At least four major parties are scheduled to take place in Kenting on the first weekend of April and top sponsors like MTV, HBO and Sony Music are lending their pull. At least three raves and Spring Scream, a concert now in its ninth year and the oldest of the events, will vie for the attention of the estimated 8,000 plus young people who will flood the southern beach resort from April 3 to 6, even though this is the first year without a public holiday on Tomb Sweeping Day, which previously created a three-day weekend.
Spring Scream, April 3 to 6, will include four music stages with each stage featuring nine or 10 bands per day. Over the four days, about 150 bands will perform with highlights including Japan's Mimie-chan and Oklahoma's 40 Minutes of Hell. Once a pioneer, it is now one of three events to take place in the foothills of the Kenting National Park.
Advanced tickets cost NT$1,200 and go on sale today at a number of outlets around Taiwan, including Witches Pub, Zeitgeist and Apa Cafe in Taipei, Russel's in Taichung, The Armory in Tainan, and Pig Dog in Kaohsiung. Last year only 2,000 advanced tickets were available and sold out several days before the event. This year there will be even fewer, but the festival is offering an electronic ticket purchasing system that involves ATM machines and the Internet. For details check www.springscream.com. On site, tickets will cost NT$1,000 per day.
The only party on the beach this year will be the Golden Beach Music Festival (金灘音樂祭), which has taken over Kenting's Dawan Beach from the Moonlight Party, which last year claimed highest attendance with 10,000 over the three--day weekend and 5,000 on Saturday night alone. The Golden Beach festival is sponsored by MTV and the Pingtung County Government. Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 2am it will feature acts including singing star Chang Cheng-yue (章震嶽), the band Sticky Rice (糯米團) Hong Kong's DJ Tommy and DJ Chozie. Admission is NT$500 for one night or NT$700 for both nights, paid at the door.
The Moonlight Party, April 3 to 5, has moved to a field near the base of Tajian Mountain (
The third party in the hills above Kenting, Spring Love, is organized by the Taipei nightclub 2F and is sponsored by HBO. It will take place Friday and Saturday nights near the Sea View Lodge (海天青會館), dubbed "Love Mansion" for the event, and will feature top Japanese and Sony Music recording artist DJ Takkyu Ishino. Two day passes cost NT$1,000 in advance (sold at 2F) or NT$1,200 at the door. In the intense competition to spur pre-event sales, advanced tickets provide entrance to Friday night's Golden Beach party and opportunities to purchase round-trip bus tickets to Kenting from Taipei or Taichung for NT$800. For more information, check www.spunite.com.
Additionally, numerous Kenting bars and restaurants will take advantage of the influx of partiers, hosting their own events. For complete coverage of Kenting Spring Weekend, check next Friday's Taipei Times.
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