Hot Cat Club aka (rè lì mao) a small but fine venue near Jiaodaokou and Ghost Street with a fave for folk/ska/reggae/blues and occationally jazz.Opened on September 2009, it is a cozy neat place to hang out with a good sentiment of import beers for reasonable prices. Their small stage and the feels remind one on the old Yugong Yishan at Worker Stadium.
In the last two years, Hot Cat Club has become a new insider tip for Beijing's live music scene. The first secret Hang On The Box Reunion show was held in there before Wang Yue did the official one in MAO Live House in 2010. Now they are doing free live shows at every weekend with Beijing's foreigner bands and befriended musicians. Club boss Li Lei's mom is famous for her delicious "ugly dumplings" if you got hunger at late hours.
In 2013, Hot Cat Club will collaborate with Midi Festival to engage the Jam Stage (芥末 jiè mē, their phonic name of "Jam" actually means mustard :). According to Midi's spirit of "The real utopian festival way is where everyone is equal on Midi", there is a chance given to any musicians to perform on Midi. Using the plat form of the most famous Chinese music festival - the Midi Music Festival - Beijing's insider tip live bar Hot Cat Club will provide a stage for hard working and struggling musicians to expose their talent and communicate with music lovers.
Dedicated to jazz, blues and reggae, Hot Cat is a new live music venue hidden in the hutongs between Yonghegong and Andingmen. During performances from Monday to Thursday, the city’s unknown musicians sing blues/reggae covers of Chinese folk and ’80s pop, whereas weekends give a fresh taste of rock, jazz and blues from Beijing’s burgeoning scene.
Film screenings occur daily, with themes that vary by week. The decor is bracingly red, yet the cozy layout provides a chilled-out environment, with sofas scattered around the dance floor. An extended dining section is separated from the staging area, offering a quiet corner to gather together.Tsingtao is sold at the agreeable price of RMB 15; there’s coffee and soft drinks for the teetotal.
Hot Cat is the live music venue in the rapidly developing 46 Fangjia Hutong. It promises to lure checked-shirted Gulou music lovers with live blues, jazz and folk music and reasonably priced drinks (beers start at ¥15; spirits/cocktails, ¥30-45). Expect hipper electro bands and even hip-hop acts to take the stage. The matte black ceiling and crimson walls are dotted with oddly chosen features.
Games and children’s toys stand on the tables. Music videos are projected onto the back wall. Pleasant, attentive waiters serve friendly clientele. The at times poorly executed drinks and the clattering of Jenga blocks mid-performance on a table by the stage, however, damage the bar’s credibility as a serious music venue. Go to meet people first and listen to music second.
Address: Daily 10am-late. 46 Fangjia Hutong (more close to the west end, just south of Guozijian Jie), Dongcheng District
Phone: 86 10 6400 7868
