Theater
As part of the Great Jet Lag of a Fictional Flight Through Our Happy Days (青春時差), an ongoing series by Mr Wing Theater Company (人力飛行劇團) that invites artists of different generations to explore the theme of youth, Oh! What a Beautiful Day (噢!美麗的日子) revolves around two women — one young, the other middle-aged — conversing with each other about love, men, life and death.
■ 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)
Photo Ccourtesy of the Taipei Culture Foundation
■ Tonight at 8pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 8pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
To celebrate the Republic of China’s 100th birthday, NG Improv Club (新激梗社劇團) is presenting an alternative reading of the country’s history that involves two rival clans of chickens.
■ Comedy Club, 20, Ln 553, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段553巷20號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 at the door and NT$360 in advance, available through tickets.books.com.tw
The Hsin Hsi-yuan Puppet Theater (新西園掌中劇團) is bringing Taiping Village — Golden Helmet, Golden Armor (太平莊—金盔金甲) to the stage this weekend. In the action-packed tale, a hero saves his village from evil spirits.
■ Dadaocheng Theater (大稻埕戲苑), 8F, 21, Dihua St Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市迪化街一段21號8樓)
■ Tomorrow at 2pm
■ Tickets are NT$100, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
As part of the Taipei Fringe Festival (台北藝穗節), Writing! Now! (先寫完劇本Plus+) by Tainan-based T.G.L. Theatre Company (鐵支路邊創作體) is a 120-minute long comedy about a small-time writer and his battle with censorship. [See stories on Page 13.]
■ Red House Theater (西門紅樓), 10 Chengdu Rd, Taipei City (台北市成都路10號)
■ Tuesday and Wednesday at 2pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available online at www.walkieticket.com or by calling (02) 2577-0362
The Dreamy Fallacy (美麗的錯誤) is a musical theater piece based on the work of composer Li Tai-hsiang (李泰祥). This genre-crossing performance, described as a “cabaret musical,” was written by Mel Yang (楊忠衡) of Quanta Theater (廣藝劇場), choreographed by Wu Jin-tao (伍錦濤) of Fluxwaves Dance Theater (流浪舞蹈劇場), and stars highly acclaimed singer and TV show host Christine Hsu (許景淳). More information about the production can be found on the Taipei Arts Festival (台北藝術節) Web site at www.taipeifestival.org. [See story on Page 14.]
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yanping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com
Classical music
City of Wind Symphony (印象‧風城‧交響) is a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) that presents Chen Chien-tai’s (陳建台) City of Wind Symphony (風城交響曲), a musical interpretation of the Hakka spirit. The program also includes Chen Shu-si’s (陳樹熙) Shan’ge (山歌), Mussorgsky’s Dawn on the Moscow River and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35. The orchestra and violinist Henry Tong (董子維) will be conducted by Darrell Ang (洪毅全).
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm (Hsinchu) and Monday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
■ Performing Arts Center of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Hsinchu County (新竹縣文化中心演藝廳), 146 Siancheng 9th Rd, Jhubei City, Hsinchu County (新竹縣竹北市縣政九路146號) and National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000 for Hsinchu and NT$400 to NT$1,500 for Taipei, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com
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, tomorrow and Sunday night’s shows with Mando-pop singer Aska Yang (楊宗緯) are already sold out. Vanness Wu (吳建豪) takes to the stage on Tuesday and Rachel Liang (梁文音) appears on Wednesday. On Thursday, the venue holds The Next Big Thing, a showcase of up-and-coming artists. This week’s performers include Para-Box, post-rock trio The Capelin (柳葉魚) and Okinawan hip-hop group Dastamas.
■ 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 8pm
■ Sold out tonight, tomorrow and Sunday, NT$1,200 and NT$900 on Tuesday (depending on seating area), NT$900 on Wednesday (NT$700 in advance), NT$200 on Thursday. Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Tonight at The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts punk groups Hotpink, Punkhoo (胖虎) and ska-rock band Mary Bites Kerry (瑪莉咬凱利). Tomorrow is metal night with Solemn (恕), Beyond Cure (病入膏肓), Alien Avenge and Truth Be Known. Mando-pop singer Stanley Hsu (許仁杰) takes to the stage on Sunday. On Thursday, it’s indie electronica group The Shine and Shine and Shine and Shine (閃閃閃閃) and psychedelic rockers Flat Club (假文藝青年俱樂部).
■ 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
■ NT$500 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow (NT$400 in advance), NT$500 on Sunday, and NT$400 on Thursday (NT$300). Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts Indian music troupe Coromandel Express. Indie singer-songwriter Zoe Huang (黃玠瑋) performs tomorrow.
■ 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
■ Shows 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 for music shows is NT$300
Tonight Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei, hosts punk band Zag Lope and Paper Girl (紙片女孩). Tomorrow it’s metal bands Masquerader and Panzer Warfare, followed by a dance party titled Plasticized Cherry Bomb Squad featuring DJ Randy. On Wednesday it’s indie-electronica group Heartones (心電樂) and Macbeth (馬克白).
■ 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
■ Shows run from 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. 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. Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Jazz quartet Tianfang (天方樂團) performs tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Indie-folk singer/actress Enno Cheng (鄭宜農) takes to the stage tomorrow, and on Sunday it’s pop bands Monster Band (比利怪客) and No Key Band. 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
■ Show starts tonight at 9:30pm, 9pm on all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules regarding the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ NT$400 tonight, tomorrow, NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Olivia Yan (閻韋伶) and her band Invisible Garden (閻韋伶與桃花源樂團) are among a quartet of pop-rock artists playing tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow boy-band D.C.W. (東城衛) takes to the stage. On Sunday, Indie-pop acoustic duo DingDing and ShiShi (丁丁與西西) shares the bill with Super Idol (超級偶像) TV show singer Issue Chen (陳以岫) and his band the Mornings.
■ 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
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$450 on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight rock club Revolver hosts a party titled Rap City with DJs OohChild, Dasu, Old BK and Lil’ Pun. Tomorrow it’s DJs OohChild, Dasu, Old BK and Lil’ Pun.
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678
■ Shows usually start after 10pm. Contact venue for precise times
■ Entrance is NT$350 tonight and NT$300 tomorrow, which includes one drink tonight and two drinks tomorrow
Saxophonist Minyen Hsieh (謝明諺) and his quartet play tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar that hosts live jazz and blues performances. Tomorrow The Earl Hines II Jazztet plays cool jazz. On Tuesday, it’s the Black Saffron Jazz Quartet.
■ 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
■ Shows start at 10pm. The venue is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight and Wednesday, and NT$150 tomorrow and Tuesday
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday. Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs on Thursdays.
■ 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
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Italian restaurant Capone’s hosts Taipei Swing, which holds its weekly social on Fridays. All are welcome to join and a beginner’s lesson is offered. Music is provided by electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Tomorrow, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. On Wednesday nights, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas and bassist Rick Taira.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號), tel: (02) 2773-3782
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
The Village Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts live music performances every Saturday. Tomorrow David Chen and the Muddy Basin Ramblers play swing jazz, blues and jug band music. Expat British folk duo Red Cliff opens the show.
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377, X207
■ Tomorrow at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$300, includes one drink
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 the venue hosts emo-punk group KoOk (庫克樂團) and Mister Mouth (嘴哥樂團). On Sunday it’s an evening of metal from Solemn (恕), Losing Art (漂浮者), Sakeens and Drunkard.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (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
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow
Tomorrow, 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽) and Skip Skip Ben Ben, the latest project of the talented songwriter and vocalist Ben Ben (斑斑), take to the stage at The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市左營區立文路46號), tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$250, includes one drink
Tomorrow, The 3 Baboons Sports Bar & Grill, an expat hangout at the Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心) in Taoyuan, features expat folk rock duo Gin Lane (琴酒徑).
■ Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心), 112, Nankan Rd Sec 1, Lujhu Township, Taoyuan County (桃園縣蘆竹鄉南崁路一段112號), tel: (03) 212-2150. On the Net: www.3baboons.com
■ Starts at 8pm
■ Entrance is free
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