2Guangzhou

Strategically located in Guangzhou’s University City, Iron Age Space is another strong contender in Guangzhou’s live music scene. It’s the only venue in Guangzhou University City that offers live music to its population of 180,000. Iron Age Space is bar, an art-space and a live music venue all in one. With a 35 square metre stage, it counts as one of the bigger venues.

Getting there: Line 4, Guangzhou University City Station, Exit C

An Irish pub, a restaurant and a live music venue – Hooley’s is the venue of choice for people wishing to enjoy an expertly pulled pint of Guinness, good food and live music. Though immensely popular with the expat crowd, Hooley’s is the least bohemian and cutting edge out of the lot. At the same time however, Hooley’s doesn’t claim to be the most avant-garde live music venue around, hence it’s less about serious music and more about having a good time. However, there are major exceptions to this rule and sometimes Hooley’s does reel in a big name or two, such as Canadian rocker Ron Hawkins for example. The majority of gigs however, consist of cover bands, while the mic is given over to the audiences in their open mic night every Wednesday.

Lucy's is beautifully situated on Shamian Island close to the Pearl River, and it's hard to turn down their outdoor eating section amidst the Banyan trees. Lucy's cuisine is extensively varied, and includes several simple burgers.Take metro Line 1 to Huangsha and use Exit D. Cross over walking bridge, continue straight on and turn left after Victory Hotel. You will come to Shamian Park and Lucy's is within the park.

Features: International Cards

Like C:Union, Tekkwun also attracts top class acts from home and abroad. Since its opening in August 2009, Tekkwun has fast become one of the city’s most active venues in promoting Chinese non-mainstream music. Not tied to one particular genre, you can catch anything from hard core metal concerts to mellow Chinese folk-rock gigs. Many top international acts also swing through Tekkwun’s doors, hence cementing its reputation as one of Guangzhou’s top live music venues.

Tucked away and a bit difficult to find but well worth the effort, is a bar inside an art gallery that originated as a factory. Intrigued yet? In what has become a trend in recent years, several artists have renovated an old pre-Cultural Revolution Chinese factory and craftily remodeled it to reflect the new Chinese art scene that has begun to surface the last few years in China’s bigger cities. The most famous are 798 Art District in Beijing and Shanghai’s Moganshan.
Originally opened in 2003, the place was given the moniker Park 19, and soon became one of the city’s best spots for artists, musicians, sculptors, etc, to present and appreciate the city’s newest art momentum. It was later renamed Loft 345 because it occupies the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors of the Xiao Gang Hua Yuan Building. Its interior and formerly white walls have a distinctly artistic feel to it now that they are covered completely inch by inch by ornately expressive graffiti and color. Inside, there are around 40 fully operating living/working studios that are rented out. The expositions are mostly from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and usually run for one or two months because the bar specifically strives to allow students the opportunity to exhibit their work.
The bar is open everyday but Monday from 9pm on and every night there are different highlights. There is an open music circle on Thursday nights. The bar is well known for its music scene and variable genres of music played. From jazz to funk, blues to folk, punk to experimental, the diversity provides an atmosphere pleasing every musical niche. There is even a spoken word night that is currently held the first Sunday of every month.
For something truly memorable and inspiring and to make you feel a part of this vibrant city, mesh into the new artistic segment of Guangzhou’s society; try a bar off the usual tourist path and into the art gallery world

Getting there: Line 2, Jiang Nan Xi Station, Exit C. LOFT345 is about 400 meters east from the station, along the river / Jiang Nan Dong Lu (Jian Nan East Road). Walk along the river until the brick workshops end, and then enter the left gate to the white building.