How unfortunate is it that of all shows for the power to blow out on in Shanghai, it had to be Brett Anderson's? While we in the West barely remember Suede, it seems China still has a hankering for their smoldering tunes - the show sold out of its 400 presale tickets within a day! All that means is that, in the end, there were at least 400 disappointed fans. more ›

We here at Shanghaiist have been fans of Caribou (official site) since our very first year of existence (and even before Shanghaiist existed and Caribou was known as Manitoba). So we hope to see a bunch of you tonight at the Dream Factory for what should be a great show. more ›

In 2007, three friends sat down together at local dive bar C’s and decided to take a proactive role in changing a part of Shanghai night life important to the them: the underground music scene. Three short years later and S.T.D. - the music promotional team that bar talk birthed - has become one of the very best in Shanghai. more ›

Every Friday, Weekendist brings you our picks of the best of what's coming in the next three days. more ›

These Are Powers, an American collaboration between ex-Liars bassist Pat Noecker, singer Anna Barie and drummer/producer Bill Salas will be hitting Zhijiang Dream Factory as part of a Maybe Mars lineup with P.K.14 and Carsick Cars on Saturday. more ›

Two months on from Soma's controversial deal with the Dream Factory, it seems the local record label are preparing to pull the plug on their arrangements with Zhijiang and instead combine with one of Beijing's premier livehouses to create MAO Shanghai. more ›

There's not exactly tumbleweed blowing through Shanghai's live music venues this weekend, but it's fair to say that compared to the steady steam of bands we've had in recent months, this weekend seems a quiet one. Of course, Torturing Nurse's NOIShanghai show will ensure it is anything but, while SOMA are bringing together some of the city's brightest young bands tonight. more ›

Last week was so packed with great live music that this weekend looks pretty tame by comparison. Not that the city's music venues are resting on their laurels for long. Once punk legends Sham 69 have finished up their set, you'll be just a few short days away from visits by AV Okubo in support of the excellent Ratatat, Gay Fish favourites Carsick Cars (who'll be bringing The Gar back to town too), and Casino Demon as they release their new album. Not bad. But first thing's first - this weekend: more ›

Decisions, decisions. Time was, choosing your live music for the night in Shanghai was easy: you headed to Yuyintang, occasionally the Dream Factory if there was something big on. Maybe, if you were into something a bit different, you'd head out to Live Bar. Generally speaking though, there was one stand out gig on a weekend and it was a pretty straightforward choice. Well, no more, if this weekend is anything to go by. We're not saying this is a brave new world yet, just that we hope it's a sign of things to come. If it is, picking your weekend gigs is going to get a lot tougher. But don't you dare go complaining that there's too many options. more ›

Update: Oops! Sorry, just realised that Torturing Nurse show is on Saturday not Sunday! more ›

Recent shows have got people talking about whether Shanghai needs another dedicated live music venue in addition to the city's current home of rock Yuyintang. Soma seem to think so, but their decision to make a deal with the owners of Zhijiang Dream Factory has caused waves in the local music scene and some fairly heated debate. more ›

"If a different promoter wants to use the venue they will now have to either split the ticket sales 50-50 or pay 15 000 rmb up front. This essentially cuts out the majority of other music promoters and makes the venue their own."

Bam! Bam! Bam! Nope, that's not the sound of Midi hopes being quashed, it's the sound of three straight weekends of great gigs coming your way. Forget all that tiresome festival nonsense and look forward to Battles this weekend, the brilliant Hard Queen next Saturday and then Hedgehog promoting their new album the weekend after. more ›

This week's big music story in Shanghai has clearly been the Oasis debacle (even if some people insist on misreporting it). Local music hacks have really gone to town on the British theme, cracking out puns like they were auditioning for a job with The Sun and even indulging in some classic tabloid-style "exclusive" wars and bitchiness. more ›

It was raunchy and raw, rockin' and raucous... and now it's over. The two night line up this weekend started out on Friday with Shanghai-based pop-rockers Pinkberry, DJ Sacco and an amazing set from Beijing's Demerit - easily one of the best bands on the alternative scene right now. And on Saturday, Maybe Mars outdid themselves, bringing us AV Okubo, Snapline, Ourself Beside Me and Carsick Cars. Special thanks to Split Works for bringing us two weeks of artistic mayhem. Please sir, may we have another? more ›

In checking out the Facebook page for Split Works, the promoters bringing Jens Lekman to China, we noticed the other acts Split has lined up. Here they are (with Shanghai dates/venues in parentheses): Roxy Cottontail (Dec. 4?/TBD), South Rakkas Crew (Jan. 8/Shelter), Future of the Left (Jan. 16/Dream Factory), Jose Gonzalez (Feb./TBD). more ›

With the Olympics winding down, the underground gigs seem to be finally picking up. We still aren't sure what is going on at Yuyintang, their webpage isn't loading and the message they were sending out on Facebook was vague on when they were planning to re-open. Yesterday we text-messaged them regarding The Gar, who were scheduled to play tonight and YYT confirmed the gig was still on. Shanghaiist plans on showing up tonight, but with all the uncertainty we might be the only ones. Also, tonight at Live Bar they are going back to the blues with Plastic Shell and more. more ›

Following the explosive opening weekend at Windows Tembo and another great Subs performance the scene is still buzzing with activity and expectation. One side effect appears to be hype and punditry getting in earlier than usual so Shanghaiist does not want to be left out. more ›

The weekend has arrived and with Chinese New Year looming things have gotten much quieter on the live music front. Friday night Club 8 and Pelle Carlberg, both from Sweden, will bring their pop sound to the crowds at the Shanghai Concert Hall. It had been scheduled for the Dream Factory but due to lack of a proper live music license has been moved. Shanghaiist's interest in this show has been piqued by the oddly high ticket prices. Advanced tickets are selling for 200rmb while those who don't plan ahead (that would be us) can expect to pay 250rmb at the door. Is this band really worth it? Well, we are curious to find out. If you aren't willing to shell out the hefty door fee then we suggest you check out the 9th edition of Pecha Kucha being held at the Living Design Center. Might not include live music, but will definitely stimulate your mind. Either Bai Yun (folk) or Kidney Stone (covers of hard rock) will be playing out at Live Bar... or maybe they are playing together, been getting different information from different people. more ›

It was inevitable. A week into the New Year and we are already saying goodbye to one of the city's few venues for underground bands. 4Live limped to a close last night after a year of struggling to make it promoting live music in the city of turntables (and laptops). Opening as a beacon of hope for those interested in the underground music scene the venue was plagued by internal management problems and an identity crisis that lead to its demise. Lucky for us that both Live Bar and Yuyintang are going strong with regular gigs, while Logo (despite a crap sound system) and the Dream Factory still hold random shows. Also rumored to be testing the live music waters is the Shelter. It seems that no matter how far under the ground you push it, the scene manages to survive. more ›

Yet another weekend has arrived, and seems a lot of people have been talking about the opening of the Shelter. They are holding a 'soft opening' tonight and hosting Dex, from the Underground Resistance, tomorrow. For those of you who are in the mood for more of a visual than some dude spinning on the decks (or laptop), there are plenty of live shows to choose from. Just down the street from the Shelter are... more ›

Even though today might be Friday, for many of us it isn't the start of the weekend. With the upcoming National Day vacation period approaching, many people are stuck in their offices over the weekend to make up for the extended break. This has carried over into the live music scene, with only a few note worthy shows before the craziness that starts next week. The Jazz it Up week of music continues with a performance tonight by the Shanghai Music Conservatory Jazz band. Out at I Love Shanghai, Didgeridoo lover, Didjelirium will perform, backed by DJ Michael Dean. Things start to pick up on Saturday with the 8th installment of the Back to the Roots party, a must see for any fan of hip-hop, soul or funk. CMCB those, Linkin' Park-esque, rappers from Beijing will be playing out at the Dream Factory. If watching and listening to a man blow on an object made out of brass (or maybe some other metal) is your thing, then don't miss Bob Mintzer and the All-star band who will be wrapping up the Jazz it Up festival on Saturday night. Mintzer is an astounding saxophonist and will be joined on stage by a multitude of Grammy award winners. more ›

As yet another weekend descends upon Shanghai, we have been contemplating what shows to report and why. Simple fact; if someone takes the time to tell us about it, then we will almost always take the time to write about it (unless it really sucks). more ›

Video of Blind Stereo MV more ›

Slow weekend for music, lucky for us the bands that are playing (Live Earth is the exception) are worth seeing. This is the weekend for concerts dedicated to raising environmental awareness, accomplished by plugging in watt hungry amps and singing about sex and beer. On Friday Recycle a pop punk band, less pop more punk, will be joined by old school punkers Loudspeaker and garage rock favorites Banana Monkey at 4Live. On Saturday PK-14 (Public Kingdom for Teens) an amazing post-punk band from Beijing marks their return to Shanghai for the first time in over 1 1/2 years with two shows. Celebrating their launch of environmentally-inspired tees (proceeds of which will go to charity) the clothing shop ENO gets things rocking at 4pm with July 16th a garage rock band from Nanjing, Boojii the Shanghai Shoegazer band and the cat's meaow....PK-14. For those who can't get enough of them at the afternoon show (that should be everyone!), PK-14 will also be playing Saturday night at the Dream Factory. If great post-punk music isn't your thing then plenty of cheesy pop music will be available at the official Live Earth concert being held under the Oriental Pearl Tower (not exactly the most environmentally friendly of buildings). more ›

For those of you who aren't quite ready to prance around in a swimming suit showing off your pasty white, jell-o like spare tire, don't fret there are plenty of quality bands playing in the dimly lit bars where t-shirts are required. The Scoff an energetic (pogo friendly) garage band from Beijing will headline the 2nd installment of 4live's Young Beijing series. At Live bar, Boys Climbing Ropes celebrate the arrival of summer with a final show before 2 members head back to Canada for vacation. If that wasn't enough to keep you busy on a Friday night, Pirates Bar is throwing its hat in the ring with Electronicat and amazing, one man electro/noise pop band from Europe. Saturday the Go Team! will be strutting their stuff at Absolute house, Rock It will be in full swing and for those of you into something a little quieter, the Dream Factory is holding an acoustic guitar night. For those of you into hip-hop or Dj's with skill (not the laptop variety) then head to 4Live for the DMC championship. more ›

(Wan Xiao Li at the Beer & Rock Festival) more ›

Oh, the fun of Friday nights. After putting back a few drinks at the Shanghaiist party or SCAA charity dinner, a night of great music (Beijing bands) lies ahead. more ›

Shanghaiist loves launch parties. Who wouldn't? Free beer, free gifts and great music (usually). Last Friday, ENO, in celebration of their new line of clothes hosted DJ V-Nutz, DJ Tsang along with local rappers Redstar and Kensho Kuma. We showed up for the free drinks and products, but stayed for the music. On Saturday, after sleeping off a massive hangover, we made it back to ENO to see Banana Monkey and the Deadly Vibes tear up the joint ... fueled by more of that free beer! A good performance (ENO still needs to invest in suitable amps and a vocal monitor), everyone was excited for the show at the Dream Factory where the Deadly Vibes and Banana Monkey were joined by local foreign favorites Boys Climbing Ropes. more ›

Shanghaiist is looking forward to another weekend of live music and even though there are no big name bands in town, we are happy to save all that money on entrance fees and buy what matters most: beer! more ›