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Young voices; long-standing issues

Young People's concert features both young aspiring artists and revered musicians who have something to say about society. PHOTO: COURTESY OF WILD FIRE MUSIC

When voting for the presidential elections ends at 4pm tomorrow, a group of Aboriginal, Hakka, Taiwanese and Han Chinese musicians will begin a two-hour concert in front of the Red Playhouse (紅樓劇場) in Ximending (西門町) for people who care more about society and the environment in which we live than the political scuffles between the pan-greens and pan-blues.

Initiated by Wild Fire Music (野火樂集), a music collective set up by Aboriginal musicians who produce records and hold performances across Taiwan, the concert is open to all musicians and artists who wish to voice their views on social, environmental, educational and cultural issues as members of society. Participating musicians include Puyuma living legend Kimbo Hu (胡德夫), Hakka hip-hop outfit Kao Chiu Chin (烤秋勤), Amis vocalist Hsiao Mei (小美), Puyuma musician Sangpuy Katatepan (盧皆興) and Hakka musician Hsieh Yu-wei (謝宇威).

"The idea to hold a themed performance actually came from Kao Chiu Chin," said Leo Chen (陳永龍), a Puyuma musician from Wild Fire Music who will perform at today' show. "Their music has a pronounced spirit of civil society, delivering sharp social critiques in a witty, humorous way."

Performance notes What: Young People’s Concert (少年仔當家音樂會) When: Tomorrow at 4:01pm Where: North plaza at Red Playhouse (紅樓劇場北廣場), 10 Chengdu Rd, Taipei City (台北市成都路10號) Admission: Free On the Net: www.ignitefire.com

Audiences will see headliner Kao Chiu Chin rapping on various subjects ranging from Taiwanese history to graffiti in their ingenious sampling of nanguan (南管), beiguan (北管), Hakka Ba-Yin (客家八音), Taiwanese opera, Hoklo and Hakka folk songs and oldies accompanied by live performance of suona [Chinese reed pipe].

The fusion of different musical traditions is playfully experimented with in the collaboration between Leo Chen (陳永龍) and the young aspiring hip-hop artists. "Currently, my musical creations focus on rearranging traditional Aboriginal songs with contemporary music styles so that they can reach a wider audience," Leo Chen said.

More melodic folk sounds can be heard from Gelresai (陳世川) of Echo GS (艾可菊斯). Singing in Mandarin, English and Aboriginal tongues, the Rukai guitarist, singer and songwriter will show his audience that music with diverse styles has no borders.
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