Beijing Beats brings you the best in Beijing nightlife each weekend so that you can soothe the woes of a long and stressful week with some out-of-body gyrating and some experiences you’d rather forget come Monday. Check the weekend’s full list of nightlife events here.
Wednesday, Apr 4
0161
Rising local guest DJ 0161 will lay out what Aurora’s owners describe as a soundtrack of “organic house and techno.” The lineup is rounded out by Aurora resident DJs Juhstynn and Marc Alexr. Expect vintage vibes and a playful, intimate atmosphere in what is proving to be one of Beijing’s best low-key clubs. 10pm. RMB 30. Aurora
Transatlantic Label Showcase
Chinese label Transatlantic is bringing its roster’s biggest names for a night of local techno. Among the DJs set to take the stage are label cofounder nthng, ghetto-tech producer Europa and what one preview describes as the “genre-transcending brain behind the label, Mohammed Al Hamza,” along with Lantern kingpin DJ Weng Weng. 11pm. RMB 80, RMB 50 (advance). Lantern
Thursday, Apr 5
Soul Train
Techno this, deep house that, yada yada yada. Sure, all that’s great, but where’s the soul, man? Those of us longing warm, retro analog vibes thankfully need to look no further than Aurora this Thursday, where CAD 73 (pictured above) and Jason 1,2 will dole out some funky vintage flavor. 10pm. Free. Aurora
Raw Meat
Dada’s weekly showcase of promising up and comers continues with a set by minimal techno artist extraordinaire Fencha. 10pm. Ticket price TBD. Dada
Friday, Apr 6
Brennan Heart
Get ready for a night of Dutch hardstyle courtesy of one of the genre’s biggest stars, Brennan Heart. This heavyweight DJ and producer cut his teeth in the duo Blademasterz, alongside DJ Thera, dabbling in everything from techno to trance. After striking out on his own and zeroing in on the hardstyle genre, Heart began to gain significant traction with DJ Mag, for instance, describing him as an “impressively prolific producer with over 100 releases to his name” and calling his radio show “an essential listen among hardstyle enthusiasts.” Stream some of his music here.11pm. RMB 100. One Third
TechNoRules: Girls Can’t What?
Top-notch Shanghai DJ Lina K headlines a female-heavy roster that also includes local stars on the decks like Eva Xu, Juliana Lima, and Aida. Lantern owner and DJ Weng Weng describes the TechNoRules series as a means to empower female DJs and provide a fun platform for them to showcase their productions. The Maldivian born Lina has made quite a name for herself in the Pearl City, not only for her instantly danceable tracks but also for her thoroughly enthused, perpetual motion stage presence (read more about that from our recent interview with her here). 11pm. RMB 50. Lantern
Murlo
Dancehall. Soca. Garage. Bassline. Grime. What do all these varying genres have in common? Why, DJ Murlo, of course. The Mancunian DJ (pictured at top) has garnered attention for his deft manipulation of eclectic styles, blending them all into one-of-a-kind mixes, including a remix of Rihanna’s “Work”, which so far has over 2 million plays and has been rumored to be approved of by Riri herself. 10pm. RMB 60. Dada
Saturday, Apr 7
Zombies In Miami
Don’t let their name fool you – this isn’t some Misfits-esque horror troupe, though they do have a penchant for Day of the Dead-style facepaint. Zombies In Miami are a hotly buzzed Mexican production who have garnered an enthused following through their unique combination of techno and rock. Their performance style is equally lauded, thanks to the duo’s high energy tendency to hop between the synths and drum pads while singing the hooks. Get a taste before their set via their Soundcloud. 10pm. RMB 80. Dada
Club Night with Jackson Lee, Sohan, and Weng Weng
As the old saying goes, here’s an oldie but a goodie. Actually, make that three. Veteran DJs Jackson Lee, Sohan, and Lantern’s mastermind Weng Weng will hit the Gongti club’s stage for a night of reliably danceable, finely honed techno. 11pm. RMB 50. Lantern
Looking for more? See all of this holiday weekend’s dance nights here or live music here.
Photos: clubzone.com
