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Beijing DNB Action in August 2008
Long time no update! Sorry about that, it's a been a combination of no time to make updates, and nothing to make updates about ... if that makes sense ... I think it does ...
Anyway, for those still in Beijing, those visiting Beijing (ahoy!), and those hoping to get back to Beijing after sorting out another visa, I bring news of the dnb action in Beijing for August.
But before you read about that, start downloading the new Syndicate podcast! - right-click > Save As to download (substitute equivalent for Mac users), or click it to stream (your mileage may vary) - download Syndicate Podcast 4
First up, merry pranksters The Syndicate get in on the oh-hey-it's-the-Olympics action with Golden Greats at White Rabbit on Saturday the 9th. DJs on the night are Blackie, D-Rail, Elemental, Mael, LYDNB, and Japanese import XXXXX, with MC Terra-D plus others speaking into the microphone at opportune times. Music-wise, it's mostly straight-up dnb, with a little dubstep and old-school jungle thrown in for good measure.
50RMB will get you inside, it kicks off 11pm, and we'll see how White Rabbit's late-night tendencies fare against the rumoured 2am no-fun-allowed curfew. You can get directions to the club on the City Weekend White Rabbit page.
And then, later in the month (date TBC), Blink Events' popular Sunday's on Top series has moved to Yin Bar, and Blackie will be doing the musical equivalent of going on like a drunken uncle at a wedding and playing dnb amidst the regular house beats provided by Patrick Yu. Not sure where Yin Bar is, but I hear it's got a very nice rooftop. So that'll be on a Sunday, obviously, and like I say I'll let you know the date when I find out. The Sunday's on Top parties things normally start around 4pm and have been known to go on until Monday morning - you might find more information about it on the Blink website.
Greening the Beige 2008 / Kemukujara
Greening the Beige Opening Night July 11th
"Greening the Beige (www.greeningthebeige.org) is an eco-minded art collective aiming to green the urban culture of Beijing. In order to do this, they've inducted The Syndicate's very own Blackie for his assistance on the decks for his alternative energy resources. Blackie goes green on the opening night of GtB08 at Yu Gong Yi Shan (www.yugongyishan). 50 rmb general / 30 rmb students."
This can be roughly translated as "Blackie is playing a dnb set at the opening party of Greening the Beige 2008, Friday July 11th, at Club Yugongyishan." His set is at 2am, but the opening party begins at 8:30 with speeches, performances, photo exhibitions, and a short film, before getting to the DJs (Patrick Yu, Flo Eysler, Mr Soon, Blackie). 50RMB to get in (30RMB for students).
Greening the Stage July 12th
On the Saturday night there's more Greening the Beige action at Yugongyishan - one of the bands playing is Junglecat, well known for their stylistic mashup of musical influences. They've got a few tunes in a drum and bass style, and their drummer can certainly pull off dnb beats at high tempo. If that sounds like something you'd like, get down there and check it - they're on at 10pm, there are speeches, short films, and trick-biking before that, another band after, and photo exhibitions to look at as well. 50RMB to get in (30RMB for students).
Greening the Beige is a week-long collection of events with a green theme (Photo and painting exhibitions, installations, short films, talks & lectures, and plenty more), held at a variety of venues around Beijing. You can find out lots more at their website www.greeningthebeige.org. Get out and have a look, interesting stuff organised by good people.
Busy night on Friday, with some dnb sets from recent arrivals to Beijing at Club Entero. 30RMB to get in (includes a free drink), dnb sets from Lydnb of Tianjin, and (rumoured) DJ Asayo from Japan. Club Entero is at 1 Xinyuan Li, Xindong Lu. I think Xinyuan Li is the thin street that runs between Chunxiu Lu and Xindong Lu, north end of the alley with Red Rose and Alpha. You can call 13621350904 for more info about the place, there are DJs playing funk, reggae, and techno on the night as well..
THE BUG vs. SYNDICATE vs. BAICAI
In short, Ninjatune and Rephlex Records recording artist The Bug is touring to promote his new CD London Zoo; he's making a stop at White Rabbit on Friday June 4th to play a set of his ragga/dubstep/crazy-shit music; and he's been thrown right in the middle of the monthly Syndicate vs. Baicai battle.
It will be 60RMB on the door, starts 10pm (11, more likely), support comes from Flo Eysler, Mr Soon (Baicai), Mael, Blackie, D-Rail, Elemental (The Syndicate). Jing DNB Mailing list dudes and dudettes keep an eye out for some giveaway action this week.
Set times
10.30-12: Flo Eysler
12-1: Elemental
1-2: Blackie and D-Rail
2-3.30: The Bug
3.30-4.30: Mael vs Saul
4.30-end: Mr Soon
ALSO
The Monday Re:Tox thing at Alpha has been canned, so don't go down there;
and, there was some sort of mis-understanding about the entrance thing for the Concord Dawn party last week. My email said it was going to be 50RMB to get in, and that it was going to include a free drink. No free drinks were on offer though, bugger. Good party but?!
Concord Dawn at China Doll
There have been plenty of international dnb visitors to Beijing over the last few months - up next, from New Zealand production duo Concord Dawn, we have Matt ... err ... Concord. Not to be confused with the TV thing Flight of the Conchords, of course. For more Concord Dawn information, check out their website)
The details, for you: China Doll (Tongli one), Thursday June 26th, from 10pm or so; 50RMB on the door, price includes a free drink; warming up is Mael, playing a dubstep set; Elemental will play a dnb set to close; there's a graffiti show happening (early on); New Zealanders get in for free (if you can prove it), alternatively, rock up wearing a NZ sports jersey (bonus style points for the beige '80s cricket outfit) and you're in with a grin.
Now that there are two China Dolls you'll need to make sure you get to the right one, or you'll be facing an evening of steady electro-house. To catch Concord Dawn in session, get to the original China Doll location, 2nd floor in Tongli Studios, Sanlitun.
This just in,
Junglecat plus Dead J, Pet Conspiracy, and DJ Munki Paul at Yugongyishan for International Day Against Drugs. Junglecat are a live band that play a mixture of jazz, breaks, and dnb (or what they call electronalogue) and are well known for putting on a good show; Dead J plays awesome dubby minimal bleepy sets of original material; and I'm not sure about the others except that the lead singer of Pet Conspiracy is supposed to be pretty smoking.
Starts at 9:30, 30RMB on the door, Club Yugongyishan (a little bit west of the Zhangzizhong Subway Station on line 5)
Also
Blackie has got a set at the Great Wall Beach Party on the 28th. More info about that at www.greatwallbeachparty.com.
Mael and Elemental at Alpha's Monday Re:tox, a sort of anything-goes chillout-continuation of the weekend. Alpha is up the alley opposite of the north gate of Workers' Stadium, past Xinjiang Red Rose. 9pm-12ish.
Blame / Syndicate vs. Baicai
Well hey, look at all this stuff - more international visitors, another of the excellent Syndicate vs. Baicai parties, plus more news of upcoming action in a variety of places. (And now with extra Syndicate Podcast Episode 3 download link.).
Syndicate Podcast Episode 3
This episode is again hosted by Blackie and D-Rail, and features a mix-set and chat from Elemental, plus a cameo from Syndicate Dan.
The webserver guys said the problem was the network between China and the US, the network-between-here-and-the-US guys said ... well I'm not too sure exactly what they said but no doubt they were pointing fingers at the webserver guys. Anyway...
First in line with the let's-rock-out-in-Beijing is Blame, a producer with old school cred untarnished by any sort of falling off type activities. From the proto-dnb classics on Moving Shadow, the atmospheric business on early Good Looking, to the more tech stuff on 720, and some smashers on Charge and Metalheadz, he's been doing his thing long-term, and is rated as a properly good DJ.
He'll play China Doll on Thursday the 12th of June. Blackie and D-Rail are on the support lineup, music starts around 11, it's free to get in before 12, an-n-n-n-n-nd you get 2-for-1 drinks between 10 and 12. How about that?
Here's the small print from the flyer:
Blame is one of the most innovative producers on the drum & bass scene - an accolade hard won over years of consistently breaking musical boundaries in an attempt to bring true innovation to the music that he loves. He’s been around from the beginning, and has released music on some of the biggest labels in the scene.
In recent years Blame’s hard work and skills have gained him a steadily rising profile, both as producer and as a DJ. Besides running his own imprint 720 Degrees, Blame has built strong bonds with Goldie’s label Metalheadz, and Charge Rec., both highly respected, yet different labels, showing once more Blame’s versatility.
As a DJ, Blame enjoys a reputation of excellent technical skills and extreme professionalism. This, combined with simply being one of the nicest characters in the scene, has lead to many invitations from promoters for him to return to their events.
There you go ... and on to the next.
Rumour has it that Baicai got the award for Best Beijing Promoters in the City Weekend Readers Choice Awards, and The Syndicate got Editors Pick in the same category. Did they deserve it? Is there jealousy between the two rival crews, or are they still Best Friends Forever? Get down to their next party and find out!
The party is on Saturday June 14th, starts at 11pm or so, and will cost 50RMB on the door. House and techno in the upstairs room, with dnb downstairs in the White Room.
On the drum and bass side of things you've got Blackie, Mael, Kay C, Shiva, and Sara C to check out, while Baicai have selected Flo Eysler and the Deep Space Mafia. It's looking like your last chance to see Sara C spin in Beijing, in itself a good reason to get down there.
Also upcoming
NZ dnb legends Concord Dawn at China Doll June 26 (just one of them but)
DJ Blackie has got a set at "The Beach Party," on June 28 (more info to come about that)
Elemental gets a guest set at Mael and Otra's Monday night Re:tox session at Alpha on June 30
Right, so there's plenty to keep you busy in Beijing next few month (if you can sort out the visa of course!). Shouts to everyone that came out to the charity thing at Tango last week, and also to all those who got stuck into the vodka at China Doll the night after that.
Subwave / ESS / Charity
To quote the flyer, "A series of nights partnering the finest in local Chinese and Chinese based producers and DJ's with key figures from other major electronic music scenes from around the work."
So, the lineup for the first of this series: local lad Meng Qi will truck in the equipment for his live set; top Russian dnb DJs/producers Subwave and Electrosoul System will both be playing DJ sets; and Blackie and D-Rail will be finishing things off for the early crew.
The deal: the party is on Thursday May 29; it will start sometime between 10-11pm; the cost is 50RMB before 12 midnight, 100RMB after; you get free vodka (?!) all night (for the authentic Russian feel I suppose?); t-shirts from indie brand Floso will be on sale at discount prices; and people that get there early will have a chance to get a piece of a D-Rail canvas.
ESS and Subwave are certainly two to check, coming through with releases on some big, big labels in the last year or so - should be a good night, watch the vodka though!
Also, on Wednesday the 28th there's a charity marathon at Tango, featuring DJs and VJs from the o2culture, Syndicate, Propaganda Unit, Baicai, SOS, Acupuncture crews. Starts at 8pm, finishes around 5am,and all doorsales and half all of the bar take is being donated to help people affected by the earthquake in Sichuan. Get in there and buy a few drinks, all for a good cause. (the Syndicate guys are on 11:00-12:00)
And if you didn't notice the link to the Syndicate 4th Birthday photos last week, have a look here!
Yen 4th Anniversary / Photos
Celebrate 4 years of Yen parties with a big one at Star Live this Friday night (May 23rd, 2008). Blackie is playing a dnb set 4-5am; also on the lineup are Dio, Mickey Zhang, Yangbing, Usami, Flo Eysler, and DJ @llen. Door sales are 100RMB, 70RMB if you buy a ticket in advance of the event. Find out more info at www.o2culture.com
And OH MY GOODNESS IT'S THE SYNDICATE 4TH BIRTHDAY PHOTOS. Three months after the event they have finally surfaced, click through to have a look at the madness. (Many thanks to Oak Taylor-Smith, photographer extraordinaire.)
Kasra & MC Wrec / Syndicate v. Baicai
It's busy next week, with big parties on Thursday and Saturday - for now I'll post the flyers, more details early next week.
Kasra and MC Wrec at China Doll, Thursday May 15th
Free before midnight, 50RMB after, dnb from 10pm-late.
Syndicate vs. Baicai at White Rabbit, Saturday May 17th
Syndicate dnb and jungle in the White Room, Baicai techno and house in the Red Room, 50RMB on the door, 11pm-late
Also coming up is the Yen 4th Birthday Party, which ought to be massive. Drum and bass music will get a blast courtesy of Blackie, other DJs on the night include Usami, Patrick Yu, and The Boat's DJ @llen.