Yuyintown has been coming together nicely these past couple of weeks - and there ain’t no better way to celebrate its arrival than a proper New Year’s Eve bash. For the countdown, they’ve rounded up a swell lineup full of riotous bands, including the alt-rockers Nemassle from Hefei, who sway between anthemic dance punk and tender emo-laced jams, and jittery post-punk act FEED, the young and ravenous from Xiamen, who take joy in its sardonic and jagged world. Also joining them are vintage psych-rockers Vanishing Queen and garage rock favorites Hey! Lily! and indie pop bangers Palette.
Mosh Space returns! The Yangpu hub for the young and restless - one of last year’s best surprises returns to its new location after shutting its door back in October. And they’re going all out for their opening party - a murderer’s row of some of the scene’s most fierce indie acts. 1000 Failures, known for evoking some of the pop rock and emo scene’s best, join affective and emotionally charged indie trio Nerve Passenger, delicate emo math rockers Zhuyouhui, barbed punk rockers Moya, and Changchun emo punk act Tiny Time. Also visiting will be Neo-psych pop makers whetherday, Chengdu funk pop act Purple Waves, and one of my favorite acts from last year, Suzhou’s Acid Room. A full spread - bring an extra liver or two.
Changning and Yangpu may be covered, but Cream Club is holding down the fort over in Pudong. Underrated and rugged in the best possible way, Cream Club has emerged over the year as one of the best spots to check out of city-life and get down and dirty - a billiards hall turned rock and roll warehouse that feels old school. For their NYE hoe down, they’re bringing the noise with a mix of punk, surf rock, post punk, grunge, and core that’ll have you headbanging the night away. On the docket you’ve got surf rock aficionados The Psyders, emerging all-female post punk outfit Fiery Medusa, grunge veterans PRANK, metalcore act Chaos Mind, and street punk (and venue runners) The Stirrers.
Renowned folk artist Wan Xiaoli, the Hebei singer who became a part of Modern Sky’s “Badhead” label in 2002 and has been a staple of the urban folk scene (alongside Xiao He) since then, returns to tour, bringing his unique touch to the stage. Think mandolin, old-school keyboard, and rich, folksy melodies interlaced with more indie and sometimes downright experimental sensibilities. Truly one of our finest singer-songwriters in the scene.
Sludge with a grunge spirit, Shenzhen’s DULL came out swinging in 2025 with their debut. Visceral, raw, and full of energy, their tracks begin as a pummeling assault and eventually (d)evolves into longer, sprawling explorations that sound almost improvised. They’re joined by fellow emerging Shenzhen act - the young battled ‘Noise Chain Punks’ Mineral Blood - a feverish blend of hardcore, crust, d-beat, and noise - raw and cathartic in its aesthetics and message. The touring bands will be supported by Shanghai’s Moya and Suzhou’s T.O.S.
most original, talented, and strangely poignant acts - return with their friends and nomad doppelgängers badbluebirdz. Both hail from Guangzhou, with the badbluebirdz team performing ‘music about joy, happiness, noise, warmth, humidity, gardens, and friendship’. With a lightning in a bottle energy and imagination, it should make for a pretty great evening of atmospheric, freewheeling music that’ll delight and tickle your senses.
