In the mood for some revelry, but not sold on Christmas? This weekend Saturnalia, a one-day musical jamboree that organizer Toby Garrod named after a weeklong Roman festival of merrymaking and tomfoolery, is being held at Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村).
The event, which begins tomorrow at 4pm, is being promoted as the venue’s debut as a space for live music acts.
“People love the festivities of Christmas; chilling with friends in a relaxed atmosphere, eating and drinking the good stuff … but often aren’t into religious stuff and don’t wanna go hard in clubs either,” said Garrod, 36, in an e-mail interview last week. “So I wanted to bring something to deal with that.”
Photo: Steven Vigar
Garrod’s Ween tribute band Skycruiser is joined on the lineup by synth-punk act The Looking Glass, shanty rock outfit The Red Cliff, blues musician Stevie Ray, folk rocker TJ Higgins, gypsy jazz group Dark Eyes (夜幕之眼) and DJs Doi Moi (aka Garrod), Chez (of KbN, 凱比鳥), Mike Lambert, Acid La Bonbon and electro duo Genetically Modified Beats.
The first part of the festival is scheduled to take place in the Taipei Artist Village’s courtyard garden, and in the evening proceedings will move inside the TAV’s wood-paneled bar and adjacent multipurpose Bamboo Room.
“People seem to think that live music is always grungy, which is nuts,” said Garrod. “And that’s why the Taipei Artist Village is such a great venue.”
Photo: Steven Vigar
Taipei Artist Village, which opened in 2001, plays home to visiting artists and mounts exhibitions, workshops and seminars.
The kitchen opens at 4pm, and there will be a barbecue outside. Refreshments include hot alcoholic drinks such as Baileys and hot chocolate, Irish coffee, mulled wine and hot toddies, and cocktails include Bloody Marys and martinis.
“It’s a shame there are not more live music venues that give you a chance to rock out with a touch of class,” said Garrod.
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