburner of a countdown, which doubles (among other things) as the Moroccan mainstay’s five year anniversary. Expect a celebration of the highest order with food free-for-alls, rum shots galore, and a hearty array of live music courtesy of The Mantras, Mr. Nick, Chanel, The Slow Blade and thruoutin. FREE
Peking Floyd, Macondo, Silent Speech, Dafay & Skyscraper at Omni Space
New Year’s Eve goes epic with a sprawling offering of the scene’s finest earth-shakers, keen on crafting rousing soundscapes that penetrate deep into your soul. On the bill you’ve got powerhouse instrumental soarers Macondo, transcendent indie rockers Silent Speech, blues rock journeymen Dafay & Skyscraper and Beijing’s premier Pink Floyd aficionados Peking Floyd leading the charge into the New Year. Word is they’ll be an actual brick wall on hand to tear down. RMB 138-268
Liu Donghong & Sand, The Peppercorns, Qianchuan Pharmacy, Ren Zhi & Social Poetry at DDC
DDC keeps it formal and loose – the perfect fit for NYE to be honest – as veteran folk-rockers Sand, led by the scruff and tender Liu Donghong, joins operatic art-rock troupe The Peppercorns, rising post-punk maneuvers Qianchuan Pharmacy, and spitfire rap MC Ren Zhi and his soul-funk ensemble Social Poetry. Expect merry faces and old school swagger. RMB 100
Hugh Reed & The Electric Shadows, Jokers Belief, secret guests at Temple
Give a proper send-off to 2019 and usher in the coming new year with Temple Bar, arguably the finest place to do the holiday right – as beer, shots, and champagne flow freely and musical mayhem will transpire courtesy of the dynamic and mad Hugh Reed, funk-rock regulars Jokers Belief and plenty more surprises. FREE
A smorgasbord of genre and toe-tapping delights over in Beixinqiao as the hip hop and rock scenes most dependable characters gather for to ring in the New Year including N-Bomb and Dungeon Beijing’s Drop Science, garage rock regulars Bye Bye Noise, indie-pop trio The Power Powder, and long-standing old school favorites Perpetual Motion Machine, whose fist-pumping tunes have been a staple of the capital for over a decade. RMB 150-260
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Spirit Rebellious at Soi Baochao
Speaking of good vibes, over at Soi Baochao, ones of the scenes unsung heroes, riotous fun is in store as they host Spirit Rebellious, led by Ugandan singer Saso, and provider of upbeat reggae jams. The party continues with an array of DJs including afrobeat dancehall renegade DJ Bullot. RMB 50
Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies x The Cotton Club at Modernista
Modernista celebrates New Year's Eve in style with the fabulous Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies, as the Baochao hotspot transforms itself into the 1920's infamous Harlem Cotton Club! Roaring music, hats, flapper dresses, cocktails and speakeasy pleasures await – party like it's 1920. RMB 120
Ma Xiao at Jianghu Bar
Sun Yat-sen University philosophy major Ma Xiao came to prominence with his first release Love Me or Give Me a Gun. Known for his simple but elegant melodies, the artist brings his philosophical background to his lyrics. See him this New Year’s Eve with special guests at Jianghu Bar. RMB 150
Birdstriking, MFMachine, Summer Vapour, Aero-Boat, Dear City Deer at Omni Space
Special guests and noise rock veterans Birdstriking lead the charge into the new year joining a swarm of 2020s artists to keep an eye out for including lo-fi indie rockers MFMachine, jangly Britpop ruffians Summer Vapour, indie urban folk outfit Dear City Deer and electro-rock swooners and supergroup Aero-Boat, featuring members of both The Gar and Da Bang, RMB 120
The Bootlegs, Future Orients, The Fallacy, Underdog at Yue Space
D.O.G x So Nice’s nation-spanning party continues over at Yue Space with more of indie rocks finest including one this year’s biggest surprises – Qingdao’s The Bootlegs, whose jangly riotous mix of rustic cowboy frontier ambiance and lo-fi surf-gaze charm, hits all the right buttons. Joining them are Xinxiang’s post-punk wranglers The Fallacy, ska-punk ruffians Underdog, and indie slayers Future Orients, fresh off their rich new EP. RMB 120
Water Grass Project, Simon Frank, sourtower x Daylei, punx at Frequent Collaborative
fRUITYSPACE continues its holiday residency over at frequent collaborative with saucy electronic music leaning ear warmer featuring some of the electronic scenes most mischievous characters including alluring cold wave duo Sourtower, one of 2019s best new acts, as well as cold techno junkie punx, jungle rhythm duo Water Grass Project, and electronic producer and mood setter Simon Frank. RMB 80
The good times continue into 2020 as DDC presents an eclectic rich lineup featuring world music musician and former Hanggai guitarist Yi La La Ta, psychedelic infused instrumental rockers Kenja Time, and sry indie-pop outfit Ultra Grey. RMB 80
Planet & Tree at School
Folk-rock outfit Planet & Tree continue their rise to success and celebrate In style with a special showcase at School Bar. Headed by the esteemed and infamous Cui Xudong – a prominent musician from Shijiazhuang whose time included playing with bands such as Omnipotent Youth Society’s processor Nico, Ruins, Soundtoy, and more – the band is a dusty bluesy rock band that’s riffed with soul and the spirit of rock and roll. RMB 100
BaNuYa Orchestra at Temple Bar
Start off 2020 a little more cultured as BaNuYa Orchestra – founded by Miao music pioneer Chun Dong Die (Bamboo), Maomao (Percussion), Liu Jie (Bass), Li Hui Hui (Singer), Li Gui Mei (Singer), and Li Mao Hua (Guitar) bring their modern take on Miao music and culture to the unlikely of places – Temple Bar. FREE
READ: Usher in the Next Decade With These Beijing 2020 NYE Dinners and Parties
Images: courtesy of organizers
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