Some of the country’s most popular indie rock bands are playing this weekend at the Megaport Music Festival.
The annual festival, which is being held at Pier 2 Art District (高雄駁二藝術特區) in Kaohsiung and begins tomorrow, also features a few big-name headliners: Taiwan’s top rocker Wu Bai (伍佰) and his band China Blue perform on Sunday, and pop singer Jeannie Hsieh (謝金燕) takes to the stage tomorrow night.
Other notable performers include Japanese garage rockers Chelsea, which appear tomorrow, and British post-rock/electro band 65daysofstatic, which takes to the stage on Sunday.
Megaport, started by Taipei live music venue The Wall (這牆) in 2006, is being held in an area of Kaohsiung Port that has been converted into a public space for the arts. The festival is part of an ongoing effort by The Wall and its associated record label, Uloud (有料音樂), to encourage and develop the indie music scene in southern Taiwan.
Last year, the festival concerts drew 5,000 attendees, said spokeswoman Vivian Lu (呂欣如), and a total of 20,000 people visited the festival, which also held free activities and hosted an arts and crafts market. Festival organizers expect visitor numbers to increase this year.
Festival-goers from last year can expect a few changes, said Lu. The stages are being positioned so concert-goers will have better views of the ocean. And a skateboarding contest has been added to the mix of non-musical activities that will be held at Pier 2, along with the market and food stalls.
More than 40 bands are scheduled to perform on two outdoor stages and one indoor stage. Read on for the Taipei Times’ shortlist of bands to catch at Megaport.
For a full schedule, visit the event’s Web site at www.megaport.com.tw.
What: Megaport Music Festival 2011 (大港開唱)
When: Noon to 10pm, tomorrow and Sunday
Where: Pier 2 Art District (高雄駁二藝術特區),1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號)
On the Net: www.megaport.com.tw
Admission: NT$1,000 for a single-day pass, NT$1,600 for a two-day pass (advance tickets are NT$800 for a single-day pass and NT$1,400 for a two-day pass, available through today). Tickets can be purchased at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks, books.com.tw, or indievox.com
Getting There: Pier 2 Art District is located near Kaohsiung MRT’s Yanchengpu Station (鹽埕埔站,O2站)
Touming Magazine (透明雜誌)
This four-piece group’s sound is full of party atmosphere and draws inspiration from 1990s alternative rock, punk and, occasionally, hip-hop and soul.
■ Tomorrow, 2:50pm, Dragon Goddess Stage (女神龍舞台)
The White Eyes (白目樂隊)
Taiwan’s hottest garage band is getting ready for a show later this month at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas.
■ Tomorrow, 5:20pm, Dragon Goddess Stage (女神龍舞台)
Chthonic (閃靈)
Taiwan’s most renowned metal band, led by vocalist and Formoz founder Freddy Lim (林昶佐), never fails to attract a devoted crowd of headbangers.
■ Tomorrow, 6:40pm, Dragon Goddess Stage (女神龍舞台)
Jeannie Hsieh (謝金燕)
This taimei (台妹) archetype is likely to draw a crowd, but not just for her looks or sexy dance routines. Her brand of techno-pop, often sung in Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese), is pretty catchy, too.
■ Tomorrow, 8:20pm, Dragon Goddess Stage (女神龍舞台)
Echo (回聲樂團)
This band of university classmates, which formed over a decade ago, produces stylish electro-rock.
■ Tomorrow, 7:20pm, Waves Stage (海波浪舞台)
Fire Ex (滅火器)
This pop-punk group, formed in 2000, is among the handful of bands representing Taiwan’s indie scene at South by Southwest next month.
■ Tomorrow, 7:20pm, Waves Stage (海波浪舞台)
Chelsea
Don’t let their pretty-boy looks fool you. This four-piece band plays loud and blistering garage rock.
■ Tomorrow, 4:30pm, Kamomai Stage (卡魔麥舞台)
MUCC and Jealkb
Fans of J-rock won’t want to miss MUCC’s mix of metal, alternative rock and glam. Joining it is a group in a similar vein, the flamboyant visual kei band Jealkb.
■ Tomorrow, 6pm, Kamomai Stage (卡魔麥舞台)
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