We here at CQ Scene have yet to write about Ciqikou(Chongqing's "old city"), because we honestly never thought we had to.  Pick up any guide book or check out any tourist website about Chongqing, and Ciqikou is sure to be amongst the 'to-do' list.  Ask any local to recommend places to check-out, and chances are Ciqikou will be one of their suggestions.  And though the main drag of the old city is campy and post-modern, we agree that it is worth checking out, as a stroll off of the beaten path can not only offer a glimpse of genuine(not your Hongyadong) old-school Chongqing architecture, but also lead you to some decent shops, cafes, and one cool ass bar.  

That bar being 16 Bystreet Music Bar.  A chilled out, cafe-esque bar just above the waterfront, with ample terrace space making it one of the best places in the city to enjoy a cold beer in the summer.  And as the name suggests, it is in-fact a music bar, and serves as an intimate venue perfect for, but not limited to (there's a hip-hop show there this Saturday) folk/acoustic(ish) shows.  

There is a good selection of domestic and imported beers starting at 15 RMB, and proper cocktails starting at 30 RMB. 

To get there, walk through the main entrance of Ciqikou and take a right on the main strip toward the water.  Walk down the first flight of stairs you come to and take a left on the restaurant terrace just after the Perfect Time Youth Hostel.  You will walk past quite a few tables before the bar will appear on your left.   

横街16号音乐俱乐部 
磁器口 嘉陵江边 龙隐门往左50米，穿过两个馆子的雨棚就到 ； 或者：宝轮寺大门对面巷子下梯坎到江边

Thats right, "Lazer Dubs."  And "Drum Step," "Beatboxing Solo," "Drum Bass Hip hop."  All of that and I'd almost guarantee more at this Friday night's part at Nuts Club.  Shanghai based, international party brand The Antidote, responsible for some of the more memorable parties in Nuts Club's short history, return once again with DJ/producer/celebrity chef? CONRANK.  We had a few words with the Shanghai via UK transplant, who became a weibo sensation as "Chaofange."  

CQSCENE:  Chaofange, what’s that all about?
CONRANK: Well, its all been a crazy, random journey. I went to cook fried rice on the street for fun, some girl took a video of it, and next thing you know, I'm getting calls from friends saying I'm on the national news, and the front page of Sina and Tudou. I kinda freaked out first of all. Its been a lot of fun, i used to aspire to be a chef when i was 18 or 19 so i have really enjoyed it. I did  a night in a shanghai restaurant called "Azure" recently and it was fully booked, was dope, but i haven't cooked it for anyone apart from friends since then.

How long have you been Djing/producing, and how’d you end up doing it in China?
I have been loosely Dj'ing since i was about 15 and i bought a pair of Soundlab DLP-1's, they were awful belt driven turntables, but i used to stand there for hours with a Diamond D instrumental and Super Duck Breaks, but it was pointless with those decks, it was a long time until i could afford 1210's that i bought off Kela and after that there was no looking back. As for production, i got into Logic Express about 8 years ago, and started selling my beats to clients for corporate video's, i never thought i would ever be good enough to actually make tracks that would gain any serious recognition, and it wasn't until my fiancé  to me told me to pull my finger out and take it more seriously, that i got in the studio and really focused. Regarding China, a few years ago i got booked by Antidote to come and play in The Shelter, in Shanghai. That was my first experience of China, and a year on i decided i needed a break from the UK and i wanted to experience life in another part of the world, and Shanghai was my choice.


You’re the first and only person I’ve heard use the term “Lazer Dubs.”  It sounds cool as hell, but what is it?
Hhahahaa, actually that was Michael from Antidote being funny, i have no idea. I quite like it though, maybe it could be a term for a CD dubplate (Taking into account that its burned user a lazer.) 

You, and a large part of the music you play/create, have your origins in the UK.  How, if at all, has living in China influenced or changed your “British”(for lack of better words) style?
Where you live will always influence what you do, ranging from the weather to the people you meet. I couldn't really put my finger on how it has, but recently i sent a promo to a producer in the UK and he said he could tell by the mixdown and sounds that i had been in Asia for a while. Also i'm now involved with a rapper and a beatboxer from Taiwan and we are making dubstep/grime under the name 'Lo-Fire', check outwww.soundcloud.com/lofire 


When you hear/see the word Chongqing, what comes to mind?
Hot girls & hot food.


What should we expect from the party?
Well it's a partnership with one of the dopest most respected events in Asia, 'Antidote' so expect madness on the dance floor, and me dancing like a fool on the stage. Apart from that just expect a lot of fun, heavy DnB & dubstep and a lot of Gin & Tonic's. So far the tour has been  awesome and each party has ended up becoming a sweaty rave, with crowd surfing and drunken tomfoolery. So yeah, i hope Chongqing is no different.

Its been a while since I've done one of these, partially because it feels like a waste of time, and partially because recently, there have been few acts out here that I have been excited about seeing.  Thankfully, that trend has come to an end, with a diverse weekend line-up featuring some cool-ass music.  
First of the cool is Wuhan band Mini Train Heart 小火车心.
I first read about them over on Andy Best's  blog(one of the best around for Chinese indie music), where he said that "By the end of the set you felt like you'd been on a journey with the band."  That,  and some things about humor, retro-electronica and the Smashing Pumpkins, got me to give them a listen, and the listening has sold me a ticket to there show(11/17 @ Nuts).   Now,  I'm a child of the 80's who grew up in the Pacific Northwest, so its not hard to sell me on the combination of synthesizer and lo-fi, shoe-gaze guitar.  Add to that a danceable drum-beat, like on the first track  就是那种感觉(Is a Feeling), and you've got me in the pocket.  

The second track 危险人物(Dangerous) reminds me a bit of early Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, without sounding at all emulative.  Again, a great way to get me on board.  

Another weakness of mine, and a sure-fire way to get me through the door is Funk.  Anything "funky" for that matter, which  Gāofēng & G. Eleven(11/20 @ Nuts) are.  The band have a skilled blend of funk, r&b, and blues that is fun and rare(in Chongqing at least) if not original.  The first track Walk Slowly deep, heavy funk bass-line that is lightened a bit by an acoustic guitar, making for a smile inducing ass-shaker.  

The second song 独舞(Solo) is starts out with a heavy bass drum, smooth-jazz vibraphone, and a disco guitar riff that brings more of a smirk than a smile to your face, as you nod your head to the perfect blend of cheesy and groovy. 

With 2011's Halloween weekend officially over, we still have one night to celebrate evil and debauchery, with a few(that I know of) parties around town.  

Fans of reggae/jamaican music aren't going to want to miss Shanghai based DJ Jahrootman kickin' out the irie sounds at Nuts Club.  That one starts at 20:30 and entry is free.  

Over in Jeifengbei, Cotton Club will be hosting their anual Halloween party.  Apparently, Cotton's in-house band has been "let-go," so tonight is likely your last chance to see them perform.  

And rumor has it that Somewhere Bar in Chongqing Tiandi is having a Halloween party that features a 60 RMB open bar for us laowai.  If those rumors are to be believed it might be worth it to start your night there for a proper Halloween pre-func.  

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Whe it comes to DJing an ass-kickin', head bangin' dance party, I've seen few DJs do it better than this man.  Hailing from Beijing, and one of the first stand-out electronic DJs in China, Liman, brings his heavy-metal laden electro bangers to Nuts Club tonight.  And if his "Dirty Party" there last spring is any indicator of how things might go down tonight, it's gonna get wild!  

Known for being one of the few, if not the only, DJs to bring together Chinese rock and electronic music fans, Liman brings a little something to the table for pretty much any one who enjoys dancing, even moshing of thats more your thing.  If my kind words aren't enough to convince you to come out tonight, give a listen to the tracks below or check out his soundcloud.  It oughtta do the trick.  

Over the past few years local electronic music entusiasts, more specifically fans of the sub-genre 'Psytrance' or psychedelic trance, have taken to Chongqing's BeiBei district, set-up camp in its' famed bamboo forrest(you know the one from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) with generators in tow, and have proceeded to have the closest thing Chongqing has ever come to a rave,  also known as the Bamboo Jungle music festival.  And this year my friends, things aren't much different...

This weekend, with the help of some friends, the fine folks at CiCi Park(the heart and soul of CQ's underground electronic music scene) bring the most recent, and to-date biggest incarnation of Bamboo Jungle.  What used to be a mere campout with DJs, has become a legitimate music festival with a host of DJs(and a few VJs) of both the domestic and international persuasion.  So many so, that the location has been changed to accomodate not only more dance music enthusiasts, but a second 'Techno' stage, designated 'Chill-Out' area, and food and drink vendors as well. 

Being held this year on the top of ShiZhi Mountain, the electronica goodness kicks off this Friday, October 14 at 2pm, lasting until the same time on Sunday the 16th.  3-day passes are a cool 200 RMB which includes round trip bus fare.  So strap on your dancing shoes, pack up the tent, and get ready for one of Chongqing's premiere musical events.

What: 2011 Bamboo Festival
When: Fri. 10/14 - Sun. 10/16
Where: Top of the ShiZhi Montain,Banan District, Chongqing China 
重庆市巴南区小泉狮子山顶 


For more information, and full details visit the events douban page here, or call or email any of the following. 
+86 13509429720 +86 13883556355 
+86 023 63036940 
voxsanyo@live.cn 
mustercook@gmail.com 
JIAN225YUE@gmail.com 

Its been a while since I've posted any music on here, so I figured I'd revive what was once a weekly occurrence (even if it just this once).  

The reason for the revival coincides with the reception of a recent mix sent to us by 'local' DJ the Kalakuta Kid, whom we interviewed here a few weeks back, and the upcoming party "Swing High,"  this Saturday night at Nuts Club.  I could go on about the Kalakuta Kid, and his unparalleled(in CQ at least) abilities and overall exquisit taste in music, but I'd rather let the music do the talking, so download the CQSCENE exclusive mix Melted Pot below, and make sure to head over to Nuts Club in Shapingba Saturday night!

if you're a fan of "huMP3 day" or receiving free music from CQSCENE.com in general, please let us know in the comments.

As any North American will tell you(not sure about Canadians), this Thursday, May 5, is one of those holidays we've adopted as an excuse to drink excessively.  May 5, or Cinco De Mayo as the holiday is known marks the defeat of French forces by the under dog Mexican Army, and is held as a celebration of Mexican culture, which in-turn means drinking tequila, margaritas, and Mexican beer.  Being that the holiday was first celebrated by Mexicans living in California, there's no better way to celebrate than with a band hailing from the same region.  

Los Angeles California's The Morlocks will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Chongqing for what promises to be one hell of a fiesta.  Cityweekend Shanghai writer Dan Shapiro posed 8 questions to the band ahead of their upcoming shows, which you can read here.  But there's no better way to get to know the band, and a bit of American culture, than this Thursday at Nuts Club.  50 RMB get you in the door and includes all you can drink beer, access to unbeatable 10 RMB tequila shots, and a latin music dance-party late into the night!

This Saturday at CiCi Park will be the second installment of What the Funk?, a party organized by local Frenchman/DJ The Kalakuta Kid.  We had a few words with out favorite purveyor of eclectic beats prior to what promises to be a funk-filled...soirée.  

CQSCENE: First off, can you tell us who the Kalakuta Kid is?

The whole story of Kalakuta Kid is told on my Douban page but I'll make it straight to the point for this interview. Kalakuta Kid is the dj name I chose in respectful memory of "The Black President" - Barack Obama ?!- NO! Fela Kuti, the nigerian saxophonist, godfather of Afrobeat and one of the most fascinating character I've read about (see the story of Kalakuta Republic). Using Kalakuta and Kid together is both a mark of respect and irony because some may think about Kid Koala... and they souldn't...

CQSCENE: How long been in CQ?  Has CQ had an influence on your DJing style?
 
I've been living here for one year and a half now. To make a not so long story short, I've been observing that Chongqing music scene was more or less divided in three main poles: the electronic scene- promoted by Cici Park-, the punk-rock scene -promoted by Nuts Club-, and the mainsteam soup  in mainstreams clubs.
I guess i have been more influenced by electro music since I arrived in Chongqing... I hope so !
 
CQSCENE: In your opinion, what does CQ need, that it doesn't already have?
 
It needs more adventurous people.Daring people to make it not only an economic but also a cultural lighthouse. If you considere the size of the "monster", Chongqing definitely lack of cultural infrastructures.It needs a decent french restaurant too !

CQSCENE:  What are your musical influences, and how would u describe your DJ style?
 
I've been mainly influenced by african, african-american and caribbean musical expressions.I actually grew up  listening strictly to classic hip hop. Hip hop was the window to a fantastic musical journey. It brigded the gap to jazz, blues, soul and funk.
In parallel I had an intense passion for Jamaican music, afrobeat came to me, ethiojazz too...
So on a normal basis, when I'm  mixing, I try to make all those influences sit around at the same table and have a civilized conversation! I would finally describe it as a grooving melting pot ...or salad bowl ! 
 
 
CQSCENE: And finally, what the Funk?I'd like to know too... Godfathers knows...be @Cici satruday night, you might find an anwer.


What the Funk?, this Saturday, 4/16 @ CiCi Park.  22:00-late.