Weekendist: Jazz festivals, birthdays and much much more!
This weekend seems to be a strong mix of intellectual stimulation coupled with a healthy dose of partying.
First off, you probably know already, but the JZ Music Festival will run this entire weekend. After Dee Dee Bridgewater rocks it at Yunfeng Theater tonight, the festival will bring together a host of different artists and bands for a huge gathering in Century Park on Saturday and Sunday.
Besides that, there will also be a multitude of speakers coming to Shanghai (to discuss controversial theories about China's past and what its future will look like), and we'll celebrate the birthdays of one of our favorite bar spots (Cotton's!), one of Shanghai's funnest DJ groups (Uprooted Sunshine!) and the start of a Shanghai chapter for one of our favorite charitable initiatives during college (Habitat for Humanity!).
Friday: Gavin Menzies + Pecha Kucha + Uprooted Sunshine + JZ Music Festival
The Chinese discovered America before Columbus? Sparked the Renaissance by traveling to Italy in 1434? These are just some of the ideas that have been postulated by "historian" Gavin Menzies, the author of "1421: The Year China Discovered the World" and "1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance." Catch the author discussing his radical theories for one last night.
7pm-8pm. David F. Rittmann Fine Arts Center, Concordia International School Shanghai. 999 Mingyue Lu, Jinqiao. No cover.
Pecha Kucha night is back, this time in a renovated water pump factory. The theme will be public space: its true meaning and possibilities for the future. The forum has ten speakers presenting 20 slides for 20 seconds each, or six minutes and forty seconds per speaker. This forum takes topics, discusses them, and tries to see what they will be like in the future.
8:30pm-9:30pm. 800SHOW. Building 1, 800 Changde Lu. No Cover.
The Uprooted Sunshine party turns four and celebrates with Japanese drummers Zenmala Jalama and surprise guests. They'll also be dropping their first EP at the bash. Head on over to Shelter to check out on the surprises they have in store!
9pm-till Late. The Shelter. 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Lu (永福路5号 近复兴路). 40 RMB cover.
Saturday: Ink on the Run Art Show + Cotton's One Year Anniversary + Sssighborggg
This Saturday is the start of the Ink on the Run exhibition at Art Scene Warehouse. The diverse range of art on show demonstrates the full range of the artistic dialogue between new and classic. The abstract forms of enigmatic artist Li Xi evoke both traditional and conceptual notions of ink painting. Contemporary artist Liu Yan plays on our conservative associations of the medium by painting hybrid ancient/modern scenes. Yang Moyin’s delicate paintings bring to mind traditional Chinese painting, yet use acrylic on canvas.
10am-6:30pm. Art Scene Warehouse. 2/F, Bldg No 4B, 50 Moganshan Road. No Cover. This show runs from 10/17/2009-10/31/2009.
One of our favorite venues will be celebrating its one year anniversary on Saturday. The 100% Cotton Anniversary will feature an open bar from 6pm-9pm and the dress code is 100% cotton. Come out to see DJs Pinstripe Brown and Levi spin and maybe have a gin fizz or two.
6pm-9pm. Cotton. 294 Xinhua Lu near Fanyu Lu (新华路294号 近番禺路). No Cover.
Korean band Sssighborgg and Scottish DJ/producer Slick 50 pair up for a night of live music, math rock, danger jazz, smooth grooves and freestyling. Supporting acts include the Antidote DJs and more. Entrance 30 RMB, worth it to see a band dress like Star Wars' Sand People consumed by pond scum.
9pm-till Late. LOgO. 13 Xingfu Lu near Fahuazhen Lu. 30 RMB Cover.
Sunday: Absolutely Positive + Habitat for Humanity
Absolutely Positive (USA,1991) is a film about 11 individuals sharing their stories about living with AIDS. Described as "neither depressing nor maudlin; a disarming, often funny film," it is particularly appropriate as AIDS is increasing rapidly in China, and HIV-positive individuals face great stigmatization. Check out the film and some discussion afterwards.
4pm-6pm. Cinema of Truth. Rm. 411, Bldg 11, 696 Weihai Lu near Maoming Bei Lu (威海路696号11号楼411室 近茂名北路). 10 RMB Cover.
Shanghai's chapter of Habitat for Humanity celebrates its inauguration at Glamour Bar. Come and learn about the organization's efforts to end poverty housing in Asia, mingle with its community of supporters, and see what projects they are working on in response to the recent natural disasters across the continent.
3pm-5pm. The Glamour Bar. 6/F, 5 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu,near Guangdong Lu 中山东一路5号6楼 近广东路. No Cover.
Photo from Ink on the Run Exhibition