When combing through the online profiles of the DJs that have been selected to play at this year’s Spring Scream, it’s noticeable that Jimi Moe and Wade Davis and their crew of selectors went for eclecticism. The music ranges from funk and soul to underground house and experimental trippy bleep hop to a lot of dubstep.
“I’m so excited because it’s so much fun every year to hear so many awesome DJs playing experimental music,” Mo said in an interview with the Taipei Times. “We’re giving it a better presence this year with two DJ stages [Starlight and Coral], one set up in the campground for the duration of the festival and a second set up, along with four more band stages, in Oluanpi Lighthouse National Park (鵝鑾鼻燈塔公園) on Friday [April 6] and Saturday [April 7].”
Wednesday night kicks off the festivities with Chamber, a heavyweight in dubstep and bass music, who is spending a year producing tracks in Kaohsiung. Also playing the first night is EMPFAB, a former thrash metal bass player who now prefers drum and bass. On Thursday, Wanghart and Charles promise to keep it funky and hip-hoppy until the dubstep of Postanlly and the melodic trance of Kerlivin play out the night.
Photo: Steven Vigar and Garret Clarke
The main DJ stage has been made in the shape of an octagon. Expect lots of jumping up and down, partial nudity and more as the lineup on April 6 and April 7 is filled with party-rockers and showstoppers. The early evening of April 6 starts with the reggae-influenced sounds of Horse Heads, funk from Ray Von, and hip-hop from NeKbrace. Things get more hectic as the hip-hop morphs into drum and bass with Subtle and Robi Roka. Headliner Mochipet plays the final slot, the first of two sets of the weekend.
On April 7, house music takes over with Conoley Ospovat, Digital D, Colour Wolf and Mr Uppity. They’ll be followed by James Ho, Mochipet, amStereo, Bounce Girlz and Fernando.
On April 8, the focus is back on the campground stages with the ambient sounds of White Eyes One Half and the Hong Kong-based Snoblind. A total of 34 DJs will share the two stages over the festival.
Photo: Steven Vigar and Garret Clarke
One of the best things about Spring Scream is discovering new talent. A sleeper at the festival promises to be DJ Cuppa T, who will play under the moniker Ray Von (real name Tim Melhuish). The 25-year-old Englishman explained his name change in an e-mail interview.
“I didn’t really expect to get chosen for Spring Scream because of the vast amount of people applying, so I went for a comedy name,” Cuppa T said. “Ray Von is stolen from the name of a ridiculous working-men’s club DJ on a British sitcom called Phoenix Nights. Cuppa T has been with me for a while for my love of a certain delicious, hot beverage.”
“I’m hoping to give the crowd at Spring Scream some tea-inspired funk while at the same time making sure they get their rave on,” he said. “Think Michael Jackson meets Tina Turner meets James Brown meets Jurassic 5 meets De La Soul.”
Photo: Steven Vigar and Garret Clarke
On Friday last week, The Vinyl Word reported that the Moonlight Party in Kenting had been banned this year. The situation seems to be changing daily, but as of press time, Moonlight’s promoters have talked the local government into letting them hold the party during the daylight hours at Little Bay Beach (墾丁小灣海灘) on April 6 and April 7. The same promoters will be putting on a free party, the Taiwan Electronic Music Carnival, which will go all night at Baishawan (墾丁白沙灣, white sand beach). On the Net: www.facebook.com/taiwandancecarnival. Read next Friday’s Vinyl Word, for the latest on parties in Kenting over Tomb Sweeping Weekend.
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