Theater
A sequel to choreographer Lai Tsui-shuang’s (賴翠霜) 2010 Premiere, Premiere 2.0 is the second collaboration between Lai and Assembly Dance Theatre (組合語言舞團) that explores the theme of environmentalism.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Libation Bearers (奠酒人) by the Party Theater Group (同黨劇團) is a local rendition of Aeschylus’ play of the same title, which forms part of the ancient Greek dramatist’s trilogy The Oresteia.
■ 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 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Choreographed by Chou Shu-yi (周書毅), Shu-Yi and Dancers’ (周先生與舞者們) Reenactment — in the Midst of Memories (重演─在記得以前) continues to explore the concept of time first examined in the group’s Reenactment last year. Founded by Chou in 2011, Shu-Yi and Dancers is envisioned as a platform where young artists meet, share and collaborate.
■ Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yanping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
A rare treat for local tango lovers, Tango Generations: Grand Milonga and Master Performance features Argentine tango master Gustavo Naveira and his partner and wife Giselle Anne as well as the couple’s son and daughter Federico Naveira and Ariadna Naveira.
■ Neo Studio, 5F, 22 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路22號5樓)
■ Saturday at 9pm
■ Tickets are NT$1,650, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
As part of the ongoing Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival (高雄春天藝術節), Yi Bo Yun Tian (義薄雲天) is a lauded piece from Chun Mei Taiwanese Opera Troupe’s (春美歌劇團) repertoire and cemented troupe director Kuo Chun-mei’s (郭春美) reputation as an operatic diva. The two-hour play tells of court intrigue and romance.
■ Da-Dong Cultural Center (大東文化藝術中心), 161 Guangyuan Rd, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市光遠路161號), next to KMRT Dadong Station (高雄捷運大東站)
■ Saturday and Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing and 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. Tomorrow the venue hosts veteran rocker Sissey Chao (趙一豪), who sounds like Jim Morrison singing in Mandarin. Saturday’s show featuring Japanese emo-rockers One OK Rock is sold out. Mando-popper Victor Wong (品冠) takes to the stage on Sunday. Harpist/flutist Paige Su (蘇珮卿) performs sophisticated jazz pop on Wednesday.
■ 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
■ NT$600 tomorrow (NT$500 in advance), sold out Saturday and NT$1,000 Sunday and NT$500 on Wednesday (NT$400). Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw, www.legacy.com.tw and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Tonight The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts Audition Night, a showcase of up-and-coming bands. Tomorrow’s show featuring metal-core/emo band 831 (八三夭) is sold out. Japanese glam-rock/visual kei band SuG takes to the stage on Saturday. On Sunday, it’s indie rock bands Sorrow of Youth (少年維特的煩惱), which has just released a new EP, with supporting bands Timbre Escape (聲景迴響) and The Third Party. On Tuesday, the venue hosts Japanese instrumental rock group Maybeshewill, with local experimental electronica group KbN as the supporting act.
■ 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$250 tonight, sold out tomorrow and NT$1,700 Saturday and NT$400 on Sunday (NT$300 in advance) and NT$1,300 on Tuesday (NT$1,100). Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts a sold-out show by indie pop superstars Sodagreen (蘇打綠). Tomorrow Puyuma Aboriginal singer Leo Chen (陳永龍) and members of his troupe Wild Fire Music (野火樂集) take to the stage. Singer-songwriter Pumpkin Li (李德筠) performs on Saturday.
■ 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
Expat indie rock trio Roxymoron and indie-electronica outfit Heartones (心電樂) play tomorrow at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. On Saturday, it’s one-man electro-band Sonic Deadhorse and goth-punks Qi Lai Observatory (奇萊山觀測站). Up-and-coming bands Play Ground and Nuka (鹿角) take to the stage on Wednesday.
■ 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 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance is NT$300 on Friday and Saturday (includes one drink). Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts an evening of acoustic acts. Tomorrow, the bill consists of indie rock groups Rolfcopter, Floaty, Drones and Destroyers. On Saturday, the night is themed Dirty Retro with music spun by DJs Robi Roka, Bounce Girls, Zulu, Radio Ra and 8Ball. On Wednesday, it’s expat funk rock group The Shiznits and solo rocker Mike Mudd.
■ 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 start at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is free tonight, NT$200 tomorrow, NT$300 on Saturday (includes a free drink) on Wednesday
Mando-popper One Million Star (超級星光大道) contestant Huang May-jan (黃美珍) appears tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow pop singer Angel Chen (陳思函) takes to the stage, and on Saturday it’s the relatively unknown pop singer AGG, whose promotional poster reads: “Girls! U Need Me!” Indie pop rockers Passionate Winkers (激情睫毛) are among the performers on Sunday. 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 9pm
■ Sold out tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and Sunday and NT$350 on Saturday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Mando-pop singer Elmer Ou (歐育齊) appears tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow 100 Zhongshan Rd (中山路100號) is one among a trio of pop bands performing. On Saturday, it’s the Riot Jazz Orchestra (台大騷動爵士大樂團), a group of National Taiwan University students.
■ 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 for all shows, except Saturday, which is NT$350. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tomorrow Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar, hosts Ash and Friends, which plays modern jazz standards. On Saturday, it’s local ska favorites Skaraoke. The Sappho House Band presides over an open jam on Tuesday and on Wednesday, it’s the Emo Jazz Trio.
■ 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 tomorrow and Saturday; free all other nights
Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs every Thursday at EZ5 Live House, which hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍) 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
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Guitar duo Blurrs Bros perform American songbook tunes tonight at Italian restaurant Capone’s. On Fridays, Taipei Swing holds dance socials with live music from electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). On Saturday, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. Iris sings “romantic chansons” Sunday nights and on Wednesdays, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas.
■ 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 Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tomorrow noisy experimental rock group The Sign of Human (記號士) opens for Sorrow of Youth (少年維特的煩惱), which has just released a new EP. On Saturday 1990s alt-rock band Back Quarter (四分衛) reunites for a show.
■ 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$300 tomorrow and NT$500 on Saturday
The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts live music every Saturday. This weekend, it’s Taichung metal/emo band False Dawn and Kaohsiung hard rock group Rush Timer.
■ 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$200
In late October of 1873 the government of Japan decided against sending a military expedition to Korea to force that nation to open trade relations. Across the government supporters of the expedition resigned immediately. The spectacle of revolt by disaffected samurai began to loom over Japanese politics. In January of 1874 disaffected samurai attacked a senior minister in Tokyo. A month later, a group of pro-Korea expedition and anti-foreign elements from Saga prefecture in Kyushu revolted, driven in part by high food prices stemming from poor harvests. Their leader, according to Edward Drea’s classic Japan’s Imperial Army, was a samurai
Located down a sideroad in old Wanhua District (萬華區), Waley Art (水谷藝術) has an established reputation for curating some of the more provocative indie art exhibitions in Taipei. And this month is no exception. Beyond the innocuous facade of a shophouse, the full three stories of the gallery space (including the basement) have been taken over by photographs, installation videos and abstract images courtesy of two creatives who hail from the opposite ends of the earth, Taiwan’s Hsu Yi-ting (許懿婷) and Germany’s Benjamin Janzen. “In 2019, I had an art residency in Europe,” Hsu says. “I met Benjamin in the lobby
April 22 to April 28 The true identity of the mastermind behind the Demon Gang (魔鬼黨) was undoubtedly on the minds of countless schoolchildren in late 1958. In the days leading up to the big reveal, more than 10,000 guesses were sent to Ta Hwa Publishing Co (大華文化社) for a chance to win prizes. The smash success of the comic series Great Battle Against the Demon Gang (大戰魔鬼黨) came as a surprise to author Yeh Hung-chia (葉宏甲), who had long given up on his dream after being jailed for 10 months in 1947 over political cartoons. Protagonist
Peter Brighton was amazed when he found the giant jackfruit. He had been watching it grow on his farm in far north Queensland, and when it came time to pick it from the tree, it was so heavy it needed two people to do the job. “I was surprised when we cut it off and felt how heavy it was,” he says. “I grabbed it and my wife cut it — couldn’t do it by myself, it took two of us.” Weighing in at 45 kilograms, it is the heaviest jackfruit that Brighton has ever grown on his tropical fruit farm, located