Even though Ho-Hai-Yan is this summer’s third concert at Fulung Beach, it’s hard to say this kind of show is getting old. After all, an afternoon of rock bands playing on the beach is about as good as it gets in Taiwan’s sweltering summertime. Plus, it’s free.
Technically, the event is called the Ho-Hai-Yan Indie Award Taiwan Rock Festival (國際海洋音樂館) and is being put on jointly by the independent record label TCM (角頭音樂) and the Taipei County Government. Last year TCM organized the first ever Ho-Hai Yan based on a “battle of the bands” concept, pitting foreign bands against local artists. This year, the concert serves as the final event in a competition that has included over 10 musical acts, which have now been whittled down to the eight bands and two solo performers who will play tomorrow afternoon.
Starting from 3pm, acts will take the stage in the following order: Bee 3, 88 Guava Seeds (88顆芭樂籽), Huhuhe (呼呼賀), Hujiaomao (胡椒貓), Hi Santa (海產攤), Tolaku (拖拉庫), Cheer Chen (陳綺貞), Luye Hsiantsung (綠野仙蹤), Liu Yi-yuan (劉意韻), and the Clippers (夾子). Following the performances, a panel of six judges, among them Wu Bai (伍佰), will award a best performer prize of NT$200,000 and two runner-up prizes. There will also be an “audience choice” award.
Note also that the rave originally set to take place tomorrow night at Fulung has been postponed until Saturday, July 21.
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