Special Events
The Canadian Society in Taiwan (CST) is holding its annual Canada D'eh celebrations this year at Baishawan (白沙灣). The outdoor party includes beach volleyball, hamburgers and hotdogs, swimming, and fresh ocean air. There will be plenty of games such as horseshoe pitching and tug-o-war, a children's activity tent and raffle prizes. The lineup of live music includes BoPoMoFo, ABS, NEON, David Foster Syndicate - his last Taiwan performance - and DJ's from Luxy. Free buses will depart from Hongshulin (紅樹林) MRT Station (red line, last stop before Danshui MRT) and bring partygoers to and from the beach every 10 minutes.
* Baishawan (白沙灣)
PHOTO: COURTSY OF CST
* Saturday June 30, 1:30pm to 11pm
* Tickets are NT$400 for pre-event tickets and NT$500 at the venue and can be purchased through the CST. Children under 110cm get in for half price and those under 90cm have free admission. Complete details of where to buy tickets and other information can be found at www.canadiansociety.org.
Theater
A touch of Zen (正版神武不二) is a unique theatrical experience by Taipei-based drumming performance group U-Theater. Using traditional Chinese martial arts and qigong as the basis of the performance, the performance is a reflection on the relationship between percussion and meditation.
* Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Hsuehshi Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
* Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm
* Tickets are NT$350 to NT$2,000 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
Of Man and Object (人物語) is a modern dance performance by Taipei Dance Circle (光環舞集) that explores the relationship between man and the objects around him.
* Performance Hall of the Nantou Cultural Affairs Bureau (南投縣政府文化局演藝廳), 135 Chienkuo Rd, Nantou City (南投市建國路135號)
* Today at 7:30pm
* Tickets are NT$200 to NT$400 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
Italian Puppet Show: Sandrone (義大利木偶戲:桑得羅尼) by Taiyuan Puppet Theater Company (台原偶戲團). The play follows the hilarious exploits of Fagiolino and his friend Sandrone, the Laurel and Hardy of the Italian puppet stage.
* Nadou Theater (納豆劇場), 79 Xining N Rd, Taipei (台北市西寧北路79號)
* Tomorrow at 3pm
* Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
I Get a Kick Out of You (一腳翻天) by Contemporary Dance Company is a multimedia performance that features dance, dialogue, singing and video projection. The story is based on choreographer Yao Shu-fen's (姚淑芬) experiences living in England and observing the island's football culture.
* Keelung Cultural Center (基隆文化局演藝廳), 181 Hsinyi 1st Rd, Keelung City (基隆市信一路181號)
* Thursday at 7:30pm
* Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artstickets.com.tw
Classical Music
Akiko Suwanai Violin Recital - Quintessence (諏訪內晶子小提琴獨奏會 - 晶粹) Youngest ever winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, Suwanai has established a prolific and prestigious international career as soloist and recitalist. In her two upcoming concerts in Taipei and Taichung, Suwanai will present a program of works, including Mozart's Sonata for Piano and Violin, K.454, Richard Strauss' Sonata for Violin and Piano, and Beethoven's Sonata No. 9 for Piano and Violin "Kreutzer."
* Saturday at the National Concert Hall, Taipei, and Sunday at the Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Hsuehshi Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
* Tickets for both concerts range from NT$500 to NT$2,500, but NT$500 are sold out for the Taichung concert. All thickets are available through ERA ticketing
* Saturday and Sunday at 7:30pm
Lai Hsin-ru Piano Recital - Chinese Scenery (賴欣如鋼琴獨奏會 - 中國風情). In this concert organized by Music Forum (十方樂集), Lai will present a program including Tan Dun's (譚盾) Eight Memories in Watercolor, Op.1, Cheng Gang (陳剛) and He Zhanhao's (何占豪) Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai (梁山伯與祝英台) arranged by Sun Yilin (孫亦林), Sheng Xinghai's (沈星海) Yellow River Piano Concerto arranged by Yin Chengzong (殷成宗), Sheng Lihong (盛禮洪), Chu Wanghua (儲望華), and Liu Zhuang (劉庄), and Waeber-Diaz's Chinese Folk Song (中國民謠即興曲-康定情歌).
* At the Forum Auditorium (十方樂集音樂劇場演奏廳), 4, Ln 187, Minzu W Rd, Taipei City (台北市民族西路187巷4號)
* All tickets cost NT$250 and are available through NTCH ticketing or call Music Forum at 02-2593-5811
* Sunday at 7:30pm
Shih Hsin University Chorus (SHUC) 42nd Concert - Voice of Commitment (世新大學合唱團第42屆年度公演 -- 以聲相許). During its long history, the choir has been recognized as one of the finest college-based choruses in the country. On the occasion of its 42nd anniversary, the mixed-voice choir will be led by the conductors Chu Yuan-lei (朱元雷) and Liu Ma-li (劉馬利). The chorus will sing a program including Mozart's Regina coeli, antiphon for soprano, chorus, and orchestra, K.108 (K.74d) and K.127 featuring soprano Chan Yi-chieh (詹怡潔), some Chinese art songs featuring singer Su Yi (蘇屹), and rhapsodies done a cappella.
* June 27 at the Hsinchu Municipal Performance Hall (新竹市立演藝廳), 17 Tungta Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號), and June 28 at the Taipei County Arts Center (台北縣藝文中心演藝廳), 62 Jhuangjing Rd, Banciao City, Taipei County (台北縣板橋市莊敬路62號)
* Tickets range from NT$300 to NT$350 for the Hsinchu concert and from NT$250 to NT$350 for the Banciao concert
* June 27 and 28 at 7:30pm
Contemporary
Tonight at Underworld (地下社會), it's indie-rock bands The Peppermints (薄荷葉) and Mrs This (這位太太). There's more indie-rock tomorrow with The Capelin (柳葉魚) and Red Flower (紅花). Wednesday features two bands that combine high-octane rock 'n' roll with elements of dance music or hip hop: Mixman, who add scratch to nu-metal, and Inverse Hand (逆指針), whose French disco-funk groove and rapid guitar licks imitate the signature sound of VHS or Beta's 2002 album Night on Fire.
* The bar opens at 8pm and bands start playing at 9pm
* Entrance is NT$300
* B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369 0103 or visit www.underworld-taipei.blogspot.com for more information
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) features J.E.G. jazz combo (這個爵士樂團) tonight, with a yet-to-be-announced "special guest." Tomorrow it's veteran indie-rock four-piece Back Quarter (四分衛), a band that was founded during Taiwan's alternative music revolution of the early 1990s and has experimented with styles ranging from garage to pop to guitar-heavy hard rock. On Sunday there's classical and contemporary jazz with Hung Chun-hui and Wei Niang's quartet (洪筠惠與威良), followed by the Skyline Jazz Band, whose repertoire includes bossa nova, soul, funk, fusion and R&B. Monday is open-mic night. On Tuesday, it's new band OK Bomb and pop-rock quartet Your Low End (憂樂團). On Wednesday pop-rock band Bone (骨頭) preview their forthcoming EP Here is the Rockstar, with special guests Coach Wei (教練小瑋) and Lei Bao (雷堡). Taiwanese-American jazz singing prodigy Joanna Wang (王若琳) performs Thursday, followed by pop-rock band Sunny 4.
* Shows start at 9:30pm
* Entrance tonight, tomorrow, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is NT$350. On Monday there is a one-drink minimum
* B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1). Call (02) 2368-7310, or visit www.riverside.com.tw
Bunan idol and Golden Melody winner Wang Hung-en (王宏恩), better known as Biung, brings his folksy pop sound tonight to the The Wall (這牆). Tomorrow, it's Taipei-born singer-songwriter Peggy Hsu (許哲珮), who in 2003 was named Top Lyricist at the RTHK (Hong Kong) Top Ten Chinese Songs awards. Rock 'n' roll returns on Wednesday, with alt-rock bands Johnny and Eeyore, Black Faith With Sonic Pace and Bitter. On Thursday it's indie-pop band Joker and Pen Sauce.
* Entrance tonight and tomorrow NT$400. Wednesday and Thursday is NT$300.* Show start at 8pm
* B1, 200 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or visit www.the-wall.com.tw
Velvet Underground (地下絲絨), across from Taipei Main Station, presents Fortress Seaven on Sunday, Stallion (種馬樂團) and The Impressionists (印象主義) on Wednesday, and post-rock band Random (隨性), garage-rock band Rabbit is Rich and Mr Dirty on Thursday.
* Bands take the stage at 9pm Sunday and at 8pm Wednesday and Thursday
* Admission Sunday is NT$250. Wednesday and Thursday is NT$300
* B1, 50 Zhongxiao W Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市忠孝西路一段50號B1).
* Call (02) 2314-1868 or visit www.velvet-underground.com.tw.
At the Living Room (小客廳) tonight it's Slow Motion, a band that attempts a mix of hard rock and French disco thump a la Daft Punk, with a pinch of Beck's quirkiness thrown in. On Saturday, South African singer-songwriter David Foster returns after a two-month hiatus. It's tarot night again on Tuesday with Eiffel (塔羅老師艾菲爾). On Wednesday there's a dinner magic show (晚餐魔術秀), followed by the band Drunk (酒客). SoonCut plays on Thursday.
* Performances start at 10pm tonight and tomorrow. Tuesday's tarot runs from 8pm to 11pm. Wednesday's magic starts at 6:30pm, followed by the music from 10pm to midnight. Thursday's music starts at 9pm
* There is a minimum charge of NT$300, with suggested donations for each act
* 3F, 8 Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓).
* Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com
In Taichung at Grooveyard, groove, funk and blues combo Three Legged Cat plays tonight, and the Martijn Van Buel jazz ensemble performs tomorrow. Over at Groovecity, it's Aboriginal musicians Eagle Lin and Gu La Pau tonight and again tomorrow, when they perform after house jazz combo 'Round Midnight. Thursday at Grooveyard, as usual, is Taiwan Exposed open-mic night.
* At Grooveyard the music runs from 9:30pm to 11:30pm tonight. At Groovecity, the music runs from 8pm to 10pm tonight. Tomorrow, 'Round Midnight play from 6pm to 8pm. Eagle Lin and Gu La Pau play from 8pm to 10pm. Thursday's open-mic night starts at 9pm
* Grooveyard cover is NT$200. Groovecity entrance is NT$300. There's no cover for open-mic night
* Groovecity is inside Tiger City (台中老虎城旁停車場) at 120 Henan Rd Sec 3, Taichung (台中市河南路三段120號老虎城). Grooveyard is located at 2F, 105 Huamei W Rd, Taichung (台中市華美西街105號二樓). Visit www.grooveyardtaiwan.com or call 0939-574-737 Exhibition
Exhibition
Taiwanese-language Film (台語電影文物展). To celebrate Taiwanese-language cinema' 50-year history, a rare exhibition has been organized by Chinese Taipei Film Archive (國家電影資料館) sporting rarely seen documents and film equipment dating from the 1950s to 1970s along with a lineup of black-and-white movies made in the 1960s to be screened at the Peitou Hot Springs Museum. For more information, go to www.im.tv/myvlog/CTFA
* Peitou Park (北投公園) and Peitou Hot Springs Museum (北投溫泉博物館) at 2, Zhongshan Rd, Peitou District, Taipei (台北市北投區中山路2號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (02) 2893-9981
* Until July 1
New Contemporary Works of Russian Fantasy (奇想俄羅斯當代新秀). Featuring works by contemporary Russian artists, the special exhibition introduces local audiences to Siberia-born sculptor Dashi Namdakov famed for his bronze works inspired by nomadic legends and promising young painter Zorikto Dorzhiev.
* Be Fine Art Gallery (比劃比畫畫廊), 122-2 Renai Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市仁愛路三段122-2號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm to 7pm.
* Call (02) 2702-7756
* Until June 30
Pieces from the Modern Art Collection (現代藝術收藏展). Founded in 1990 when Taiwan's modern art scene started to build a new identity out of the old values and thinking, the gallery holds a retrospective exhibition on a group of artists of different generations to look back and examine the modern art movement where art is seen as a critical reflection of the political and social scene.
* Home Gallery (家畫廊), 30-1 Zhong-shan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市中山北路三段30-1號). Open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2591-4302
* Until June 30
New Manifestations of the Divine - Hua Chien-chiang Solo Exhibition(新仙上世-華建強個展). Famed for his daring use of bright colors and cartoon-like human portraits, artist Hua takes his latest works to yet another level.
* AKI Gallery (也趣), 4, Ln 140, Zhong-shan N Rd Sec 7, Taipei (台北市中山北路七段140巷4號). Open Tuesday to Thursday from 1pm to 9pm; Friday to Sunday from 11am to 10:30pm.
* Call 2872-5296
* Until July 1
Universality (宇宙主義). Described by the Creative Review (UK) as "the champion of Singapore's graphic scene." :phunk studio makes its first official outing into the art world in the exhibition, demonstrating their diverse influences from both East and West, and situating themselves within the Asian Neo Pop Art movement that sees the rise of graphic art as a distinct genre.
* Museum of Contemporary Art (台北當代藝術館), at 39 Changan W Rd, Taipei (台北市長安西路39號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. (02) 2552-3721
* Until July 22
Highlight
Christian Lindberg Trombone Recital (林柏格長號獨奏會). The 49-year-old Swedish trombone virtuoso Christian Lindberg has premiered more than 200 works, including more than 70 new concerti. Growing up in Stockholm, it was there that he learned to play the baritone horn before taking up the trombone at the age of 17. "I got completely obsessed by the trombone when I first played it. I loved it passionately. The whole world opened up for me," Lindberg has been quoted as saying. Joined by pianist Mitsutaka Shiraishi, Lindberg will present a program of works, including his Los Bandidos, Koka Koka, Joe Jack Binglebandit, his arrangement of Schumann's Drei Fantasiestucke, Op.73, Chopin's Impromptu in F-sharp Major, No.2, Op.36, his arrangement of Stravinsky's Three Pieces from "Firebird", and his arrangement of Prokofiev's Suite from "Romeo and Juliette."
* At the National Concert Hall, Taipei
* Tickets range from NT$500 to NT$2,500 and are available through NTCH ticketing
* Tonight at 7:30pm
In late October of 1873 the government of Japan decided against sending a military expedition to Korea to force that nation to open trade relations. Across the government supporters of the expedition resigned immediately. The spectacle of revolt by disaffected samurai began to loom over Japanese politics. In January of 1874 disaffected samurai attacked a senior minister in Tokyo. A month later, a group of pro-Korea expedition and anti-foreign elements from Saga prefecture in Kyushu revolted, driven in part by high food prices stemming from poor harvests. Their leader, according to Edward Drea’s classic Japan’s Imperial Army, was a samurai
Located down a sideroad in old Wanhua District (萬華區), Waley Art (水谷藝術) has an established reputation for curating some of the more provocative indie art exhibitions in Taipei. And this month is no exception. Beyond the innocuous facade of a shophouse, the full three stories of the gallery space (including the basement) have been taken over by photographs, installation videos and abstract images courtesy of two creatives who hail from the opposite ends of the earth, Taiwan’s Hsu Yi-ting (許懿婷) and Germany’s Benjamin Janzen. “In 2019, I had an art residency in Europe,” Hsu says. “I met Benjamin in the lobby
April 22 to April 28 The true identity of the mastermind behind the Demon Gang (魔鬼黨) was undoubtedly on the minds of countless schoolchildren in late 1958. In the days leading up to the big reveal, more than 10,000 guesses were sent to Ta Hwa Publishing Co (大華文化社) for a chance to win prizes. The smash success of the comic series Great Battle Against the Demon Gang (大戰魔鬼黨) came as a surprise to author Yeh Hung-chia (葉宏甲), who had long given up on his dream after being jailed for 10 months in 1947 over political cartoons. Protagonist
A fossil jawbone found by a British girl and her father on a beach in Somerset, England belongs to a gigantic marine reptile dating to 202 million years ago that appears to have been among the largest animals ever on Earth. Researchers said on Wednesday the bone, called a surangular, was from a type of ocean-going reptile called an ichthyosaur. Based on its dimensions compared to the same bone in closely related ichthyosaurs, the researchers estimated that the Triassic Period creature, which they named Ichthyotitan severnensis, was between 22-26 meters long. That would make it perhaps the largest-known marine reptile and would