Theater
A Moving Sound - The Smallest Flower (最小的花). A moving 70-minute voice and dance theater piece based on the life stories of dancers Mia Hsieh (謝韻雅) and Wang Pei-chun (王珮君). Produced by World Music group A Moving Sound and sponsored by the National Culture and Arts Foundation and the Chin-lin Foundation for Culture and Arts, the show moves to Tainan's Eslite (誠品) bookstore this weekend after three sold-out shows last weekend in Taipei. The dancers use their bodies to express an experience many Taiwanese share: fleeing China a half-century ago and rebuilding their lives here.
- Tainan Eslite Bookstore (台南誠品書店), B2, 181 Changrung Rd Sec 1, Tainan (台南市長榮路一段181號)
- Tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
- Tickets are NT$350 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw. For more information, call (06) 208-3977
P.I.G by Morning Star Theater (晨星劇團) tells the story of a how a quiet village in the middle of a forest suffers a natural disaster and manages to pull through the tragedy by pooling its resources.
- Taipei Cultural Center, Wenshan Branch, Children's Theater (台北市社教館文山分館兒童劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei (台北市景文街32號)
- Tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
- Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw (Note: Tomorrow's tickets are already sold out)
Classical Music
Ou Yang Ling-yi Cello Solo Recital (歐陽伶宜大提琴獨奏會). Ou Yang received her doctorate in musical arts in cello performance under Suren Bagratuni from Michigan State University in 2002. She is a full-time assistant professor at the Music Department of Soochow University and part-time assistant professor at the National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei. She will play Bach's Six Suites for Violoncello Solo, which are the cornerstone of cello repertoire. She will play numbers two, three, and six in Taoyuan tonight and numbers one, four and five in Hsinchu on Sunday. For the two concerts in Taipei, she will play numbers one, three and five on Sept. 28 and numbers two, four and six on Oct. 3.
- Tonight at the Performing Arts Hall of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taoyuan County Government (桃園縣政府文化局演藝廳), 21 Xianfu Rd, Taoyuan County (桃園市縣府路21號), Sunday at 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 Sept. 28 and Oct. 3 at the National Recital Hall, Taipei
- Free admission for the Taoyuan concert. All tickets cost for the Hsinchu performance cost NT$200. For the Taipei concerts, tickets range from NT$300 to NT$1,000. All tickets are available through ERA ticketing
- Tonight, Sept. 28, and Oct. 3 at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
The Taipei Symphony Orchestra Music Director Selection Concert - Ronald Zollman and TSO (台北市立交響樂團音樂總監遴選音樂會 - 左爾曼與北市交). TSO is reviewing candidates to take up the position of its music director. The first selection concert, featuring conductor Emil Tabakov, took place in June and the second one featuring conductor Ivan Meylemans took place Wednesday. Joined by cellist Chang Chen-chieh (張正傑), Zollman will conduct the third TSO selection concert. The program will include Weber's Overture 'Oberon', Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op.104, and Brahms' Symphony No.4 in E Minor, Op.98
- At the Taipei Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei (台北市延平南路98號)
- Tickets can be obtained free of charge from the Taipei Zhongshan Hall box office Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, or call TSO on (02) 2578-6731, X706 and X726
- Wednesday at 7:30pm
Liu Sheng-wen Cello Recital - Chopin and His Cello Music (劉聖文2007大提琴獨奏會 - 蕭邦的大提琴). Liu holds a doctoral degree in cello performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University. Joined by pianist Lan Chung-ying (藍充盈), Liu will present a program of works, including Chopin's Introduction and Polonaise Brillante, Op.3 and Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op.65, Brahms' Sonata for Piano and Cello in E Minor, Op.38, and Schumann's Adagio and Allegro, Op.70.
- At the National Recital Hall, Taipei
- Tickets range from NT$200 to NT$300 and are available through NTCH ticketing
- Thursday at 7:30pm
Hsin Hsing-chwen Piano Recital (辛幸純鋼琴獨奏會). Hsin received her early musical training in Taiwan. She left at age 13 to attend the Yehudi Menuhin School in England as a protege of Baroness Fe Bland, and later, the Royal College of Music in London. She studied further in the US and received her MFA from UCLA and doctorate in musical arts from State University of New York at Stony Brook. Hsin is currently Chair and Professor at the Institute of Music, National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. The program of works will include Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin, Lee Tzyy-Sheng's (李子聲) South Muse IIX (南。樂IIX), and Granados' Goyescas (歌雅畫景).
- Thursday at the Ilan Performing Arts Center of the Ilan County Cultural Affairs Bureau (宜蘭縣文化局演藝廳), 482 Zhongshan Rd Sec 2, Ilan City (宜蘭市中山路二段482號); Sept. 21 at the Performing Arts Hall of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taoyuan County Government (桃園縣政府文化局演藝廳), 21 Xianfu Rd, Taoyuan County (桃園市縣府路21號); Sept. 26 at the National Recital Hall, Taipei; and Sept. 27 at the National Chiao Tung University Arts Center (交通大學藝文中心), 1001 Tahsueh Rd, Hsinchu City (新竹市大學路1001號)
- Free admission for the Taoyuan concert. For the Ilan concert, tickets range from NT$100 to NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing. For the Taipei concert, tickets range from NT$250 to NT$500 and are available through ERA ticketing. For the Hsinchu concert, tickets cost from NT$100 for students to NT$200 for the general public and are available through National Chiao Tung University Library and Student Union (交通大學浩然圖書館與活動中心) at (03) 571-2121 X52666 or X59056. For detailed information, call organizer Asia Music & Arts (亞藝藝術) at (02) 2369-4802.
- Thursday, Sept. 21, Sept. 26, and Sept. 27 at 7:30pm
Events
On Thursdays from around 10pm, On Tap bar shows classic and contemporary British and Irish comedy on the big screen TV upstairs. The shows include The Office, Extras, Peep Show, Father Ted and Fawlty Towers. The pub will show Premiership soccer and Rugby World Cup during the weekend.
- The bar is open from 5pm to 4am on weekdays and until 6am on weekends. The kitchen closes at 1am
- 49, Ln 308, Guangfu S Rd, Taipei (台北市光復南路308巷49號). Call (02) 2741-536549號). Call (02) 2741-5365
Contemporary
Bliss presents one of the best Taiwanese rockabilly/psychobilly/ska bands, Fullhouse, garage-rock/art-punk outfit Rabbit Is Rich, and new eclectic acoustic outfit Thoroughly Modern Dinosaurs, featuring Matt Nicodemus, of Red 23, on guitar and vocals and Greg Russell, of Consider the Meek, on drums and "any kind of percussion he can find to beat with or make a noise with." Tomorrow there's psychedelic punk band Rocketgrrl, The Pine Pop Surgeons and Magpie, a newly formed four-piece indie-rock band from Kaohsiung made up of two foreigners and two Taiwanese guys who aim to play melodic, upbeat, high-energy guitar-based rock.
- Performances start at 10pm
- Entrance to the bar is free. On Fridays women wearing skirts get a free drink of their choice. Cover for the shows upstairs is NT$200
- 148 Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市信義路四段148號). Call Bliss at (02) 2702-1855 or log on at www.bliss-taipei.com
Funk/nu-metal band Coach (教練) and Monkey Pilot (猴子飛行員) play tonight at Shida-area music pub Underworld (地下社會). Tomorrow the club features the mellow and rhythmical Tripoets (參劈), one of Taiwan's best underground rap groups. Experimental guitarist Kuo Wen-fang (郭紋汎) and Alice (阿麗絲) perform Wednesday.
- Bands start playing around 9pm. The bar is open from 8pm to 4am on weekdays and 5am on weekends. It is closed on Mondays
- Entrance for shows is NT$300 and includes one free drink
- 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
Tonight at The Wall (這牆), it's popular expat band Public Radio, that plays funk, rock and groove, and Coach (教練). Performing tomorrow are alt-rock band Aphasia (阿飛西雅) and Puyuma musicians Hao-en (吳昊恩) and Chi Jia-ying (紀家瑩), aka Hao-en and Jia-jia (家家與昊恩), who picked up this year's Golden Melody award for Best Singing Group. On Wednesday, it's indie-rock band Red Flower (紅花), pop/fusion combo They're Lisa (他們是力殺) and Lucky Pie. Indie-rock band Slimo (魚子醬) and indie-pop band Pen Sauce play Thursday.
- Entrance tonight and tomorrow is NT$400. Wednesday and Thursday is NT$300. Admission includes one free drink
- Bands take the stage at 8pm tonight, Wednesday and Thursday, and at 9pm tomorrow
- 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
Tonight is Fusion Night (河岸爵士融合夜) at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言), with keyboard player Lu Sheng-fei (呂聖斐), guitarist Jeff Yen (嚴和邦), Lu Chia-chun (陸家駿) on bass and Eric Soong (宋輔仁) on percussion. Singer Debbie Hsiao (蕭賀碩) and the newly regrouped indie band Wizard of Oz (綠野仙蹤) perform tomorrow. On Sunday, Denise Juan (阮丹青), a former pop singer turned piano teacher, television presenter and traveler, takes the stage to celebrate the release of her first new album in seven years. Monday is open-jam night, when anyone can play a short set on stage. All-girl indie five-piece Nekojamband (妮可醬) and post-rock quintet Merry-Go-Round (瑪莉格朗) play Tuesday. On Wednesday, The White Eyes (白目), a hard-driving garage band with three guys and a female lead singer/guitarist perform with pop-rock band 13 (拾參). Indie-pop band Joker and girly alt-rockers Cherry Bloom (櫻桃幫) perform on Thursday.
- Shows start at 9:30pm, except for Sundays and runs from 9pm to 11:30pm
- Entrance tonight, tomorrow, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday is NT$350. Tuesday is NT$300. 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
Neon (特別來賓) and No Name play The Living Room (小客廳) tonight. Tomorrow features minimalist expat post-rock band To a God Unknown. Tuesday, as usual, is tarot night with Eiffel (塔羅老師艾菲爾), along with music from Yu Yan (諭言). On Wednesday there's a production by Tellus Theater followed by music from Drunk Duo (酒客二人組).
- The music starts at 10pm tonight and tomorrow. Tuesday's tarot runs from 7:30pm to midnight, while Yu Yan plays from 8pm to 9pm. Wednesday's theater is from 9:30pm to 10:30pm, followed by music from 10:30pm to midnight
- Entrance is NT$300 for the bands and theater. There is a minimum NT$1,000 charge for the tarot
- 3F, 8 Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei (台北市南京東路5段8號3樓). Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com
The O-Brothaz sound system hosts Thursday Reggae Oasis every Thursday night at club Plan B. The weekly event features Caribbean food and drinks and DJ Taili from France and Japanese DJ Katzu spinning roots reggae.
- There is no cover and all drinks are NT$150
- 9pm to 1am
- 29/1 Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市安和路一段29號之1). Call (02) 2775-5855 or visit www.obrothaz.com for more information
At Grooveyard in Taichung, tonight is Salsa Night. Professional instructors teach salsa and merengue to Cuban music. Following the salsa, Eagle Lin and Gu Lao Pau will play original east coast Aboriginal music. Tomorrow features Public Radio and Euro-rock band The DoLittles. Guitarist Russel Rogers plays blues, jazz, Middle Eastern- and African-influenced music on Wednesday, which is ladies night with drink specials for women. Thursday is Taiwan Exposed open-mic night.
- Salsa night runs from 8pm to 10pm. The live bands play from 10pm to midnight tonight and tomorrow. Open-mic night starts at 9pm
- Grooveyard cover is NT$200 tonight and NT$300 tomorrow. On Sunday an NT$200 donation is required. There's no cover Wednesday and Thursday.
- 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 for more information
Exhibition
I've Been Here Before and Will Come Again (穿透內心的流動風景). Having spent the past three years traveling through artist villages, art festivals and galleries through China, Europe and the US, local artist Wang Ya-hui (王雅慧) is back in Taiwan with a solo exhibition featuring video installation pieces. Speaking with a more experimental language than her previous works, Wang turns to the lyric and warm, attempting to create a subtle connection between moments, memories and people's inner landscapes.
- Galerie Grand Siecle (新苑藝術), 17, Alley 51, Ln 12, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市八德路三段12巷51弄17號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 1pm to 6pm. Call (02) 2578-5630.
- Until Sept. 30
MACLo's Art Exhibition (馬克羅作品展). Featuring poems, paintings, jewel, graphic designs and visual art works by the poet and painter from El Salvador.
- Starts Studio (時空藝術會場), 28 Heping E Rd Sec 2, Taipei (台北市和平東路二段28號). Open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 6pm. Call (02) 8369-1266
- Until Sept. 30
Expression and Line - Solo Exhibition by Chiou Bing-heng (表現表線-邱秉恆雙全開水彩展). Recalling the works of Jackson Pollock, Chiou's watercolors fuse the vocabulary of abstract expressionism with Oriental abstractionism, which delivers the artist's subjective consciousness through brushes and lines. In Chiou's works the realms of existence and non-existence merge.
- Jia Art Gallery (家畫廊), 1F-1, 30, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市中山北路三段30號1樓之1). Open Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm to 6pm. Call (02) 2591-4302
- Until Oct. 3
Plug and Play 2.0 (隨插即用數位創作展). The exhibition features works by 11 local artists who invite visitors to make critical reflections on digital art by delving deeply into the nature of the medium itself.
- National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (國立台灣美術館), 2 Wuchuan W Rd Sec 1, Taichung (台中市五權西路一段2號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (04) 2372-3552
- Until Sept. 30
Sept.16 to Sept. 22 The “anti-communist train” with then-president Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) face plastered on the engine puffed along the “sugar railway” (糖業鐵路) in May 1955, drawing enthusiastic crowds at 103 stops covering nearly 1,200km. An estimated 1.58 million spectators were treated to propaganda films, plays and received free sugar products. By this time, the state-run Taiwan Sugar Corporation (台糖, Taisugar) had managed to connect the previously separate east-west lines established by Japanese-era sugar factories, allowing the anti-communist train to travel easily from Taichung to Pingtung’s Donggang Township (東港). Last Sunday’s feature (Taiwan in Time: The sugar express) covered the inauguration of the
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