If you fancy yourself a punker, pretend to be a punk, or just like watching punks, then the 1234 Beach Rock Festival, is a dream (possibly wet) come true. Scheduled for the 20th and 21st of this month, the 1234 BRF is bringing together some of China's best punk/skinhead bands and adding a sprinkle of international flavor. Included in the line up are well known Chinese punk bands: the Unsafe, SMZB and Misandao, while Shanghai will be represented by local favorites Banana Monkey, Loudspeaker, the Mortal Fools and Muscle Snog. There will also be over a dozen other Chinese bands traveling here from Nanjing, Beijing, Wuhan and Xian to take part in this festival. International acts (as of today) are Cheb Samir and The Black Souls of Leviathan, Skip Jensen, Anti-Clockwise and MIMY. more ›

So everyone is reporting what we warned you about. Here's what the AP said: more ›

The Black Eyed Peas (BEP). What can be said? It was energetic (on their part, but not necessarily on the audience's part). The first half (which lasted around an hour) saw them trotting out the radio hits, a mixture of songs from Elephunk and Monkey Business with some covers throw in. Maybe it was our seats, but it often seemed as if much of the intricacies of the polished, highly produced BEP sound were lost somewhere in the rafters -- everything seemed a bit muddled. more ›

We're no prudes here at Shanghaiist. We've seen the dancing poles at Blue Angel. We've been propositioned by local ladies passing in the street (as recently as last week, in the dairy section of the Fresh Mart at Jing'an City Plaza). Admittedly, though, we're yet to experience a stage full of male strippers. more ›