Cutting edge music comes to Shanghai this Saturday night when the "King of UK bass music", Neil Landstrumm, performs live with local undergound techno crew, VOID. Shanghaiist caught up with the Edinburgh native on the eve of his second visit to the city, to hear his thoughts on the current electronic music scene, the differences between Shanghai and New York, noodles, faceless techno bollocks, adrenalin-pumping live electronics, and jelly botties. 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 ›

Looks like Pepsi Co.'s bringing that old tradition of “Battle of the Bands” to China in a big way - the soft drink maker is hosting a mega reality show and its inviting all Chinese “underground” rock bands to participate. more ›

November has been a good month for live music and this Saturday the Subs are back in town to finish off the month in style with a show at the Zhi Jiang Dream Factory. Deemed the best live band in China by many magazine scribes, their moshes are a good way to escape the cold winter chill that will no doubt engulf the open roofed Hongkou Stadium during the Kylie Minogue concert. Joining the Subs are one of the most talked about new Beijing bands, the Molds, and depending on who you talk with sound similar to the Cramps or Jesus and Mary Chain...either way Shanghaiist is getting excited. If you can't wait till Saturday for some live action, head to Yuyintang on Friday where the Molds will be playing with Rogue Transmission and Loudspeaker. more ›

This weekend is fairly dead as far as indie live music goes. The one show we recommend people checking out is the Defys, a rockabilly band from Beijing, who will be playing at Yuyintang tonight. Joining them on stage will be Sonnet, a very promising Shanghai band featured in City Weekend's last issue. We also hear that You Mei You, also from Beijing, might be on the lineup. Fans of reggae should head to Anar where Wang Lei will be performing. 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 ›