Clubbing

Heavy blends of hip-hop, techno, hard house, and tech make Skin on Skin a happy guy. Releasing multiple EPs in 2019 and hailing from Australia, Skin on Skin is building a large fan base with his nontraditional, hard-hitting house music. He self-declares that his inspiration ranges from MF Doom to UV Boi. Tech House meets Skin on Skin this Friday at All Club.

Enjoy wild fun with Tokyo-based DJ Poi Poi this Friday at System. Known for attracting a diverse and vibrant crowd of various backgrounds and genders, DJ Poi Poi captivates audiences with Miami Bounce, Hip Hop, Dance House, and many other lively sounds. Expect some seriously fun energy this Friday at System.

You may have heard of Genome Sequence resonating across the late-night floors in Shanghai recently. Celebrating their three-year anniversary with an exclusive vinyl-only headliner at Playground this Saturday, they have directly invited Truly Madly from the UK for the event. Better known as Truly, he will infuse his set with house hits, electro pump, and UK garage from past decades. Expect some serious fun this Saturday.

For its last show before renovations, Abyss Club invites Berlin-based raver virtuoso The Brvtalist. Known for his diverse blend of lights, style, and rave music, The Brvtalist promises a true techno Berlin rave night at Abyss this Saturday. Don't miss the chance to experience classic dark, high energy with wild visuals before the club closes until March.

Operation RHo1 is a transdisciplinary audiovisual and experimental performance art event that explores alternative future paracosms, survival strategies, and more. The project invites both international and local alternative artists specializing in electronic music (techno, ambient, etc.), sound art, DJ sets, installations, and other art forms from London to Shanghai. Together, they will reimagine and co-create a sonic visual narrative centered on the celebration of alternative cultures. For the show on January 14, the lineup includes 2G, Extreme John, and others. The detailed lineup and timetable are listed below. Presale tickets are available at 100 RMB per person.

Live Music

One of China's largest heavy music and alternative gatherings is back for its 6th edition. Experience a range of music including metal, hardcore, goth, doom, and punk, to name a few. This edition features a mighty 10-band ensemble to ensure a constant sonic onslaught, with no one leaving in one piece! The show starts at 2 pm on Saturday, January 13.

A dynamite two-punch combo is hitting Modernsky tonight. The eclectic contemporary instrumental rock group Lei Luo brings modern pop sensibilities and bona fide musical chops to their compositions. They incorporate elements of jazz, world music, and post-rock to create a grand sound suited for the big stage. Joining them are the indie rockers 8 Immortals Restaurant from Beijing, who had a killer run on the latest season of The Big Band. They seduced audiences with their joyful immersion in the realms of grunge, stoner, garage, and psychedelic rock. The show starts at 8 PM. Tickets are RMB 218.

The flame of punk shines bright with Changsha's C.S.B.Q, whose tight, energetic, compassionate, and stirring punk rock feels more timely than ever. By evoking the folk-tinged proletarian songs of China’s past with a contemporary punk twist, the band's music acts as both a rallying call and a hell of a good time. They wrap their warmly tender, sax-soaked melodies in a riotous and deviant punk shell inherited from their musical ancestors. Rock on at 8:30 PM. Tickets are RMB 80/120.

Dive deep into China's vast and unapologetic experimental and noise scene with trigger, which is keeping busy this January with plenty of treats for those seeking a little 'noise therapy' this winter. On the docket are noise connoisseur Zhang Jinhun (formerly of Dolphy Kick Bebop), trigger purveyors and harbingers of auditory destruction - Shu Qi and Torturing Nurse, analog collector and manipulator GDC aka Global Discount Centre, and RHYTHMICSHIT - a new noisecore duo featuring two of the above players. It's a great way to kick start your Saturday into oblivion. The event starts at 3 PM. Tickets are RMB 65.

MoEPiKA, a next-generation DJ whose world-class DJ play is recognized by even the biggest names in the industry, is also one of the founders of the Faith (@faithtokyo) clothing store. "We're inspired by '90s rave culture. The upcoming new generation loves both music and fashion, and we love that vibe as well," she says. MoEPiKA is skilled in a wide range of club genres, from techno and baile funk to bass music and dancehall. She regularly DJs at many of Tokyo city's major and underground clubs. The detailed lineup and time are listed below. Presale tickets are available at 100 RMB per person.

In a last-ditch effort to fight off the impending cold and a passionate plea to thaw our unfeeling bones, perhaps even our hearts, tonight LiveChinaMusic invites three bands to keep us snug this winter. These include Shanghai’s Pale Air, Nanjing’s MilkGuard, and Hangzhou’s PussyEyes. Through their reverb-soaked melodies, ethereal vocals, and psychedelic radiance, they plunge listeners into the recesses of their dreams.

Concerts

A magical evening awaits! Get ready to step into the wizarding world as The Pearl proudly presents Harry's Yule Ball. This enchanting evening promises an immersive experience for fans of the beloved series, featuring cosplay, a live band, themed stage performances, and magical rooms inspired by the wizarding universe. All floors open for exploration at 7 pm, and the party starts at 9 pm.

This Stevie Wonder tribute show will feature a series of classic songs from the Grammy-winning soulful legend. The main vocalist, Julia Jive, is a Russian jazz vocalist with extensive singing experience. She began her career in a quartet, specializing in various types of jazz standards and a cappella. Julia has performed in international jazz festivals and concerts in Russia, Ukraine, Spain, and Italy, and has shared the stage with a range of ensembles, from jazz duos to large bands.

The classic cartoon features no dialogue; instead, each plot is connected by jazz music. On January 7 and 14, Sunday evenings, Jazz Lincoln presents Tom & Jerry in Jazz with Danny Zanker on bass, Murray James on saxophone, Peng on piano, and Fu Hua on trumpet. Single tickets start at 168 RMB.

Comedy

SpicyComedy is an English stand-up comedy show in Shanghai that features some of the funniest local and traveling comedians. Shows are held throughout the week at the SpicyComedy Lounge in Xintiandi, providing audiences with an unforgettable night of laughs. The event showcases 5-6 talented English-language comedians, each performing 8-15 minute sets. The event's format varies, including everything from spotlight specials with featured comedians to open mic nights for newcomers. See the flyer below for details. Seating is first-come, first-served, so head down early to get a good spot.