Hop changes to Yue and more music news

Due to multiple requests (total of two, and one was me) here is more golden week festival news. The previously mention Hop Festival has gotten an official name...so....let it hence forth be referred to as the Yue Festival. Ticket prices are set at 140rmb for students, 280rmb advanced purchase and 360rmb at the gate. Rock-ing has also released their ticket prices and they range from 280-880 depending on how special you want to feel. For those who are worried about getting to Zhujiajiao and back to see the 1234 Beach Rock Festival, your sleepless nights are over! Promoters have promised to keep the complimentary shuttle buses running to Shanghai Stadium late into the night. Shanghai isn't the only Chinese city to catch festival fever. Modern Sky in Beijing will also be hosting a 3 day festival at Haidian Park that first week in October. Rumored headliners are the Yeah Yeah Yeah's and Mogwai. We will keep our ear to the underground and keep you updated on the freshest festival news (aren't we clever? we can string words that rhyme into sentences!).

Now to what is happening this weekend in live music.

Friday things are a bit slow. But that is a good thing. This is your chance to check out the regular gigs by resident musicians that are always passed over in favor of concerts featuring bands just passing through town. One night stands might be fun (full of STD’s), but we can't forget about the mistress that is always there for those nights when we can't find other action. Etienne is one of our favorites; with magic hands (on the guitar) he holds regular gigs on Friday nights at Labella Cafe. Within easy walk of Labella are both the JZ club (jazz) and Cotton Club (blues), both of which have amazing house bands. 4Live has also started hosting a regular "Blender" night, with the Ekram Brothers and the Funk Big Band. So, enjoy a night with your steady music venue mistress (see we are rhyming again!), because on Saturday there are some hot, hot one night'ers.
Coolio, a well known rapper for any of us who grew up in the 90's, will be performing during the finale of the Bonbon Club Beach Honey competition. Not normally a fan of Bonbon we are tempted to make the trip for a fantastic voyage (get it?) into nostalgia land. Of course we are rockers at heart and the 1234 Beach Rock Festival preview party at 4Live is going to be insane. Beijing nu-metal band AK-47 will be joined by old school punkers Brain Failure and Shanghai darlings Top Floor Circus, Crazy Mushrooms and Mortal Fools. This show will be huge, so prepare for 4 hours of near non-stop moshing.

Friday - August 17th
Etienne - Labella Cafe - 10pm (free)
Blender - 4Live - 10pm (free)

Saturday - August 18th
Coolio - Bonbon Club - 10pm (120rmb/open bar)
AK-47, Brain failure and TFC - 4Live - 8pm (60rmb)
University Punk Night - Live Bar - 9pm

Bonbon - 1329 Huaihai Zhonglu, 淮海中路1329号，云海大厦2楼
4Live - Bridge 8, 8 Jianguo Zhonglu, No. 78号桥- 建国中路8号7号楼
JZ Club - 46 Fuxing Lu, by Yongfu Lu, 复兴路46号, 近永福路
Labella - 127 Yongfu Lu, 永福路127号，近复兴路和淮海中路