The Vinyl Word

It's that time of year again when hordes of beat freaks slap on the sun screen and head to Kenting for two weekends of musical mayhem. This year's lineup is huge. Kicking off vinyl proceedings at 10pm tonight is Golden Week-Pure Music festival (純淨音樂嘉年華派對) at Dajien Mountain Amusement Park (大尖山原野樂園), which for its debut in Kenting features over 30 DJs on two stages. Tunes run the gamut from break beats, trance and house to drum and bass. Artists include Chris Fortier from the US, Slacker from the UK, VJs Spy.D, Kazu and X-Ray from Japan, 2004 Taipei Times DJ poll winner Nina, Saucey and Kaoru. Advance tickets are NT$1,000 for a one-day pass which includes a 30-minute bus tour of Kenting. A three-day pass will set you back NT$2,300, which includes six drinks and a bus tour. Door damage is NT$3,600 for three days. The party winds down at 6am each morning. Tickets are available from selected Hi Life stores. Visit http://pure-music.blogspot.com/ for more information.

In its sixth year, Moonlight (月光派對), touted by organizers as "the best cool festival on earth" is this year at South Bay Beach (南灣沙灘) and is co-organized by Spunite.com, which has a run down of gigs on its Web site in Chinese. Three days and nights of rock, hip hop, electronica, drum and bass and psychedelic trance begins next Friday. Aldrin from Zouk in Singapore will man the wheels of steel along with Blue Rec, JJJ, Ming, Pete Lin, Ch'iang, Digihai+Akira, Philix 66, Em, F*Daniel and last year's Taipei Times DJ poll winner Victor Cheng and Edmund. Visit www.moonlight-party.com for more details. Contrary to information posted on several Web sites, tickets are required. A three-day pass is NT$2,000, and one-day tickets for Friday are NT$500, NT$1,000 on Saturday and NT$500 on Sunday.

Spring Wave (春浪派對) at Dajien Mountain Amusement Park, organized by Cube, the Loop/Luxy, Ingredient/TriProg and Citrus/ESP features three nights of rock, hip hop, electronica and house on two stages. Beginning next Friday, Vertigo, Reason, ?Joe Ho, Takkyu Ishino from Japan, Hooker, Edmund, Saucey and SL will lay down the vinyl. Tickets for the three days are NT$2,000 and are available from ERA ticketing outlets nationwide.

Visit www.ticket.com.tw or www.spring-wave.com for more information.

Hip hop looms large on the vinyl menu this year. The Hobehoo Hip Hop Party (人人有功練) at Houpihu (後壁湖) brings together artists from Taiwan and Hong Kong including Underground All Stars, MC Hot Dog, Tommy and Lazymuthafucka. A pass for the parties next Friday and Saturday is NT$1,300, one-day tickets cost NT$900. Check out http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/kung_fu_jyinthahouse for more information.

Spring Paradise 2006 at Kenting Baisha Bay Recreation Area (墾丁海白沙灣遊樂區), organized by Cor, brings Machi (麻吉), MC Hot Dog and Vinny to the stage. There's also an FHM magazine competition for the ladies, the winner of which will strut away with NT$5,000.

Room 18 is throwing a Ciara Hip Hop Party next Saturday from 8pm until 4am at Howard Beach Resort Kenting (墾丁福華 B1 Liquid Room). Tickets are NT$2,000, call (02) 2705 7499 (from 12pm to 7pm) for more information, or visit www.room18.com.tw. Apple opens proceedings at 7pm, MC Hot Dog takes to the stage at 8pm and Ciara's stint begins at midnight. There are 2,000 advance tickets available for NT$1,500 each, which can be purchased at Room 18.