This Thursday night is New Year's Eve, and Uprock will be ringing in the new year with live music by the Tribal Moons, Cat Scratch Fever and the Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project plus dance music provided by DJ Xiao Kris afterward into the morning. In addition to tunes, there will also be plenty of party games.

Uprock has provided six spots on Thursday night's guest list to GoKunming to give away – the first three readers to send us their names via our contact form will be put on the guest list plus one.

Winners will be notified via email and announced on this post.

Good luck!

Friday night (tomorrow) Club House will throw a Christmas party with the Tribal Moons plus hiphop and other performances. Beer Lao, gin and tonics and rum and coke will all be on special for 10 yuan.

Entry to the party is 20 yuan, but House has provided five pairs of tickets – which include two free drinks – to be given away to five lucky GoKunming readers.

The first five readers to contact us via our contact form with the words "Christmas party tickets" in the body of their message will win one pair of tickets, which must be picked up at Green Kunming before 6:30 pm on Friday.

Winners will be notified via email and announced on this post.

Good luck!

Update: As of 3:20 pm Thursday, there is one pair of tickets left.

Update II: The last pair of tickets has been given away, congrats to Scott, Charlie, Hayley, Elshay and Chiforce!

Saturday morning in Yuxi, Nie'er Cultural Square rocked out to the sound of Kunming's Tribal Moons as around 300 cyclists prepared to take part in China Vätternrundan 2009. Locals out for morning exercise showed some surprise at the gathering of lycra-clad, carbon fibre-toting enthusiasts.

The full race route of 175.5km went from Yuxi across to Jiangchuan, and then around Fuxian Lake, via Jiangcheng, Lüchong, Chengjiang and Haikou Zhen, before returning the finish in Yuxi. The route offered great views of both lake and countryside, and many locals came out and jia you'd their support. A shorter course of 78.8km finished in Chengjiang, at the north end of Fuxian Lake.

Darren Benson of Australia took first place in the men's long course, with a winning time of 4hr 40:44min, a mere 1/10th of a second ahead of David Tonks of the UK, who had to settle for second place. Liu Min of Guangzhou was 4/10ths of a second further back for third place.

The women's long course race was settled far in advance of the finishing line, with no need for sprinting heroics. Shi Yanmei took first in 5hr 7:54min, with Chen Lijuan next in 5hr 40:39min. Third place finisher He Hua came across the line just over an hour later, at 6hr 41min. More information about men's and women's race results can be found on the race's official results page.

The short course race was split into mountain bike (MTB) and road bike categories. Road/Men winner was Huang Pan (2:10:01). Road/Women winner was Amy Bainbridge of Australia (2:39:21). MTB/Men winner was Pu Jinxue (2:08:45). MTB/Women winner was Liu Ying (2:48:26). The split in categories seemed unclear, as some riders rode teched-out small-wheeled city bikes, and many MTB riders had put on skinny road tyres.

Course conditions were hot, with strong sunshine and a stiff breeze that blew from the south for most of the race. This took its toll on the participants as nearly 50 riders failed to complete their chosen courses. Organisation was handled well, with dangerous parts of the course flagged clearly, and the Yuxi police excelled at maintaining order on the course and offering help to riders in difficulty.

Vätternrundan started in Sweden as a recreational ride around Lake Vättern in 1965 and has since become the largest recreational bicycle race in the world. It is brought to China by sporting event company Nordic Ways, who held the event in 2007 and 2008 at Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province. We hope they return to Yuxi and Fuxian Lake in 2010.

Friday and Saturday: Old Shanghai Party at Cargo Club
On Friday and Saturday Cargo will host its Old Shanghai Party (夜上海) featuring 1920s and 1930s Shanghai styles. Dress code is Gangster style for the guys and Qipao for the Ladies. Party starts at ten, entry is free.

Friday: Drum and bass at Uprock
DJ Mong will be playing drum and bass at Uprock from ten on. Entry is free.

Saturday: Live jazz with Excess Luggage at TCG Nordica
One of the best musical acts to come through Kunming last year, Norwegian organ/piano/drum trio Excess Luggage returns to TCG Nordica Saturday night to perform their special brand of state-altering jazz. The early show starts at 8pm, entry is 30 yuan.

Saturday: The Tribal Moons and friends at Uprock
The Tribal Moons will be playing their last gig in Kunming before taking a three-month break – say goodbye to them at Uprock on Saturday night. The Moons will be joined by supporting acts Jipigu, Da Ma Ke Loopmachinemadness and Space Jam. Music starts at 11, entry is 15 yuan.

Friday: Bird Bar 9th birthday party
The Bird Bar in Dali is celebrating its ninth birthday today with an afternoon barbecue and a party with live music all night. Entry is free.

Friday Dali Rock Festival
The first Dali Rock Festival will begin tonight at 7:30 at the Wumiao Temple on Bo'ai Lu when Kunming Social Club takes the stage. The Tribal Moons will perform at 10:45, followed by Show Me at midnight, Filmore 69 at 1:30 and DJ Lumberjack Jon at 2:00. Entry is free.

Friday: DJ DD & DJ Ice at Uprock
Uprock will host another night of DJs with DD and Ice providing the tunes. Music starts at 10, entry is free.

Saturday: Jeff Boldt at Chicago Coffee
Singer/songwriter Jeff Boldt will play a 7:30 concert at Chicago Coffee on Saturday. Entry is free, donations will be collected to be given to the Library Project.

Saturday: Easter buffet and concert at TCG Nordica
TCG Nordica will hold its annual Easter buffet and concert on Saturday, buffet starts at 6 pm, concert begins at 8. Entry is 50 yuan per person – RSVP at 4114691 or 4114692.

Saturday: Dali Rock Festival, round two
The second night of the Dali Rock Festival starts up at 7 pm with Long Lei on the didgeridoo, followed by Eddie at 7:30, The Tribal Moons at 8:15, No Answer at 10:15, Cash Boys at 11, Filmore 69 at 11:45 and DJ Siku at 1. Entry is free.

Since playing their first gig two years ago in Lijiang at the Snow Mountain Music Festival, Kunming-based band The Tribal Moons has become one of the pillars of the city's live music community. Sometimes playing as long as three hours, the band is known as much for its stamina as it is for raucous performances in which its members frequently switch instruments and roles.

The current incarnation of the Tribal Moons consists of John Nevada (US – guitar, trumpet, vocals), Da Ma Ke (Ireland – bass, guitar, vocals), JP Tremblay (Quebec, Canada – guitar, harmonica, bass, vocals) and Ma Tu (Kunming – drums, guitar, vocals). The fifth Moon, Jacques LeBlanc, is currently somewhere in North America but will return later this year.

GoKunming sat down with the Tribal Moons after practice in a smoky corner of a Wenlin Jie bar earlier this week to find out more about what makes the band tick, plus what to expect at this weekend's Dali Rock Festival, where they will be the headline act.

GoKunming: For people who haven't heard your music, how would you describe it?

Da Ma Ke: Rock.

GK: What makes the Tribal Moons different from other bands?

JP: We're all different ages and from different places, so we have something for everyone – local kids love Ma Tu and the grannies love John.
John: This is a jingjiu band, not a baijiu band.

GK: You've toured extensively in Yunnan and southern China over the last two years, what have been some of your favorite places to play?

JP: We played a bikini contest at Club Nice in Kundu once, it wasn't the best show, but it was the best aftershow.
Ma Tu: We played a show in Deqin where we had to take a thousand kilograms of equipment up a mountain in a bus… that was fun.
Da Ma Ke: Those amps didn't make it back.
John: The Snow Mountain Festival two years ago – it really had the flavor of a festival… The Little Bar in Chengdu has the best sound… Playing the Jah Bar in Chengdu is serious fucking fun.

GK: What's the strangest thing that's ever happened while touring that we can write about in this interview?

Ma Tu: When we were in Changsha, the taxi drove off with our bass… then some guy just gave us his bass.

GK: You're headlining the Dali Rock Festival this weekend and have played extensively in Dali before – what's the best thing about playing in Dali?

Da Ma Ke: Everyone knows what's good about going to Dali…
Ma Tu: The sun.
John: Every time we go to Dali there's a fucking kickass party.
Da Ma Ke: Lunatics.

GK: What's it like playing gigs around China as a foreigner?

Da Ma Ke: It's good to play, we don't care where.

GK: Ma Tu, what's it like to play with this particular group of laowai?

Ma Tu: They know how to play. Before I used to play with classmates and we didn't know how to play the music we wanted to play.

GK: Your shows are mostly original material – who writes your songs?

John: I write, Da Ma Ke writes, JP writes… so does Jacques LeBlanc.
Ma Tu: I write all the drum beats.

GK: How long is the average Tribal Moons show?
JP: We play anywhere between an hour and three and a half hours.
John: We're a mad band – we play a lot of music.
JP: I like the power sets.
John: The kids like the sprint – I like the marathon!

GK: What should concertgoers expect from your shows this weekend?

John: Friday and Saturday we'll play different sets – Friday will be a rock set, Saturday will be more varied. It'll almost all be original material.

Tribal Moons will play this weekend's Dali Rock Festival beginning at 10:00 on Friday night and 8:00 Saturday night. Da Ma Ke will also be a featured DJ. For information on booking the Tribal Moons, contact manager Brian K at 15925216452.

This year's Dali Folk Festival (三月街民族节), already in its 19th year, will be joined for the first time by a rock festival featuring top rock bands from Kunming and Dali.

The rock festival, organized by the Hump Group, will take place at the main square of the Wu Miao Temple Complex on Bo Ai Road in Dali Old Town on April 10 and 11.

Bands scheduled to perform at the festival include Tribal Moons, Show Me, No Answer (aka 打死我也不说), Cash Boy and several Dali bands to be announced later. After the performances, DJs Lumberjack Jon, Siku and Da Ma Ke will provide additional music. Music begins at 9:00 both evenings.

Ticketing for the free festival will be done in a rather unorthodox manner: a 20 yuan deposit that is paid before the show and returned after the show. For more information about tickets call Annie at 15825276313.

Free transportation to Dali and back and accommodation for the two days has been provided for the first 100 people to get their tickets. A further twenty tickets have been marked out for free transportation without the accommodation.

The Dali Folk Festival itself will run from April 10 to April 16. Ethnic musicians, dancers and performers from all over the region will be involved in over 100 performances. The festival coincides with Dali's Third Moon Market (三月街), with scores of shops selling food, handicrafts, traditional Chinese medicines and more. A small clutch of booths also have their own little side shows.

Thanks to Arun Veembur for sending a press release about this event. If you have an event you think GoKunming readers would like to know about, please send us info via our contact form

Friday: Tuan Mami exhibition opening at Yunart Gallery
Vietnamese artist Tuan Mami will perform at the opening of his solo exhibition 'The Cover' at Yunart Gallery tonight at 8:00. Entry is free.

Friday: Tribal Moons at Uprock
Kunming's own Tribal Moons will be joined by DJ Greg for a night of rock music at Uprock tonight. Music starts at 10:00, entry is 10 yuan.

Saturday: PsyPurim Costume Rave at Laowo Bar
DJ Micro will be playing all night at the Laowo Bar on Saturday night to celebrate the Jewish holiday Purim. Costumes are mandatory and there will be free draft beer and cocktails until midnight. Entry is 20 yuan for women, 30 yuan for men.

Saturday: TCG Nordica Spring Concert
TCG Nordica will host its annual spring concert on Saturday night. Music begins at 8:00, entry is free.

Saturday: Electro Nite at Uprock
DJs 3b, Countess Kriz and DD will provide the tunes for Electro Nite on Saturday at Uprock. Entry is free, music starts at 10:00.