Theater
The 2010 Yilan International Children’s Folklore and Folkgame Festival (2010宜蘭國際童玩藝術節) has assembled a lineup of music, dance and theatrical performances by groups from more than 10 countries, as well as a series of exhibitions, outdoor activities and workshops. For more information, go to www.folkgame.org.tw/folkgame/cht.
■ Tungshan River Park (冬山河親水公園), 20-36 Siehe Rd, Wujie Township, Yilan County (宜蘭縣五結鄉協和路20號之36), and Yilan Performance Hall (宜蘭演藝廳), 482, Jhongshan Rd Sec 2, Yilan City (宜蘭市中山路二段482號)
■ The festival runs through Aug. 15
■ Admissions to the park is NT$300 for adults and NT$250 for children aged 7 to 12 on weekends, NT$200 for adults and NT$150 for children Mondays to Fridays. Tickets are NT$150 for indoor performances at Yilan Performance Hall, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
For Entrance II (飛行樂園), Diabolo Dance Theatre (舞鈴劇場) injects a dose of visual opulence and high energy into diabolo, a traditional children’s game and Chinese acrobatic routine.
■ Nangang 101 (南港101), 71 Xingnan St, Taipei City (台北市興南街71號)
■ Tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 10:30am and 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
2012 Ritual of Light (2012光之祭典) by Mobius Strip Theater (莫比斯圓環創作公社) is a spiritual exploration of the relationship between people and nature. The piece has a strong New Age vibe and blends theater, drumming, chanting, Sufi whirling and Tibetan singing bowls.
■ Plum Wine Factory (烏梅酒廠), Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Tonight and Monday at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30m and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$900, available through NTCH ticketing or online at
www.artsticket.com.tw
Performance Workshop Theatre’s (表演工作坊) Happiness Lessons (快樂不用學) is a comedy-drama directed by Stan Lai (賴聲川). It centers on an unhappy couple: V, who makes a living coaching people to be happy, and J, a musician trapped in an office worker’s body.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and Monday at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Into Art’s (藝向空間) dance piece Apologies (對不起) tells the story of a girl who stops believing and a boy who runs away.
■ Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei City (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號)
■ Tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$450, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Classical music
Evening of Chopin Polonaises (波蘭舞曲之夜) is the third in a concert program to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth. Pianist Zhu Daming (諸大明) will perform 16 Chopin polonaises.
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
An Evening of Tchaikovsky (柴科夫斯基之夜) presents the Taipei Century Foundation Youth Orchestra (台北世紀青年管絃樂團) performing three works by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky including the Overture From Romeo and Juliet, Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor Op. 23 and Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique.”
■ Monday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Universe of Percussion With Pascal Pons (浩瀚擊樂世界 Pascal Pons 獨奏會) brings French percussionist Pascal Pons to Taipei for a concert that includes the world premiere of Showdown and New Piece by contemporary composers A. Hilario and O. Finnendah. It will also include arrangements for percussion of classical works including Violin Sonata No. 1 by Bach.
■ Thursday at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$250 to NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tonight Mando-pop singer Maggie Chiang (江美琪) takes the stage. Appearing on Wednesday is singer Yang Pei-an(楊培安) .
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 7:30pm tomorrow and 8:30pm Wednesday
■ Admission is NT$900 tonight, NT$500 on Wednesday (NT$400 in advance). Tickets can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon electronics kiosks
Emo-rage band The Hindsight (光景消逝) performs tonight at The Wall (這牆), along with Kaohsiung ska/punk outfit Shy Kick Apple (害羞踢蘋果). The group is playing a farewell show for Taipei before several of its members start their military service. Tomorrow beloved pop-punk group FireEx (滅火器) takes the stage to celebrate its 10th anniversary. VJ collective Muse Whisper closes the evening along with DJs Chou, Kay and Kaoru. Sunday is an evening of black metal with Solemn (恕), Alien Avenge (異族亡魂) and Eye of Violence.
■ 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
■ Shows start at 8pm. Tomorrow’s VJ show starts at midnight
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow for the band and NT$500 for the dance party later on, and NT$400 on Sunday (NT$300 in advance). Tickets can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店) hosts Transition Josh, a solo percussionist. He opens for alt-rock band Silent Toads (啾吉惦惦). Tomorrow night it’s Aboriginal guitarist Gelresai (陳世川). Folk group Tuesday (星期二樂團) performs 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
■ Admission for music shows is NT$300
Fan Hsu Trio (徐梵三重奏) performs the music of jazz great Wayne Shorter tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow it’s pop singer Shino Lin (林曉培). On Sunday pop wunderkind Joanna Wang (王若琳) appears with her baroque indie-pop group New Tokyo Terror. Monday is the venue’s weekly open jam.
■ 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 all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$500 on Sunday, NT$150 on Monday
Tonight Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館) hosts Luantan Ascent
(亂彈阿翔), a group led by singer-songwriter A-hsiang (阿翔) of the beloved but defunct underground rock band Luantan (亂彈). Mando-pop singer Peter Pan (潘裕文) performs tomorrow night. Another Mando-pop performer, Jing Wong (黃靖倫), appears on Sunday afternoon. Later Sunday night, the venue hosts a trio of pop singers called Three Young Women (三個小女人).
■ 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 8pm tonight and tomorrow, 2pm and 8:30pm on Sunday
■ Admission is NT$700 tonight, NT$650 tomorrow, NT$500 on Sunday afternoon and NT$400 on Sunday night. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Underworld (地下社會) hosts noise band Shebang-a (死蚊子) and indie rockers Macbeth. Tomorrow it’s girl-power bands Braces (牙套) and BB Bomb (BB彈). On Wednesday the venue hosts Yell C, a group of up-and-coming punk rockers with a sardonic wit.
■ 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 for music shows is NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, which includes one drink, and NT$100 on Wednesdays
The Olivier Baron Quartet appears tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow the venue hosts Coromandel Express, which performs a “musical masala” of jazz, classical and world music. Edamame Jazz Trio (毛豆三重奏) performs on Tuesday. Fusion Planet appears on Wednesday. On Thursday Rocky and The Barfly host an open jam.
■ 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 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$150 tonight and NT$100 tomorrow, free on other nights
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include Mando-pop songstress Julia Peng (彭佳慧) on Tuesday and male crooner Shin Lung (辛隆), who performs every Saturday.
■ 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 Roxy Roots hosts pop-rock group Rubber Band. Tomorrow is a program billed as Urban Soul x Roots Heart, featuring reggae/dub outfit Otaku3 and DJs @llenbow, Shorty, Point and electronica collective KbN. On Wednesday catch indie rockers Queen Suitcase (皇后皮箱), this year’s winner of the Ho-Hai-Yan Festival’s battle of the bands competition.
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號). Tel: (02) 2725-3932. On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300 (NT$200 credited toward food and drinks)
Taipei Swing holds dance socials on Friday nights at Capone’s, with live music from blues band BoPoMoFo
(ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Dancers of all levels are welcome, and beginner’s lessons are offered while the band takes a break. On Saturday it’s light rock music from Supernova.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號)
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ Minimum charge of one drink on Fridays (dancers receive a complimentary drink coupon). On Saturdays the minimum charge is NT$300
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tonight features psychedelic indie rockers The Tic Tac, who have just released a new EP, and punk group KoOk (庫克). Tomorrow it’s metal bands Beyond Cure, Infernal Chaos and Mutaker.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm tonight and 7pm tomorrow
■ Admission is NT$300 tonight and NT$500 tomorrow
Tomorrow, riot girl band Hot Pink (熱粉紅) performs at The Mercury (水星酒館), a small club that hosts indie bands in Kaohsiung. Also appearing are fellow punks The Lawns (草地人).
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市左營區立文路46號). Tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Show starts at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, includes one drink
Last week Joseph Nye, the well-known China scholar, wrote on the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s website about how war over Taiwan might be averted. He noted that years ago he was on a team that met with then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), “whose previous ‘unofficial’ visit to the US had caused a crisis in which China fired missiles into the sea and the US deployed carriers off the coast of Taiwan.” Yes, that’s right, mighty Chen caused that crisis all by himself. Neither the US nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) exercised any agency. Nye then nostalgically invoked the comical specter
April 15 to April 21 Yang Kui (楊逵) was horrified as he drove past trucks, oxcarts and trolleys loaded with coffins on his way to Tuntzechiao (屯子腳), which he heard had been completely destroyed. The friend he came to check on was safe, but most residents were suffering in the town hit the hardest by the 7.1-magnitude Hsinchu-Taichung Earthquake on April 21, 1935. It remains the deadliest in Taiwan’s recorded history, claiming around 3,300 lives and injuring nearly 12,000. The disaster completely flattened roughly 18,000 houses and damaged countless more. The social activist and
Over the course of former President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) 11-day trip to China that included a meeting with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping (習近平) a surprising number of people commented that the former president was now “irrelevant.” Upon reflection, it became apparent that these comments were coming from pro-Taiwan, pan-green supporters and they were expressing what they hoped was the case, rather than the reality. Ma’s ideology is so pro-China (read: deep blue) and controversial that many in his own Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) hope he retires quickly, or at least refrains from speaking on some subjects. Regardless
Approaching her mid-30s, Xiong Yidan reckons that most of her friends are on to their second or even third babies. But Xiong has more than a dozen. There is Lucky, the street dog from Bangkok who jumped into a taxi with her and never left. There is Sophie and Ben, sibling geese, who honk from morning to night. Boop and Pan, both goats, are romantically involved. Dumpling the hedgehog enjoys a belly rub from time to time. The list goes on. Xiong nurtures her brood from her 8,000 square meter farm in Chiang Dao, a mountainous district in northern Thailand’s