The Big Easy
Chaoyang Park - South Gate
Probably the best and classiest of music venues in BJ. (Not just because I play there...) Restaurant serves New Orleans / Cajun style food. Live music pretty much throughout the week. Jazz / Blues music with a regular "Funky Friday" with the Rhythm Dogs.
CD Cafe
East Third Ring Road (Near Hard Rock Cafe)
Used to have the reputation of being *the* place for live music in BJ. (Especially Jazz). Since being sold to new owners, it's been bit up and down. They still have the occasional touring Jazz group appearing from time to time. Apart from that, it tends to be Punk / Alternative music for most of the time.
CD Jazz Cafe
East Third Ring Road. Next to the Agricultural Exhibition gate on the East Third Ring Road. (Just north of the old CD Cafe).
Managed by sax supremo, Liu Yuan, this small club has been purposely set up to provide another venue for Jazz & Blues in Beijing. Small, cozy, intimate feel to the bar, the club features Liu Yuan with various jazz musicians Fri & Sat nights. Thursday nights feature the Beijing Blues Collective (BBC).
Durty Nellies
Sanlitun South Bar Street
Irish theme bar which often has live music. Red Zebra, Big Airplane and a few other cover bands play here regularly on the weekends. huge venue with pool tables, Guinness and other beers on tap. Really popular expat hangout.
Durty Nellies II
Liangmahe area (next to the old flower market).
Often has live music - they regularly feature 'Strange Visitations', an expat 80/90's cover band. Similar Irish theme to Durty Nellies I.
Goose & Duck
Chaoyang Park West Gate
Often has live music. Sort of a cross between a sports bar and music venue.
The Hidden Tree
Sanlitun South Bar Street
Although they don't often have live music here, it's one the of the best bars in BJ. Guitarist and singer Maji and pianist and vocalist Salome feature on Thursday nights (starts around 9pm) and play an eclectic mixture of unplugged music. The owner, Patrick, has an excellent music collection and now has one of the first (only?) clay ovens in BJ. Excellent pizzas! Also has a superb selection of Belgian Beers on offer.
The Jam House
Sanlitun South Bar Street
I've been playing here on and off since 1997 (before the owners expanded the bar). They have a lot of varied music styles throughout the week, but mainly Wed - Sun. It's a really laid back kind of place that attracts a lot of the more 'arty / alternative' crowd. During the summer, the roof garden is really popular.
Latinos
Chaoyang Park - South Gate
A latin / salsa dance club opposite the Big Easy. Featuring a band from Colombia, it's probably the best place for Latin dance music in Beijing.
Minders Cafe
Sanlitun South Bar Street
Soundpage play here Tues - Sat. Featuring Chris on Guitar, Dominic on Drums, and Nancy & Baby on Keys and vocals they're probably the best cover band in town. After hours there's a disco which goes on to the wee hours
Nashville
Sanlitun South Bar Street
I played here for two years with the Bluesdriver band before moving on to the Big Easy. As the name suggests, it was originally set up with a kind of C&W theme. On Fridays, however, Bluesdriver still play and crank out a lot of Blues, R&B and Rock 'n roll. The rest of the week there's several country rock bands (Thurs & Sat especially). Late night (after midnight) on the weekends, Chris plays some of the best acoustic style guitar I've ever heard. Large venue, friendly service and reasonable drinks.
Poachers
Sanlitun North Bar Street (Next to the You Yi Youth Hostel)
If heading north on Sanlitun North Bar Street, turn left into an alley just before Down Town bar. Take the first right and go to the end of the street. You'll know you're there by the large number of drunken revelers...)
With probably the cheapest drinks in town and a big, party atmosphere, it attracts everyone from students, backpackers from the youth hostel through to older Beijing expats in search of cheap drink and party music. I've played there in the past and have had some great gigs. Check the
Gig Guide to see when we're next playing here.
Schillers 3
Chaoyang Park West Gate
Filipino cover band plays here Tues-Sat. Excellent beer garden out the back which is really popular in the summer.
Sgt. Pepper's
Chaoyang Park West Gate
Beatles theme bar. Filipino cover band "Pryzm" play here. Apart from Beatles music, they do perfect covers of charts/alternative and oldies music. (They do an excellent rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody"!) Good pool table and rooftop garden. Rumour has it that it is closed at the moment for "renovations".
The listings above are just a sample of some of the places on the East side of Beijing. There's also a load of bars and clubs on the West side near the universities, but I don't get out there much.
I'll keep adding venues as I get the time...
Cheers,
Mike .....
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