Vol. 29 of the Yuyintang Channel series continues to spotlight emerging (or unsung) bands over at their Basement space - and tonight’s got an eclectic spread for shoegaze and dream pop lovers including the most spectacular The Curly - a year after their debut LP made a huge splash across China. Hailing from Qunazhou, they’re as good as they come - assured, woozy, with a starry-eyed romanticism that isn’t afraid to bear its soul. They join up-and-coming shoegaze outfit Ordinary Nothing and emo-laced indie rockers Mamma Aiutto, out of Nanjing.
The emo resurgence is in full swing in 2026 - as a new generation of kids disillusioned by the world around them found solace in screaming their guts out to anyone who would listen. But far from the pop-punk highs of ’My Chemical Romance’ or even the whimsy of ‘American Football’-the emo of today’s youth touches on the more visceral and noisier corners of the genre. So much so that emo has become more of a catch-all for this wave of young ravenous rockers (and their open-hearted fans) than a cue to their music sensibilities. The EMO Message Festival rounds up some of the most exciting new acts in the indie scene- three hot-blooded nights of rock and roll at its most vulnerable and reckless. Night one looks to warm up the crowd with a free showcase featuring rising emo acts like Invertebrate, out of Hangzhou, and Faded Tomorrow, from Wuxi, alongside fellow Hangzhou indie ruffians Falling Nana and post-hardcore band OldParty, also from Hangzhou. Night two features two bands fresh off their stellar debuts - emo math rock outfits wish you could swim and No Decision at Night. Seasoned evocative emo rock favorites are also on hand - as well as Serious Desperado - the young emo noise rockers inject their whirlwind sound with hard-edged angst, muscular musicality, and a youthful vulnerability that’s both heedless and sincere. Rounding out the lineup are emerging Hangzhou noise rockers Chocland.doc, Changsha’s own More, and Guangzhou midwest emo kids Nighty GOGO. Night three goes all out with some two of this year’s most talked about emo acts - Qingdao’s Emo Cloud and Changsha’s WaytheDinoScream - who bring conviction to their scathing yet resonating existential musings. Speaking of bands with a visceral quality to them - there’s garage-rocking favorites The Farmers, out of Hangzhou; Shanghai’s barbed punk ruffians Moya; and Suzhou’s indie rock outfit Acid Room - all of whom have proven themselves over the past year. Finally, you’ve got emerging emo rock outfit lastwejust and the aptly named Oh! No! That's real! who hail from who knows where! Things will appropriately get emotional.
Things get heavy over at Yuyintown Basement with some of the city’s most hard-hitting characters joining forces. On the docket, you’ve got freshly minted Shanghai-based technical death metal band Hounds of Tindalos, who draw inspiration from Cthulhu mythology; metalcore outfit Chaos Mind; crossover thrashers Kill All Posers (aka K.A.P); and the always chugging heavy metal renegades Litium, looking to keep your eardrums ringing. Rock out with the best of them.
Changsha’s Berlin Psych Nurses, whose post-punk-inflicted brand of indie rock has set the music scene ablaze, hit up Singer Space tonight. Taking cues from Interpol, Joy Division, Elefant, and Nick Cave - there’s a theatrical finesse in its lyricism and instrumental heft, allowing its dark melodic edges to strike with precision and its manic carnal energy to wrap you up. They join forces with Beijing art punks Wasted Laika, known for their evocative, charismatic, and poetic rock and roll - cut with a bittersweet romanticism that seems ageless and a chamber pop twang (with a touch of surf rock by way of the Eastern Bloc) that grounds their sound.
Changsha-based singer-songwriter, known for her dizzying blend of neo-folk, trip-hop and synth-pop, toils with the ‘hate’ that engulfed her over the past two years on her new EP Three Seeds - coming out the other end anew. With ethereal certitude, the chameleon artist weaves tones, styles, and ideas - all with harmonious dexterity and vibrant pungency. Its volcanic declarations soon make way for something joyous, with its closing chorus of ‘peace is being free’ truly feeling rapturous. The multi-faceted artist closes out her China tour with a special showcase at Yuyintown Cube.
Old School, retro-fitted rock and roll to get you moving this Saturday night at Yuyintown Basement as a trio of bands with blues in their blood take to the stage. You’ve got Shanghai’s premier surf rock aficionados The Psyders with fellow Shanghai swing rockers Flying Carpet, and budding Jiaxing hard blues rockers Tabris - evoking the best of the 60s and 70s. Sweaty good fun that’ll surely get the blood flowing.
Highlighting the transporting, mystifying, and beguiling world of experimental, instrumental, and improvisational rock music, the Crescendo Music Festival - in its fourth year - has both expanded its reach and sound palette for its latest audial feast - a diverse lineup features a wide array of characters and bands from around the globe this year, taking over both Yuyintown Basement and Cube in C-Park. Highlights include London’s Five the Hierophant - where psychedelic free jazz meets doom metal - as well as Indonesian ‘primal-core’ duo KUNTARI - a wild, dark, intense mix of primitive voices, animal mating, Indonesian tribal rhythms, and dark ambience. The legendary khoomei renegade, Sainkho Namtchylak, a female singer whose voice spans seven octaves and who has used her gift to take the traditional music of Tuva and bring it into a new era, will also be on hand. Utopian Daymare - the sprawling prog rock outfit led by Inner Mongolian musician Hai Qing and guitarist Li Qing- join in on the fun too, alongside Yang Lingyuan, a composer and performer currently residing in The Hague, whose music revolves around microtones, complexity, and electronic acoustics, while incorporating improvisational elements of jazz. If that wasn’t enough, some of Shanghai’s finest will be on hand - including psychedelic wayfarers Khunathi, hefty instrumental rockers An Corporation, and rock and roll free divers Handycam - on something of a hot streak at the moment. This lineup is a beast - highly recommend.
