Your weekly guide to the best events in Beijing
Poetry reading with US Poet Laureate Tracy K Smith
The Bookworm. Mon 9. 50RMB; 40RMB (presale)
Tracy K Smith, who won the Pulitzer Prize for her poetry collection Life on Mars and was named US Poet Laureate in June, will headline a seven-poet reading on Monday 9 October at The Bookworm. The line-up also features award-winning Mexican poet-translator Mario Bojórquez, prolific Chinese poet-artist Yi Lei, and renowned poet-translator Ming Di. Rounding out the line-up are community poets who are active in and have made significant contributions to the local creative arts scene. Hosted by Anthony Tao.
Beijing Music Festival: Immersive Opera Vixen
The Red. Tue 10. 180RMB
Promenade and/or immersive theatre is all the rage, especially in China; in this case, the BMF joins Silent Opera London to create a visual and physical (for the audience) version of Czech composer Leoš Janáček's most popular opera; here, the audience follows the cast from room to room as they listen to pre-recorded music on headphones and watch singers take an ever-changing stage.
Antonio Lizana
Yugong Yishan. Wed 11. 100RMB; 70RMB (presale)
Spanish saxophonist, singer and composer Antonio Lizana arrives in Beijing performing music from his new record Orient, which combines traditional jazz melodies with flamenco sounds. Aimed at offering a traditional but fresh experience of Spanish culture through jazz, Lizana is set to collaborate with Portacones dance academy for a lively concert which mingles jazz with authentic flamenco moves. This initiative, organised by Beijing's Instituto Cervantes, offers the public a valuable opportunity to experience outstanding jazz and flamenco directly from Spain.
Slugabed
Dada. Thu 12. Ticket tbc
Slugabed runs the Activia Benz label and has released records for Ninja Tune and Planet Mu. His latest, Inherit The Earth, marks his debut for the eclectic hip-hop and electronica enclave Anticon. The London-based DJ arrives in Beijing bringing his irreverent, kaleidoscopic sound to Dada.
Kalaha
Dada. Fri 13. Ticket tbc
Danish supergroup Kalaha is made-up of drummer Emil de Waal, producers Spejderrobot, Rumpistol, Ibrahim and electric guitar player Niclas Knudsen. Performing their unique brand of West-African funk, electro rave and jazz improvisation, they'll be followed by solo DJ sets from Spejderrobot and Rumpistol.
Cassette Store Day Concert (Side B)
Yue Space. Sat 14. 80RMB; 60RMB (presale)
Live Beijing Music and Nasty Wizard Recordings celebrate International Cassette Store Day with this face-melting evening of rock 'n' roll at Yue Space. The line-up features Shanghai punk outfit Ugly Girls, post-punk ruffians Lonely Leary, '70s-inspired rock band Electric Lady and genre-bending outfit Guiguisuisui. Nasty Wizard will also be selling tapes from various labels from all across China on the night.
Beijing Music Festival: Classics for Kids
Poly Theatre. Sun 15. Ticket tbc
Every year, the BMF remembers the children: this year, it's with Tang Junqiao's Bamboo Flute Ensemble of Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Programme includes Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Flight of the Bumble-Bee', Tan Dun's 'Love Before Time' (from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and a number of Chinese folk songs.
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