Theater & dance
Japanese choreographer Jo Kanamori and his dance troupe Noism make their Taiwan debut with Nina as part of the National CKS Cultural Foundation’s Window on Japan series. In this contemporary dance production, five female performers are first seen being manipulated by their male counterparts before they begin to break away from their objectified bodies.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
2009 Kuandu Arts Festival (2009 關渡藝術節) continues this weekend with a series of dances and performances including Dark Eyes Performance Lab’s (黑眼睛跨劇團) rendition of Scottish playwright David Harrower’s Blackbird (today, tomorrow and Sunday), which raises questions about morality through the tale of a pedophile and his victim, and solo performances Ulysses (tomorrow and Sunday), by French choreographer Maxime Iannarelli, and Solos (today, tomorrow and Sunday), by Israeli choreographer Arkadi Zaides. On the Net: kdarts.tnua.edu.tw/festival.
■ Performances are being held at the Taipei National University of the Arts’ (國立臺北藝術大學) Dance Theater (舞蹈廳) and Huang Shan Theater (荒山劇場), 1 Xueyuan Rd, Taipei City (台北市學園路1號)
■ Tickets are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
■ For complete information on performance times, venues and ticket prices, see the festival’s program (Chinese only), at kdarts.tnua.edu.tw/festival/file/0910_small.pdf
Adapted from Aalst by Belgium stage director Pol Heyvaert and writer Dimitri Verhulst, Play Reading #1 — Blind Love (讀劇檔案#1 — 誰殺了我的孩子) tells the chilling story of the murders of two young children by their parents. The original script is based on a real event that took place in Aalst, Belgium, in 1999.
■ Eslite Xinyi Store (誠品信義店), 11 Songgao Rd, Taipei City (台北市松高路11號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 8pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Fox Tales (狐仙故事) by Guoguang Opera Company (國光劇團) is a heartbreaking story of love between a human woman and a male fox spirit that spans two lives.
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
The Puppet & Its Double Theater (無獨有偶工作室劇團) teams up with theater director Baboo and up-and-coming stage actor Derrick Wei (魏雋展) to present Der Schonste Moment, a one-man show that’s a rendition of German writer Michael Cornelius’ novel of the same title.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
The Sound From an Ancient City — Flautando Koln (科隆木笛四重奏演奏會), a German flute quartet made up of Susanne Hochscheid, Ursula Thelen, Kerstin de Witt and Katharina Hess, begins their three-city Taiwan tour this weekend.
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm (Kaohsiung), Sunday 2:30pm (Taichung), Wednesday 7:30pm (Taipei)
■ Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chih-teh Hall (高雄市立文化中心至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City, (高雄市五福一路67號); Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號); National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000 for Kaohsiung and NT$300 to NT$1,200
for Taichung and Taipei, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
NSO Classic — The Triumph of the Spirit (NSO精選 — 昂首 那心底的凱旋) presents the National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) under guest conductor Lu Shao-chia (呂紹嘉) performing a program including Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Tallis, Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat Suite and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47.
■ Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Stouxingers Taiwan Tour (德國人聲重唱Stouxingers巡迴音樂會) brings the innovative German a cappella group to Taiwan for a mixed program including pop classics by John Lennon, Prince and U2, as well as self-composed works.
■ Wednesday at 7:30pm
■ Chungcheng Hall of the National Chiao Tung University (交通大學中正堂), 1001 Dasyue Rd, Hsinchu City (新竹市大學路1001號)
■ Ticket are NT$150 to NT$400, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Tonight at the The Wall (這牆), punks Fire Ex (滅火器) are throwing a concert to celebrate the release of their latest CD, Men of the Sea (海上的人). Tomorrow night folk rocker Finn takes the stage. Later in the evening Dance Rock Taipei presents Daaaaaance Rock Vol. 7 featuring DJs Kyoko, Masayasu, Spykee Fat and Dino. On Sunday the venue hosts young indie bands Ride to Where (騎去哪) and Gayyung (假勇) and post-rock group Psycho. On Tuesday Hong Kong pop singer Eason Chan (陳奕迅) takes the stage for a sold-out show.
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1).
Tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ Music shows start at 8pm tonight, 8pm and 11pm tomorrow and 8pm Sunday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow (NT$600 for two tickets) for Finn and NT$700 (NT$500 in advance) for the DJ shows, and NT$300 on Sunday. Tickets for Eason Chan’s show are sold out. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Witch House (女巫店) hosts indie singer Huang Pei-yu (黃培育) tonight and indie band Mrs This (這位太太) tomorrow. Folk singer Chang Jie (張頡) makes an appearance on Thursday.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號).
Tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net: www.witchhouse.org
■ Performances start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays; 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Entrance fee for music shows is NT$300
Aashti (絲路樂團) plays Balkan folk and gypsy music tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow it’s an evening of Mando-pop with singer Raymond Chang (張晉樵) and Motianren (摩天人樂團). On Sunday folky Mando-pop singer Mia (鈺婷) appears with her backing band, splitting the bill with No Name. The venue’s weekly open jam is on Monday.
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓). Tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 9:30pm tonight and 9pm tomorrow, Sunday and Monday. Open jam starts at 9pm. For a list of standard songs and ground rules, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday and NT$150 on Monday
Alt rock/nu-metal group Overdose opens for pop-rock singer Tong-en (同恩) tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow popular indie-pop group 1976 performs new songs from its upcoming album Life or Live (不合時宜). Taking the stage on Thursday is H.B.C. Trio, led by rock-jazz guitar maestro and composer Scott Henderson.
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). Tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8:30pm tonight, tomorrow and Thursday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow and NT$1,500 for standing room tickets or NT$2,000 for tickets with a seat on Thursday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Indie-rockers Feng Lai Fang (風籟坊) and post-rock group Sorry Youth play tonight at Underworld (地下社會). Tomorrow the venue hosts grunge rockers The Capelin (柳葉魚), post-rock-ish group Sun of Morning (晨曦光廊) and Bugs of Phonon (聲子蟲). Performing on Wednesday are indie-rock band Passionate Winker (激情睫毛) and KZ, an alt-rock group with some catchy melodies.
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Music shows run from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy Hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow and includes one drink, NT$100 on Wednesday
Jo Jo Ma Quartet, a group led by saxophonist Joseph Marchione, appears tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow surf-rock and blues trio Blues Vibrations takes the stage. Emo Jazz Trio performs Tuesday, and on Wednesday Tammy and the Five Notes (五分熟樂團) plays funky jazz. On Thursday Ginger Men plays fusion jazz.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1).
Tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net: www.sappho102.biz
■ Music shows begin at 10:30pm on weekends, 10pm on weekdays. Sappho is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is free
Every Wednesday night at the Cosmopolitan Grill there’s an open mic hosted by keyboardist Andrew Page, with the music mainly covering blues and jazz. All are welcome to participate, and participants receive 20 percent off drinks.
■ 1F, 218 Changchun Rd, Taipei City (台北市長春路218號1樓). Tel: (02) 2508- 0304. On the Net: www.cosmo.com.tw
■ 8:30pm to 11pm on Wednesday
■ No entrance fee
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week include beloved female singer Tiger Huang (黃小琥), who performs two sets every Monday, and male crooner Huang Chung-yuan (黃中原), who appears every Friday.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北 市安和路二段211號). Tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Music shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Tonight, 89k in Taichung hosts blues-rock trio Three Day Bender and jazz-rock outfit the Dawid Vorster Trio. Tomorrow FOD fest, or the Friends of Daniel Pearl Festival from the US, presides over an evening of music. [See story on Page 13.] Musicians of all styles and genres are encouraged to bring their instruments and participate.
■ 21 Daguan Rd, Nantun Dist, Taichung City (台中市南屯區大觀路21號)
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300
Tonight Roxy Roots hosts the Blurrs Bros, a blues duo featuring singer DC Rapier, and guitarist Aki “the Flame” Ikeda of BoPoMoFo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Tomorrow night the venue features live experimental electronica music from Chill Da Dog and KbN. [See Vinyl Word.]
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號). Tel: (02) 2725-3932. On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Show starts at 10pm
■ Entrance is free
The Other Side has simplified its pricing policy — NT$300 for everyone except Wednesdays, when women get in free. The nightclub is hosting a tattoo party tomorrow: those with tattoos pay half-price for entry, and there will be a lucky drawing for a free tattoo. Wednesday is ladies night; DJs spin indie rock.
■ B1, 20, Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路20號B1). Tel: (02) 2723-3257. On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10pm until 4am
■ Entrance fee is NT$300, except on Wednesdays for women, who get in free
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