D-22 is the capital's newest live music venue and bets are still being taken as to whether it will last longer than the Hawaiian theme bar that used to reside at the same address. The setup is in place that's for sure, with a gallery viewing area, musicians' room, lounge area and of course the stage. With its dark walls and slightly dingy atmosphere, there's a touch, just a touch, of the old Marquee in London.

However, Beijing lacks the originality, talent and crowds for D-22 to emulate even a smidgen of the legendary London club's success. Despite being strategically placed in the university area of Wudaokou, Hang on the Box, one of Beijing's more well known acts, failed to pull them in on a Friday night, with the entry fee of 30 yuan probably proving prohibitive for many of the students in the area.

If the owners, Charles and Mike, want to get the place jumping, then perhaps a favourable pricing policy for indigenous students might be the answer. But who knows, perhaps the students of Wudaokou are past saving as they shoot up lethal doses of bump and grind served up by the R&B men at Propaganda et al. D-22's mission of bringing real music to the people is indeed a noble one, but it's location might just well be the death of it. I hope it isn't.

Location: 13 Chengfu Lu, Wudaokou, (between Wudakou subway and Peking University), Tel: 010-62653177