Finally, something worth doing on a Monday night

We have been wanting to tell you about this all day, but the technology gods had other ideas (the same is true for all other Shanghaiist contributors, which should explain while the site didn't change much today). Anyway, if you are still in front of your computer and still have no plans tonight, do yourself a favor and head over to Bar 288 (aka The Melting Pot) for what promises to be a great night of discussion and music. American singer/songwriter Brian Seymour (an indie artist if there ever was one) is in town for a one-night "traveling session" -- from 7-9 pm he'll discuss his craft in workshop form and then after 9 he'll perform. Also, performing tonight are Ferris Wheel (摩天轮), one of Shanghai's top young bands.

Here is how organizers described the evening:

Traveling Sessions, founded by American Singer/Songwriter Brian Seymour, comprises a series of workshops designed at fostering cultural exchange and creative collaboration. Three sessions will take place in Chinese cities with growing music scenes: Shanghai, Tianjin, and Beijing. Each event will begin with a documented workshop open to Chinese writers and musicians to be followed by a live performance highlighting the collaboration that results from the workshop.

We confirmed with those "in the know" that the evening is open to anyone, not just "Chinese writers and musicians." And we have been told a translator will be on hand to make the "cultural exchange" part a little easier. Tonight's festivities are totally free.

You can check out some of Seymour's music here. Seymour is based in Philadelphia and his song "I Go Happy" was recently featured in a Pennsylvania tourism ad campaign (watch the ad here). "I Go Happy" was in the running to be the slogan used on the official Pennsylvania bumper sticker, but it lost out to "I break for Shoofly Pie." If unlike Shanghaiist, you didn't grow up in the Keystone State, you may need some explanation for that phrase -- you can find it here. And, for the record, shoofly pie is damn good.