This month sees a bunch of gigs and a great opportunity to buy some new gear.

First up is the Music China Expo, running next week from Tuesday to Friday. This gear show is for retailers, manufacturers etc. more than musicians. However, past years have shown that most exhibitors are very happy to give some good discounts on their wares. It’s at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre at 2345 Longyang Lu in Pudong. It’s a 5-10 minute walk from the metro station (lines 2 & 7). Google maps link. Last year there were at least six enormous halls filled with musical instruments and related stuff so it’s a perfect time to buy if you’re in the market and you can get down there on a weekday.

Thursday 14th sees a gig from old Luwanrock favourites, Break For Borneo. They are playing a set (or 2?) at the new Lune venue of Xinle Lu. B4B gigs are a rare treat these days so if you haven’t seen them in a while, or at all, I thoroughly urge you to get down there and check them out. It’s great reggae grooved pop with sweet sweet harmonies, a smattering of rapping and lots of ukelele.

Saturday 16th sees another installment of The Fever Machine and Friends with an undeniably great line-up. Toshi and Misuzu’s latest outfit, The Instigation, will open proceedings with their (surprise, surprise) garage-punk stylings. They will be followed by the awesome hypno-minimal-tripout-rock of Rainbow Danger Club, who, by the way, are finishing up an EP soon. Duck Fight Goose are in the penultimate position with their self described Death Ray Rock. No doubt they will also play minimalist inspired tunes with jerky rhythms and lots of technology and giving the audience a lot of aural pleasure.  They also have a record coming out very soon, produced Brad Ferguson. Headlining the show is the tight three piece, The Fever Machine. After all the experimentalism and post rock of the previous two bands it’ll be great to have some straight-up, four four riff rock. There will be verses, choruses, intros, riffs, breakdowns, solos and all the other things you’ve been craving. YESSSS!!

The JZ Festival is on for the whole of next weekend too – schedule here. There’s a bunch of good stuff on over both days including Theo Croker’s Afrosonic Orchestra featuring China Moses, Anna Hughes and The Red Groove Project on the Saturday. And if you get there early on Sunday you can see me performing with 666, the kid’s ensemble that I run at JZ School. The festival is again taking place at the beautiful Century Park in Pudong. Last year the weather was great and it made for a really good way to spend a Sunday. Just remember to take a jacket for later. Also of note is that Antidote is putting together the electronic stage this year. That means B6, Ben Huang with Theo Croker, Sacco and more.

In the next installment: Daniel Hart and Halloween.