Guanghui is a true insider of Shanghai’s live music scene, thanks to his dual role as the owner of 021 Bar and a guitarist for the rock band Old Street. He’ll give a solo performance at his own place on Nov 10.

Music style: Metal, blues, Arabian music, and traditional Chinese music.

Years of playing guitar: 17.

Music influence: Jimmy Hendrix and the Velvet Underground.

Day job: Guitar teacher.

Why open a live music bar: To promote my own band Old Street!

The 021 Bar crowd: Young and middle-aged professionals, college students, musicians, and poets. Think of the down-to-earth crowd you’d encounter in Lijiang, Yunnan.
Biggest difficulty in running the bar: How to pay next month’s rent.

Most common thing your friends say about you: “You’re a good guitarist, and you’re a good person.”

How 021 Bar picks bands: Creativity is a must. If your band is just a copycat, forget it.

Rule for life: My guitar is my life. I don’t have a wife, and it doesn’t matter to me at all. But without my guitar, I couldn’t survive for a single day.

On the future of 021 Bar: It will remain as an underground live music haven as long as possible. But it will also expand into a multi-functional space combining a rehearsal studio, hostel, gallery, indie movie theater, and tattoo parlor.