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 ›

Andrew Bird, playing for the first time ever in China to a sold out crowd at Zhijiang Dream Factory. In one of the few times he engaged in stage banter during the two hour long set (impressive!), he commented, "[Shanghai] seems like it could be a real tough place to live." Indeed. more ›

A few weeks ago the metro stop at People's Square was turned from a bastion of commercialism into a moving display of environmental art. Check out the large installation, which featured work designed for the China Environmental Protection Foundation, and wish it was there instead of Haibao looming at you. [China Environmental Blog] more ›

Oh happy day! After the Handsome Furs came and left, we didn't think we'd be hit by another act we'd look forward to so gleefully so soon. But now our sources at Split! have told us that - barring any weird visa issues/sudden changes in show regulations - ANDREW BIRD will be heading here in late January 2010. YES! more ›

Dancers from near and far came to the three-day Shanghai Salsa Festival at Zhijiang Dream Factory last weekend-including headliners Cubamemucho, who incorporated machetes and bongo drums into their spirited performance. more ›

Another week, another great spat of live music here in Shanghai - and this time around, there's a good mix of electro indiepop, hip hop, synthy stuff and some punk on the side. YYT, like usual, dominates the weekend with Yuguo on Friday and a rock-filled Sexy Animal Party on Saturday. more ›

Shanghai experienced an electric night of punk rock this past Saturday as Carsick Cars and P.K.14 shared a stage with Brooklyn-based These Are Powers at Zhijiang Dream Factory. After Carsick Cars sampled some songs from their new album, show-goers were surprised to find These Are Powers playing, leaving P.K.14 to headline the show. Regardless of lineup, all three bands delivered an intense show in the Factory that was gritty, energetic and altogether rocking. more ›

In a music industry complicated by media censorship, internet piracy, and a mainstream aversion to anything outside of mando-pop, PK14 is refreshingly honest. When asked how the band handles such political and commercial pressures, front man Yang Haisong replied “we just write what we feel like writing.” Yang's approach to music is not complicated by external pressures but rather by his own motivation to say what he feels needs to be said. more ›

So if last weekend was all about local bands for local people, this weekend is dominated by wai di ren. Whether it's "ghost punks" from some little hamlet in the US of A, northern monkeys from the capital or a band from the harmonious region of Xinjiang, there's a distinct outsider flavour to the next couple of 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 ›

Some of us, due to extenuating circumstances, were unable to make it to the Ratatat show - which is just as well, we heard it was completely and totally sold out (and gosh, wouldn't it have sucked to be turned away at the door?). But the internet has brought us some condolence in the form of this really sweet video by Shanghai-based American designer Abram Hodgens - the entire Ratatat performance, with supporting acts, compressed into less than 3 minutes. Fascinating! more ›

It's going to be an artsy rest of the week. Besides the busy weekend - where you can choose between going to the Antidote Electronic Music Festival or the Cut&Paste arts competition - there's a couple things to make sure your weekday nights are just as crazy. more ›

DnB promoters Phreaktion are celebrating their 10th year in Asia on Friday (they blew the candles out on their 3rd year in Shanghai last November) and to make sure this birthday's extra-special, they've booked the biggest name in Drum and Bass - Andy C. more ›

We remember how psyched we were when we first got our hands on Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), so we're absolutely thrilled at this piece of news: Ghostface Killah is coming to Shanghai on June 14 (after stopping over in Beijing the day before)! And even better, he wants local talent to share his bill with him. So if you're an MC or DJ or singer with aspirations to open for one of the biggest acts in hip hop, head to the Douban/Splitworks contest site. Competition begins on May 14 and will end on June 9. more ›

More photos on the Shanghaiist Contribute page. To see your photos on our Contribute page, use Flickr and tag your photos “shanghaiist”. Or you can email your photos to photos@shanghaiist.com and they will automatically appear on our site (and here). more ›

Yes, we know we just went through one festival, but we can't help getting a little psyched for the next one already. 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."

With support from Mr. Particle, LAVA/OX/SEA and AV Okubo, New York experimental rockers Battles celebrated a raucous end to their Asia tour with an amazing act at the Zhijiang Dream Factory on Saturday. We've bet you've never experienced an Earth Hour like this one. Thanks again to Split Works for bringing them all the way over here. more ›

Sure, you could always just stay at home tonight, turn out your lights at exactly 8:30pm and then wait around an hour before you declare yourself a good environmental citizen and go back to your regular life - or you could recognize the whole movement for what it really is: a way to feel a part of something bigger than yourself with like-minded people... and an excuse to get drunk in the dark! So here's a couple places to chug a few in the name of Mother Gaia. more ›

Battles consists of four men with long histories in music making: Tyondai Braxton, son of alterna-jazz musician Anthony Braxton, has worked with hip hop producer Guillermo Scott Herren and noise rockers Parts & Labor. Ian Williams is originally from Pittsburgh math rock pioneers Don Caballero, and also played in noise rock trio Storm & Stress. Dave Konopka, guitarist and bassist, brings the rhythmically complex guitar style of his previous band Lynx into the equation. Veteran of the hardcore scene John Stanier used to play for Helmet - now, when he's not drumming for Battles, he fills out alterna-metal rock supergroup Tomahawk and Australian hard rock band The Mark of Cain more ›

The Young Knives — all the way from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire — with support from local bands Boys Climbing Ropes and The Sonnet at Shanghai's Zhijiang Dream Factory on Friday, March 6. Thanks to Split for another great night of live music! 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 ›

Turntablism, also known as scratching, started as an integral part of hip hop in the 80s and has expanded into numerous other genres. At its basic level, turntablism involves manipulating a record and crossfader to create quick chops, fades, cuts, and stutters in the music. True artists juggle beats back and forth, switching between numerous songs at lightning-fast speed. Not only does it sound amazing, it's also extremely badass to watch a DJ manipulate a record in his own fashion and create an entirely new piece of music on the fly. more ›