1403st cover story

UPFRONT

COVER STORY

JUE

The Month Of

Your Guide To The Eclectic Festival

Yes, we know it has been said before, but Split Works really is one of Shanghai’s most respected music promoters, and this year, they have once again outdone themselves with JUE | Music + Art. The annual event combines the genres of community, literary, film, art, performance, music and insightful talks to present a three-week celebratory festival of the arts. From 7 March to 23 March, JUE will be the talk of the town so we have compiled a list of highlights especially for you to see and be seen.

J

Jue (觉), meaning to sense or to awaken, is an annual urban festival that is held in Beijing and Shanghai.

Now welcoming its sixth year, this well established festival is all about embracing local creative communities in the Middle Kingdom as well as inviting international artists along to the party to share in the proceedings.

This multidisciplinary festival is always a refreshing change of pace from the Shanghai scene. Citywide, innovative spaces, stimulating artists and thought provoking topics are introduced to captivate audiences with lots of opportunities for visitor participation.

The formula for the three week event is the same as ever – a collaborative, open-source affair with different event organisers putting on creative events all around town during the festival period under the JUE banner. The immense scope, various art forms and creativeness of the project is its main strength, and the festival is truly able to boast that there is something for everyone.

Talk has you covered with our selection of events from across the disciplines.

Baths Electronic musician, Baths, is bringing his trademark sound to Shanghai. Noted for bridging the gap between post-modern pop and the LA beat scene with extreme emotional clarity and lyrics, he has been described as one of the finest young composers and falsettos in Los Angeles. By exploring the darker side of the human mind, he combines his personal pain with universal questions.

RMB 80 (presale) RMB 100 (on the door). 9pm. 12 March. 390 Bar. 90 Panyu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu. Web: www.390shanghai.com

Blak Twang In partnership with Electric East, UK MOBO award winner, Black Twang, will be hitting the stage at The Shelter. A South London boy, born and bred, Tony Rotton (AKA Blak Twang) is the UK hip-hop scene personified. Using English slang and London locations in his lyrics, he promises to be the British crowd’s cup of tea. His show will feature Conrank and be supported by HBD, Misloop and Dirty Mouth.

In the run up to the show, there will also be a live stream studio session from Redstarr Studios. Blak Twang and Conrank will record and produce a track live over the internet on 19 March from 8pm.

RMB 60. 10pm – late. 22 March. The Shelter. Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu

Hualun

JUE Music

Hailing from Wuhan and starting their early careers in 2004 as a Britpop influenced band, Hualun have slowly embraced a shift toward the post-rock noise that has characterised their sound since 2006. Having toured extensively in China, their albums have been well received by the local crowd and their highly anticipated debut album, Silver Daydream, established the band as the pioneers of new wave post-rock in the country. Use this as an opportunity to get acquainted with, and be surprised by, the talent of this home grown rock collective.

RMB 50 (students) RMB 70 (on the door). 9pm. 8 March. On Stage. A2, Red Town, 570 Huaihai Xi Lu, near Hongqiao Lu. Tel: 6216 6991

TalkMagazine

March14

JUE Film Yangon Calling – Punk In Myanmar

This screening is the opening event for Asian Cinema Week, which includes feature films, documentaries and shorts from all over Asia and provides a platform where local filmmakers and fans alike can collide, share ideas and develop their works by exposing the best of Asian underground cinema.

This movie was shot by German filmmakers and documents how punk has provided a way for young Burmese to stand up to the pressures of their everyday life. The film explores the personal journey of notable punks in the isolated country, and the impact the music has on not only their lives, but also the lives of others around them. This is a story of personal tragedy and the struggle for freedom. The screening will be accompanied by a talk by diretor, Alexander Dluzak.

RMB 50 (presale) RMB 60 (on the door).

7:30pm. 12 March. Minsheng Art Museum.

Bldg F, 570 Huaihai Xi Lu, near Hongqiao Lu. Tel: 6282 8729. Web: www.minshengart.com

Kick The Gong Around Presents: Silent Film Double Feature And Vintage Market This wonderfully bohemian event will screen silent movies accompanied by a live piano performance, whilst hosting a vintage market with unique offerings.

This event especially suits its setting of The Pearl (formally know as Chinatown), and its beautifully theatrical, vintage space; perfect for the spectacle of overacted silent movies with a dramatic acoustic performance. The films will have English and Mandarin subtitles and, as this is a Kick The Gong Event, the spirit of the 20s and 30s will be kept alive.

RMB 50 (including popcorn). 2pm. 8 March.

The Pearl. 471 Zhapu Lu, near Wujin Lu. Web: www.thepearl.com.cn

JUE Literary

JUE Live Photography Workshop

JUE Community

Sign up for the JUE Live Photography workshop to learn how to capture live events when dealing with a challenging and changing environment. Veteran photographer, Thomas Rippe, will take the reins of this workshop, starting with a one-on-one session to learn how to photograph fast-moving, dimly lit subjects, before moving on to a live JUE show to put your training into action. Afterwards, there will also be a 90-minute photo editing session. SLR cameras are not required but you will need a camera with manual controls for aperture and shutter speed.

RMB 300 (includes two workshop sessions and entry to two shows. Show selection at festival organisers’ discretion). 7pm to 9pm. 5 March to 36 March. 2ndfloor Asia. 810 Changle Lu, near Changshu Lu

Stories Then and Now: Jenevieve Chang As part of the Bookworm International Literary Festival, Taiwanese born Jenevieve Chang, after drawing from a range of people’s personal stories, explores what it is like to grow up as an Asian Australian. Chang herself has been creating performances across film, theatre, dance and live art since 2000; a destiny that her parents found hard to accept. Fascinating for those who have experienced a multicultural upbringing, or those who merely want to understand more about intercultural socialisation.

JUE Art Mongol Arts And Culture Festival Immerse yourself in Mongolian culture for one day. The Mongol Arts And Culture Festival is bringing an evening of traditional dance, music and art to Shanghai. While screening scenes from the movie, Mongol, a film about the rise of Genghis Khan, an added depth will be enjoyed through a live performance from Altan Urag, a prominent Mongolian folk rock band who provided music for the movie. There will also be delicious Mongolian food on offer from Nomad, so be prepared for lots of meaty dishes.

21 March. The Pearl. 471 Zhapu Lu, near Wujin Lu. Web: www.thepearl. com.cn

3pm. 9 March. Yuncai Café. 260 Changshou Lu, near Xikang Lu.

Australian Writers’ Week Poetry Slam With Jesse Brand Jesse Brand was crowned Australian Poetry Slam champion for his poem Joshua, which deconstructed and presented his brother’s experience of bullying at school. He will once again use his contemporary performance to shine a light on an overlooked portion of society.

8pm. 18 March. Yuncai Café. 260 Changshou Lu, near Xikang Lu.

JUE

Liu Yusi is a cycling fanatic and a member of Beijingbased act The Randy Abel Stable. Liu has completed many impressive biking trips all over the county and will talk about how his riding experiences have influenced his life, thoughts and music. All proceeds from the talk will go to The Library Project; a charity that donates libraries to under-financed schools and orphanages in China, Cambodia and Vietnam (a charity that JUE strongly champions). At the end of the talk, Liu will give an intimate musical performance to his audience.

Talks

RMB 30. 8pm – 10pm. 23 March. Yuncai Café. 260 Changshou Lu, near Xikang Lu

The Western International School is opening its campus to the wider Shanghai community as it hosts a mini-festival featuring performances from students, musicians and a live graffiti event from POP graffiti street-artist Jo Di Bona. Local and international students will be able to enjoy a day of fun together through the arts.

3pm to 6pm. 13 March. Minsheng Art Museum. Bldg F, 570 Huaihai Xi Lu, near Hongqiao Lu. Tel: 6282 8729. Web: www.minshengart.com

Butch Bradley Live At The Shanghai Repertory Theatre

Performance

Green Biking With Liu Yusi

JUE

WISS Community Music Festival And Performance

By Street Artist Jo Di Bona

Popular stand up comedian and new Shanghai resident, Butch Bradley, will take to the stage at The Pearl. Guests are invited to see Bradley’s world premier of his new comedy show, which draws on his four-month experience of living in Shanghai and his residency at Kung Fu Comedy Club.

Internationally acclaimed, Bradley hails from New Jersey and had a string of TV and movie appearances under his belt before moving to the Middle Kingdom to make his name in the Chinese English-language comedy scene. Opening the show for Bradley, will be two special artists. Guests must be 18 or above.

RMB 200 (presale) RMB 250 (at the door). 8pm – 9:30pm. 13 March to 16 March. The Pearl. 471 Zhapu Lu, near Wujin Lu. Web: www.thepearl.com.cn, www.juefestival.com

GH5 Dance Studio Workshop: Salsa GH5 Dance Studio, one of Shanghai’s leading dance studios and performance agencies, is holding a whole host of workshops throughout the month. This Latin inspired class, led by a team of professionals, will hopefully help you bring sexy back into March. If they can’t help you, we don’t know who can!

6:30pm – 7:30pm. 15 March. HUGE Lifestyle Plaza, 4/F, Unit 408, 300, Xuanhua Lu, near Dingxi Lu

For more information about JUE | Music + Art, visit www.juefestival.com March14 TalkMagazine