Cave Art Venue
CAVE - the metal haunt and local fave located a short walk from Hongqiao Station - has expanded its metal empire with the opening of its new space Cave Art VenuE - a 400+ person music space located in the open-air basement of the IM Shanghai Building right off of Hongqiao Lu. While metal music and rock and roll's more nefarious offshoots are their bread and butter - the venue has diversified itself quite a bit since opening in May - hosting everything from idol afternoon matinees to international acts of all shapes and flavors. In many ways, Cave Art Venue is the perfect alternative to some of the city's more high-end venues — for bands, promoters, and fans — and this impression has helped the venue pick up a lot of steam this summer with a healthy rotation of events happening throughout the week.
In terms of space - it's pretty bare bones - simple but effective. With a capacity of 450, the black box aesthetic of the space keeps the focus on the stage and the live performances. It's big yet compact. Sound quality is top-notch - with much care given to both audiences and performers in how the sound interacts with the surroundings.
A no-frills bar is nestled to the left of the stage area - just far enough out of the way of the mosh pit, but close enough to keep your eye on the action. In terms of drinks - it's modest with just enough of a personal touch. The menu is broken up into Side A: Good for Health and Side B: Good for Soul. Side A consists of your bare necessities like cheap draft (it's hard to beat a 30RMB draft these days) and cocktails like Highball Long Island Ice Tea, and what I'm assuming packs a punch, the CAVE Strongforward. Meanwhile, Side B sticks to shots and a surprisingly diverse whiskey selection. Again, simplicity at its best.
Even its open-air sunken square outside - where the venue shares with its neighbors of various affordable restaurants, seems to work in its favor. In-between sets patrons mingle outside, grab a quick bite while waiting for the next act, or even buy a cheeky drink from the Hot Maxx next door. A wondrous display of the ecosystem of gig goers.
With more and more venues being pushed to the outskirts of the city - too often mistaking size) over affordability), Cave Art Venue feels like a breath of fresh air in this market - one that finds that sweet spot between underground credibility and commercial appeal.
Keep an eye on their latest shows and events by following their official WeChat account: CaveArtVenuE.
Sand Bar
A snug hip seaside getaway in the middle of Shanghai? Sand Bar not only wins points for style but has also positioned itself as an incubator for budding musicians and creatives.
Located directly on Xinhua Lu, it's a hipster hotbed - chic cocktails, cozy seating, and a vibe that screams city pop (hat tip to the faux lit curtained windows around the stage area). All of which is apt considering it's a space run in part by some of the members of Shanghai lo-fi indie pop outfit Me and My Sandcastle. Even their cocktails take names from the many songs in the band's catalogue - including two of my favorites - Blue Honey Boy and Vancouver. Refreshing would be the best way to describe their well-versed cocktail selections (priced between 80 and 110 RMB) with bases like grape peel brandy and rose tequila, finding company with lavender, lime juice, and more.
The compact space, dressed in warm-hued lighting, feels very much like a passion of love for its owners - who have decked out the space with vinyl (which you can put onto the turntable if you so please), an assortment of crunches, stools, and tables, and a lone swing for those brave enough. The stage area is as simple as they come - a keyboard, guitars, and drums positioned with photographic care in the core - all of which can be co-opted by (skilled enough) patrons on jam nights.
Hip it may be, but there's nothing pretentious about Sand Bar, who take joy in building a community for Shanghai's creatives. The space keeps a busy rotation of live music, DJ nights, tarot card readings, and film screenings - allowing a wide range of artists to find their voice. A perfect alternative for those who don't wanna stand among hundreds in a crowded livehouse - and hopefully one that ignites more grassroots movements for the live music scene.
For upcoming gigs and drink promos, follow them on Xiaohongshu: SandBar.
Mosh Space
Since the closure of Neo Bar and Ale Garden last year, Yangpu - arguably the epicenter for budding rock bands in China - has struggled to get back on the map. But Mosh Space, the latest music venue to crop up in the heart of Yangpu District, might just change that.
Located in the bustling nightlife hub of Jiangwan Stadium, Yangpu - where university kids and tech workers unwind on the weekend, Mosh Space has a lot of potential. With a stage area that can easily accommodate 150 people - it's the perfect-sized venue - intimate yet professional (on their opening night, lights and most importantly, sound got nods of approval from various musicians). There's something very welcoming about a stage that spills out right onto the dance floor - giving performances there a more visceral kick.
At the moment, Mosh Space is padding out their live shows with music-themed nights - such as weeknights dedicated to China's latest growing trend - Emo music. It already has tapped a lot of the music scene's freshest talent - so I fully expect their schedule to fill up as the new school semester gets underway.
Its bar and hangout area is a bit more schizoid in terms of atmosphere and aesthetic, but it's a start. The wine rack feels fully misguided, but its beer selection is just about the cheapest I've seen outside of student hangouts such as Perry's. It's clearly opting to be a coffee hangout in the daytime, which is a wise choice - and I could imagine it'd be the perfect place to pound out your last-minute thesis. Surprisingly enough, there seems to be a good mix of clientele - curious bodies getting their first taste of live music versus more experienced gig-goers happy to find a new home.
Let's hope that Mosh Space has strong legs leading into autumn - it just might be the kick that Yangpu and Shanghai need.
Follow them on WeChat (MOSH SPACE 摩什空间) for show schedules and announcements.
