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.

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

The long dry spell of touring bands passing through Kunming will end later this month when Beijing-based post-punk outfit Rebuilding the Rights of Statues – aka Re-TROS – plays the Speakeasy Bar on March 18. The video above is for the band's single "Hang the police".

A three-piece with male and female vocalists, Re-TROS was founded in 2003 and has steadily built up a following in Beijing and across China with its dark, danceable style. The band's music has also attracted attention beyond the PRC – prolific composer and producer Brian Eno liked the band so much he was a guest keyboardist on their debut EP "Cut Off!".

Re-TROS is currently touring 29 Chinese cities in support of their new album on Modern Sky Records, "Watch out! Climate has changed, fat mum rises…". Their Speakeasy show marks the beginning of tour season in Kunming, which all but ceases during the winter.

Information regarding showtime, ticket price and the opening band has yet to be released.

Friday: Elin Färnstrand at TCG Nordica
Singer/songwriter Elin Färnstrand will be joined by Daniel Youngström and others onstage at TCG Nordica tonight. Music starts at 8:00, admission to the show is 15 yuan.

Friday: HYPER SPACE party at Uprock
Formerly based in Taichung, Taiwan, DJs 3b and Countess Kriz are bringing their HYPER SPACE party to Uprock tonight, featuring funky and tech house and more. Music starts around 10:00, entry is free.

Saturday: No No-Car Day
Kunming's municipal government has temporarily suspended its monthly no-car days, which normally take place on the last Saturday of each month. The massive overhaul of the city's second ring road is the official reason for the suspension. According to Kunming media reports, monthly no-car days will resume once construction of the new double-decker road is complete.

Saturday: Youth art exhibition opening at TCG Nordica
Nordica will host an opening for their youth art exhibition 'The Pictures We See' Saturday night at 8:00. Entry is free.

Saturday: Zhou Yunpeng at Qunide Bar
Blind folk musician Zhou Yunpeng (周云蓬), formerly of influential indie label Modern Sky returns to Kunming Saturday night, playing a 9:30 show at the newish Qunide Bar (去你的吧) on the second floor of the Kundu Business City (昆都商场). Admission is 40 yuan.

Saturday: Bad Monkey opening party with Tribal Moons
Kunming's Tribal Moons will be playing all night at the new location of the Bad Monkey in Dali. The new incarnation of the Bad Monkey is still on Renmin Lu, across the street and about 20 meters up the hill. Music starts at 9:00, entry is free.

Saturday: Rave Night at Uprock
Saturday is rave night at Uprock, with music by DJs Miki, Shonny and Echoo. Music starts at 10:00, entry is free.

Sunday: Swap meet at Uprock Terrace
A swap meet will take place on the outdoor terrace at Uprock beginning at 2:00 pm on Sunday. Visitors are welcome to bring anything they want to swap or sell, entry is free.

Friday: Jazz/Latin/Reggae party at Uprock
Uprock will be playing a mix of jazz, latin and reggae plus a special surprise tonight. Music starts at 10, entry is free.

Saturday: Kunming Ultimate Tournament Party at The Hump Bar
Saturday night The Hump Bar will host the official party for Kunming's first ultimate frisbee tournament. DJs Christian, Jon and Martin will provide the tunes from 10 to sunrise. Entry is free.

Saturday: Fluorescent 'Lightning Bug' party
Uprock will bust out the black lights on Saturday night and is encouraging people to dress up in fluorescent clothes, wear florescent face paint, or at the very least brush their teeth before showing up. Party starts at 10, entry is free.

Monday: Open mic and local showcase at Halfway House
For those looking to extend that weekend feeling, Halfway House will be holding an hour of open mic on Monday night from 9 to 10, with sign-up starting at 8. From 10 onward the stage will be taken over by Minjian Funk, Tony and the Degree Band, Rebecca/Fang Zhou/Liu Ke, local rappers Xishan, plus Cristina Sanchez and Lush.

Apparently Halfway is considering reviving its open mic nights, should enough people turn up this time. Entry is free.

Friday and Saturday: Kunming Social Club at Moonlight Corner
Moonlight Corner's new Green Lake Restaurant and Bar will once again feature its house jazz band 'Kunming Social Club' from 9:30 to 11:30 tonight and Saturday. Admission is free and the kitchen will feature a limited late-night menu.

Friday: Tribal Moons at Camel Bar
The Camel Bar has been hosting more local music than usual in the last few weeks, tonight Tribal Moons will take the stage. The free show starts at 9:30.

Friday: Alien Quest Party at Speakeasy Bar
DJs Latino and Chicken Han will provide the music while Speakeasy Bar screens cheesy B movies on its big screen. Tequila shots will be on special for 10 yuan. Music starts at 10:00, admission is free.

Friday and Saturday: HIV/AIDS benefit concert at TCG Nordica
TCG Nordica will feature all the performers that have played in this week's international music week tonight and Saturday in special benefit concerts to raise funds for HIV/AIDS programs. Music starts at 8:00 both nights and admission is 50 yuan/person or 25 yuan for students with ID.

Friday and Saturday: Extended House Party at Uprock
Uprock will be featuring DJs Shonny and Xiao Dong plus a special guest tonight and Saturday night beginning at 10:00. There will be 2-for-1 cocktails between 10 and 11. Admission is free.

Sunday: Choir Concert at TCG Nordica
On Sunday night Nordica will wrap up its international music week with a free choir concert featuring the Kunming Dong Dong Qing Miao People's Choir, Marianne G Nielsen, Liao Qiyu, Zhang Mingyue, Gao Chang, Chen Jinsong, Gao Xuehong, Nenia Zenana, Mari Salli, Huang Shan and Tang Yiling. Singing starts at 7:30, admission is free.

Friday & Saturday: Live Jazz at Moonlight Corner
Tonight the new Green Lake location of Thai restaurant and bar Moonlight Corner will host the first performance of their weekend jazz band – Kunming Social Club. Featuring a local rhythm section, British keyboardist and Italian singer, Kunming Social Club will play Moonlight Corner's Green Lake location every Friday and Saturday night from 9:30 to 11:30 – entry is free. Unlike Moonlight Corner's Expo Garden location, the new Green Lake restaurant also features a fully stocked bar that stays open nightly until 2 am.

Friday: Chuck Eddy at the Silver Spoon Café
Guitarist Chuck Eddy will play an early show at The Silver Spoon Café tonight. Music begins at 6:30 and entry is free.

Friday: Electronica at Uprock
DJs Shonny, Martin and Ecko will be playing electronic sets all night at Uprock tonight, and the bar will have a happy hour (literally) from 9:00 to 10:00. Entry is free

Saturday: Ladies night at Uprock
Saturday night is 'Ladies night' at Uprock, with five different kinds of cocktails free for all women from 10:00 to midnight. Music will be provided by DJ Shonny, entry is free.