“Jeff Lang is the real blues deal…Australia’s best roots-music artisan.”
-- Rolling Stone
"There are certain musicians who are so gifted, so astonishingly talented, so plugged into Something Bigger than we can imagine when they make music ... I witnessed a show a couple of weekends ago that made me want to include Jeff Lang in that company."
-- Umbrella Music
Yuyintang, 1731 Yanan Xi lu, near Kaixuan Lu, Hongqiao district
Doors: 9pm
Tickets: RMB 50
Support Act: Joker
Info: 5237-8662 (M-F, 10am-6pm)
Australian roots rock legend Jeff Lang has built up a reputation for startlingly original performances, working without a set list, allowing the unique energy of each night to shape the songs. Having previously toured with the likes of Ani DiFranco and Bob Dylan, Lang is coming to China for the first time to showcase his insane, award-winning guitar skills that have critics hailing him as one of Australia’s hottest exports. Chart Magazine praises Lang’s expert finger-picking, “serious balls and flawless chops” that have earned him the reputation of Australia’s leading country, blues and rock guitar virtuoso.
While his influences range from the folk music of the Southern United States to the British Isles, Lang’s lyrics evoke the environment of his native Australia in a subtle, plainspoken manner. Switching from soothing acoustic guitar-picking to blistering electric riffs, Lang is one of those rare talents who is as adept with the slide guitar as with a standard, not to mention his dexterity on the banjo, mandolin, drums and Chumbush (similar to a banjo, but with more strings). His instrumental skills combine with his husky-voiced story-telling to create an arresting live performance.
Doors: 9pm
Tickets: RMB 100 (RMB 60 for students with ID)
Dream Factory: 4/F, 28 Yuyao Lu (near Xikang Lu)
If you like your dance-music with a touch of grit and spookiness, you just might be a Ghost Punk fan. That’s the term used by Brooklyn three-piece These Are Powers to describe their sound: simultaneously joyful and eerie, anarchic and tightly rhythmic. Think noise rock plus club beats, multiplied by spastic animal magnetism.
Formed in 2007, TAP are comprised of Anna Barie (vocals/guitar), Pat Noecker (bass) and Bill Salas (drums). Sometimes likened to early Sonic Youth, TAP have been making waves with their intense live performances, and their most recent album, All Aboard Future, which Pitchfork described as “distinct and stunning.” Split Works is psyched to be bringing these three merrymakers to Shanghai, as part of a nation-wide tour organized by Beijing-based record label Maybe Mars.
For their Shanghai gig, These Are Powers will be joined by kingpins of the Beijing rock scene P.K.14 and Carsick Cars.
The Shanghai gig won’t be the first time Bejing indie stalwarts Carsick Cars have teamed up with TAP; Carsick Cars’ frontman/guitarist Shouwang also contributed album artwork for TAP’s latest release, All Aboard Future.
Carsick Cars have risen to the pinnacle of Beijing’s live music scene, earning a reputation for riotous explosions of pent-up energy on stage. There’s a certain fearlessness to Carsick Cars’ music: they are not afraid to write perfect, instantaneously catchy songs, and they are just as unafraid of detonating them midstream amid a howling wall of guitar noise. Their second full-length album, You Can Listen, You Can Talk, drops June 26 from Maybe Mars records.
Formed in Nanjing in 1997, P.K.14 have performed extensively in China and abroad, both headlining and sharing the stage with many notable bands, including The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Ex-Models, and The Soundtrack of Our Lives. In June 2006, the band was nominated for “Best Band” and “Best Rock Band” at the 6th annual Chinese Music Media Awards (the Chinese Grammy Awards). In July 2006, MTV China featured their video Ta Men (They) as their “Pick of the Week.” Most recently, TIME magazine chose P.K.14 as one of Asia’s five best bands and one to watch in 2008. Their fourth album, City Weather Sailing (Chengshi Tianqi De Hangxing), was released in July 2008 on Maybe Mars records.
These Are Powers in Shanghai With P.K.14 and Carsick Cars
Saturday, July 18
@ Dream Factory
RMB 100 (RMB 60 for students with ID)
US three-piece These Are Powers are coming to
Shanghai to break it down Ghost Punk style.
Expect spooky, hypnotic noise rock and addictive beats.
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Yuyintang, 1731 Yanan Xi lu, near Kaixuan Lu, Hongqiao district
Doors: 9pm
Tickets RMB 50
Info: 5237-8662 (M-F, 10am-6pm)
He’s a little bit country, a little bit rock’n’roll. Australian blues-folk legend Jeff Lang will be touring China for the first time,
showcasing his insane, award-winning guitar skills.
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Ghostface tore it up! A huge thanks to you hip hop fans in Beijing and Shanghai who came out to the shows last weekend, and showed Ghostface Killah some love at the end of his exhausting two-month tour. Props to opening acts Naughty Ray, Golden MIC, Redstar and Ne Zha, plus scratch DJs Lomang and Mr. Tsang for stepping in at short notice. And hats off to Tony Starks and the rest of the crew for traveling all the way from the slums of Shaolin to represent Wu in the Far East. Zai jian, fellas!
We know times are tough, and we want as many people as possible to be able to come check out the Ghost this weekend in Beijing (Saturday, 6/13) and Shanghai (Sunday, 6/14). Which is why we've dropped ticket prices down to:
Beijing: RMB 180 (presale)/200 (door)
Shanghai: RMB 120 (presale)/180 (door)
Rally your friends and lovers and come on down. This is Wu Tang, people! Let's make it a weekend for the books.
We’ve lost DJs in Prague, and MCs in Madrid. We got Visas in St. Petersburg yesterday and we are delighted to inform you that:
Ghostface Killah is coming to China for the very first time!
The venue in Beijing remains the Star Live, but we have new information for you about Shanghai. There has been a last minute change of venue – we needed more space because tickets are selling fast - and we are happy to announce that Ghostface Killah will now be performing at:
WTF Club,
570 West Huaihai Lu near Dingxi Lu, Shanghai (@ Red Town)
Because of the venue change, we are offering a very special deal on this show. We’re reducing the ticket price to RMB 180 at the door, and RMB120 for everyone who places their orders by this Saturday, June 13. You can buy tickets at:
Please note, presale tickets will be subject to a courier fee.
PLEASE CIRCULATE FAR AND WIDE, AND COME OUT AND GIVE GHOSTFACE A WARM SHANGHAI WELCOME!
And because we know you all LOVE hip hop, this is what our friends at Factory are doing before the show: FAB 5 FREDDY PRESENTS 'STYLEWARS' @FACTORY 8 PM WITH BACKGROUND, INSIGHTS, AND A Q&A AFTERWARDS. ALSO GRAFFITI CONTEST FROM 6-8 | WINNER GETS A FREE PAIR OF SNEAKERS TAGGED BY FAB 5 FREDDY! www.factoryshanghai.com
Douban’s Ghostface Killah Opening Act Competition: And the Winner Is…
Because no Ghostface party is complete without some gorgeous girls: the hottest girl in Shanghai (according to ShanghaiNing’s DiaNuNu competition) will be hanging out at Ghostface’s Shanghai show, dancing the night away and chillin’ with Ghostface himself.
About Ghostface Killah aka Ironman aka Tony Starks aka Pretty Toney:
Ghostface Killah is a member of the Wu Tang Clan, one of the most critically and commercially successful hip hop groups of all time. Of the 9 members of the Wu Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah has had the most successful solo career, releasing 7 solo albums to date, including 2006's chart-topping "Fishscale," and teaming up with some of the hottest voices in hip hop and R&B, including Missy Elliot, Ne-Yo, Amy Winehouse and Mary J. Blige.
Like his fellow Wu Tang Clan members, Ghostface is strongly influenced by Chinese culture, especially kung-fu films, and he takes his name from a character in the 1976 kung-fu film Mystery of Chessboxing. In fact, the name "Wu Tang Clan" is derived from the name of the Wudang Mountain in Hubei Province, which has a long history associated with Taoism, martial arts, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Known for his stream-of-consciousness style raps and smooth yet frenetic delivery, Ghostface is one of those rare artists who has found both mainstream popularity and critical acclaim. While his tracks are a mainstay on the radio and in clubs in his native New York and far beyond, rarefied music taste-makers Pitchfork dubbed Ghostface, "one of hip hop's most vibrant voices."
Check out Ghostface’s music at the Wawawa music store:
Like Ghostface Killah, we’re fans of the law. Which is why we’re happy that there’s a legal way to download Ghostface’s music in China. Check out the Wawawa music store, and download some of Ghostface’s collaborations with New York rapper Trife Da God and other members of the Theodore Unit rap group, for just 1 RMB/song.
Jets Overhead in Scenic Shanghai
Canadian trance-rockers and multi-taskers Jets Overhead recently passed through Shanghai to rock the stage at Yuyintang as part of the three nights of Canuck splendor that was Split Works and TransmitCHINA’s “Straight Oota Canada” weekend. While in Shanghai, the group also found time to shoot a video for their single “No Nations,” off their latest album of the same name. Check out the time-lapse hustle and bustle below:
Hollerado – China Tour
The four members of Hollerado grew up on the same street in a small town in Ontario. One day, while riding the bus, a man in an exquisitely tailored suit said to them “it is not nearly as fun to reminisce about the times you didn’t spend your life savings on four one-way tickets to Japan.” With that in mind they got jobs doing construction. When they were tearing down the old walls they listened to The Who. When they built new walls they talked about time travel. Today, they play pop-rock with punchy beats and catchy hooks. Fresh off of MIDI 2009, this fearsome foursome will be coming to a stage near you May 4-10 (if you live in Shenzhen, Wuhan, Changsha or Beijing, that is).
Download Hollerado’s debut album, “Record in a Bag,” for free at the Wawawa music store
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Shenzhen
True Colour Dong Men Club
May 4, 20:00
With Socalled & Final Flash
Address: 4/f, golden World Dong Men Jie Fang Road, Luo Hu District Shenzhen
Ticket: Free
Phone: 0755-82301833
Chengdu
Little Bar
May 6, 20:00
Supporting: Storyline
Address: No.87/5, Fangqin Street
Ticket: 25rmb
Phone: 028-85568552 028-85158790
Wuhan
VOX bar
May 7, 21:30
Supporting: TBA
Address: 118 Lumo Road, Hongshan Area, Wuchang
Ticket: 30 / 25(student)
Phone：027-50761020
Changsha
4698
May 9, 20:30
Supporting: TBA
Address: NO.168 Cai E Road, 46 Bar
Ticket: 30 on door / 25 presale
Phone: 13755185368 (phone only)
Beijing
2 Kolegas
May 10, 21:30
Supporting: The Bigger Bang + Rubber Phonograph Needle
Address: 21 Liangmaqiao Lu, Inside the drive-in movie theater park
Ticket: 25rmb
Phone: 010-64368998
Our orgy of Canadiana has hit a few snags, but the shows must go on! We’ve switched up the venues and some of the bands, and hope you’ll accept our sincere apologies in the form of reduced ticket prices (RMB 40/night).
Speaking of snags, The Stills just snagged two Juno awards (Canada’s Grammy equivalent), so understandably their situation has changed a bit. A big thanks to Montreal’s Creature and Final Flash for stepping in for The Stills and Priestess, respectively. And now, we give you…
Math-rock, jazz-fusion, cyber-metal...call it what you will; Battles brought it to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Taipei, Beijing and Shanghai with a vengeance, smothering us in sound and playing to packed houses at MAO and the Dream Factory. There was a spanner thrown in the works when, just three days before show time, scheduled openers P.K.14 had to pull the plug when their drummer broke his foot. We'd like to thank Ourself Beside Me, The Offset:Spectacles and AV Okubo for stepping in at short notice, as well as our other stellar support acts Bigger Bang and LAVA|OX|SEA. We'd also like to thank P.K.14's fans for not throwing any hissyfits over the sudden line-up change. Lastly, a few words of gratitude to the good folks at WWF and Wu Ji aka Mr. Particle, who joined us in observing Earth Hour by switching off the lights and enjoying Mr. Particle's acoustic stylings before Battles' Shanghai performance.
So what's next for Split Works? This we cannot yet divulge...but watch this space!
Archie Hamilton, MD of Split Works, was honoured to be invited to participate in Canada’s premiere music conference, Canadian Music Week, in March 2009. Archie sat on the Promoter/Live Super Session panel along with other industry “power players” including (Vans Warped Tour creator) Kevin Lyman and (former Live Nation UK MD) Stuart Galbraith, for a discussion of the economic forecast for the touring industry, and the impact of 360 deals and technology on touring, ticket prices and the overall live music experience.
Archie also took part in CMW’s Spotlight on China programme, addressing the challenges and opportunities of the country’s growing music industry. Besides hearing Archie speak, other CMW attendees no doubt felt that the live performances from bands including Handsome Furs, Malajube and Holy Fuck were among the highlights of CMW ’09. Thanks, Canada! Hope to see you next year!
They Came, They Geeked, They Conquered
A big thanks and a bon voyage to Oxford rockers Young Knives, who unleashed their scissor-kicks and riotous geek eccentricities on Beijing (March 4) and Shanghai (March 6). Joined by local support acts Perdel, The Bigger Bang, Boys Climbing Ropes and The Sonnet, YK brought down the houses of MAO and Dream Factory, reminding us how bad-ass it is to be square.
He came; he saw; he conquered. Split Works had the pleasure of hosting Mr. José González as he traversed greater China in February, playing to sold-out crowds in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. We'd like to put our hands on our hearts and say a big thank you to support chanteuse Wu ZhouLing, the spellbinding José and co., and of course all the folksy fans who didn't let rain and snow hold them back. Check out reviews here and here, and click below for photos from José's Shanghai gigs.
Swedish indie darlings Jens Lekman and Viktor Sjoberg wrapped up a rollickingseries of shows in China in early December, 2008. Jens incited sing-alongs and smashed tambourines to smitherines, while Viktor’s beats updated Jens’ analog crooning for the digital age, turning these mellow folk performances into full-fledged dance parties. Split Works would like to give our tremendous thanks to the fans who turned out for the shows, as well as the good people at JZ Club, the Glamour Bar and Mao Live, and of course, to Jens Lekman and Viktor Sjolberg for braving the harrowing jetlag and putting on splendid performances for fans old and new.”
Well, yeah, it's Eminem, but just as exciting, Split Works have come out of the interior (we've been doing some cool shit in lots of cities outside of Shanghai and Beijing) and are ready to bathe your ears once more in all sorts of sound.
Over the next 4 months we will be subjecting you to Swedish singer-songwriters, Miami based dancehall rappers and Welsh alt-rockers. We hope you will join us in celebrating the diversity of music that our wonderful world has to offer.
PK14 and Queen Sea Big Shark finished China's first ever road trip this weekend with a knees up in Beijing. 2 buzzing shows in Mao was a fitting end to the most ambitious project undertaken in the history of Chinese alternative music. They were joined by the 5 support bands from the 5 stops on the tour.
Converse commissioned a bus and took the Beijing rockers to Nanjing, Hangzhou, Changsha, Wuhan and Xi'an. 5,000 km and 5 full houses. A bit of crowd surfing, some table dancing, the odd brush with the law and a lot of rocking out. A China first...
UK magazine Dazed and Confused were on the road with us and you can see what they had to say on the matter
here.
Props to Converse for having the kahunas to support the local music scene in this way, and to W&K for everything they did to make it so memorable.
Beijing Rockers Hit the Road
Summer is fully upon us here in Shanghai, with Olympics spirit reaching fever pitch, and
actual temperatures snaking up into the 30s. We've decided to get into the summer spirit
with that great hallmark of the season: the cross-country roadtrip. Thanks to Converse,
we'll be sticking two of Beijing's indie bands (most likely PK14 and Hedgehog) in a
specially converted bus and 3 supporting wagons for a pilgrimage to 6 Chinese cities:
Xi'an, Wuhan, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Changsha and Beijing. Footage from this daring feat --
along China's nearly 2,000,000 km of roads and amongst 57,000,000 cars --will be
incorporated into a Chinese docudrama. If 65-plus hours on China's roads doesn't drive this
band of merrymakers legally insane, then it's sure to inspire some kickass shows
nationwide. Stay tuned for a confirmed schedule...
Dandi Wind break new ground on an 8 city Asia tour
At Split Works Towers, we are happy to report that our first full Asian Tour went without (too many) hitches. In the space of three weeks, team Dandi hit 8 cities and played 9 shows. From sell outs (6 cities) to 64 people (Xi’an – it was a Sunday night, OK?), Dandi and Szam never failed to provide the high intensity insanity that China has grown to love.
And it showed us that with the right band and the right amount of commitment, a tour with a foreign artist in China is and can be a viable commercial concern. A massive thanks must go out to Dandi and Szam, our intrepid cameraman Nathan, all the great clubs that we played at and all the great people behind those venues and of course the bands that helped us along: Hard Queen/ 24hours/ Hush/ Snapline/ The Casino Demon/ 海龟先生
Dandi Wind China Tour
Spring’s up and Split Works have got some end of winter insanity for you.
Dandi Wind, Over the last 3 years this dynamic duo have traversed the world, here trashing venues at SXSW, there overselling London’s world renowned Fabric, from the tropical heat of Mexico City to the arctic wilds of their native Canada, sharing stages with the likes of The Klaxons, The Presets, The Horrors and Simian Mobile Disco. Now they are bringing their very own blend of gothic glam disco, demented costumes and mad antics to a stage near you. Shanghai, Wuhan, Xi’an, Chengdu, Beijing, Taipei, Hong Kong, Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo will all bear testament to a pair of artists who will excite, energize and alarm in equal measures……
October 5, 2007 saw the inaugural Yue Festival kick off in Zhongshan Park, Shanghai. After months of continuous rain, including Typhoon Wipha the week before (and Typhoon Krosa the weekend after), it was with bated breath that we watched the sun climb into a cloudless sky over a site unique to China's short music festival history. A main stage, a secondary stage inside the Bacardi B-Live space, creative side attractions, food, beer, cocktails and sun set a glorious scene. 20 eclectic artists and thousands of happy music lovers spent the day interacting, cruising, bumping, jiving and rocking.
Faithless, Ozomatli, Talib Kweli, Yacht, Banana Monkey, SuperVC, Hedgehog, IZ, Bananas Soundsystem, Uprooted, Redstar... with major support from Bacardi, Converse, and Neocha.com.
In the words of the Basement Jaxx, June was the toughest month that we've had so far. June 1, Infadels/Killa Kila Beijing, June 2, Infadels/Killa Kela Shanghai, June 29, the Go! Team Beijing, June 30, the Go! Team Shanghai... that's a serious amount of not sleeping, I can promise you that.
4,000 tickets sold, 5,000 ecstatic people throught the doors. We are beginning to do what we promised. We really are bringing great music to China. Thanks to all the bands, plus the fantastic efforts of the Verse, Young Kin and Wordy, Banana Monkey and Flying Fruit. Also, a big shout out to Bacardi for making it all possible!
Bacardi Sino Session #4 welcomes the Go! Team to China. On the eve of their second album, the band are kindly fitting us in between Glastonbury, Benicassim and Bestival, so we are lucky indeed. The shows in China will be the last before the official release of the first single off their next album, Grips like a Vice... nice!
