Theater
Shanghai Yueju Opera House (上海越劇院) presents a selection of operas at the National Theater. Yueju is a style of opera that was established in the Shanghai and Zhejiang areas of China in the early part of last century and has since developed into the second most popular form of traditional operatic performance in China, second only to Beijing opera. Shanghai Yueju Opera House was established in 1955 and is one of the most respected groups practicing this form of opera. Four different programs will be presented over the weekend. Detailed program information and the performers featured can be found at the Ars Formosa Web site at www.arsformosa.com.tw.
■ Today, tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Lab No. 1 by Short One Player is an experimental theater work that explores the uses of physical expression to delve into abstract questions of manifesting our innermost thoughts. The performance group was established in 2003 by a group of young performers eager to inject a new vitality and interactivity into Taiwanese theater.
■ Today through Sunday at 8:00pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ 2F Eastern Factory Block (東向製菸工廠2樓), Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (松山文創園區), 133 Guangfu S Rd, Taipei City (台北市光復南路133號)
■ Tickets are NT$550; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
I am Beautiful Facetival (做臉不輸 — 小美容藝術節), a series of performance art installations by Shakespeare’s Wild Sisters Group takes as its theme the current passion for plastic surgery and body enhancement that is sweeping the region, putting their own ironic twist on the subject.
■ Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm; the series continues next weekend from July 5 through July 8
■ Nanhai Gallery (南海藝廊), 3, Ln 19, Chongqing S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市重慶南路二段19巷3號)
■ Tickets are NT$600; available through NTCH and online at www.artticket.com.tw
Nushu (女書) by the Water Reflection Dance Ensemble (水影舞集) takes its inspiration from a kind of poetry written in China’s Hunan Province primarily as a way through which women could express themselves and their innermost feelings. Choreographer Tan Hui-chen (譚惠貞) and the dancers of the ensemble give this ancient and mostly unseen style of expression and physical presence on the stage.
■ Tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500; available through NTCH and online at www.artticket.com.
Classical music
The National Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to the late conductor Rudolf Barshai tomorrow night. The orchestra’s string ensemble will perform Barshai’s arrangements of String Quartet No. 2 from Borodin’s Chamber Symphony, String Quartet No.1 from Tchaikovsky’s String Symphony and String Quartet No. 8 from Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony. The performance also features the premiere of Fantasia on the Theme of Plum Blossom for String Orchestra by Chen Shih-hui (陳士惠).
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
On Saturday afternoon, the Taipei Zanying Chinese Orchestra (台北簪纓國樂) performs classical Chinese music under a theme entitled Fantasy — The Butterfly Emerges (狂想-破蛹).
■ Saturday at 2:30pm
■ National Recital Hall (國家演奏廳), 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21-1號)
■ Tickets are NT$300, 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 male-female pop duo JS. Tomorrow, rising star Mando-pop singer A-fu (鄧福如) takes the stage for a sold-out show. On Sunday, the venue hosts legendary heavy metal band Anvil, a Canadian group that has been cited as an influence by notable bands such as Megadeth, Anthrax and Metallica.
■ 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$500 to NT$900 tomorrow (depending on seating area), sold out Saturday and NT$1,200 on Sunday. 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
Electronica group Miss Banana (香蕉小姐), Tipsy and Eggplant Egg (茄子蛋) are the performers tonight at The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists. Fire EX (滅火器), the beloved veteran pop-punk band from Kaohsiung, hits the stage tomorrow night. On Saturday, the venue hosts expat reggae band High Tide, Monkey Pilot and Funky Brothers, with additional music spun by DJs Shorty and Marcus Aurelius. On Sunday, it’s nakashi rock with another veteran band, The Clippers (夾子電動大樂隊) and Black Wolf (黑狼瘦肉那卡西).
■ 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, except Saturday’s event, which starts at 10pm
■ NT$400 tonight (NT$300 in advance), NT$600 tomorrow and NT$600 Saturday and (NT$500 in advance), NT$500 on Sunday (NT$400 in advance). 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 the J.C.K. Jazz Band. Tomorrow, it’s indie rock band Slimo (黏菌) and indie rock group Posh Inverse (優雅逆轉). Light Engine (光引擎) and Pierre Hujoel (aka Hue Yue, 胡月) perform avant-garde pop sung in Mandarin with a female singer who goes by the name of Yeah.
■ 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
Post-rock group Unfit Chair (難坐的椅子) and BHD play tomorrow at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. On Saturday, powerpop band Moon To The Fifth (月的五次方) and garage rock band Fever Trend take the stage.
■ 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).
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts a line-up of live music from Pressure Creates Diamonds Part II, Sonic Deadhorse, Swivelized Sound, Reider, Geometer and Betty Apple. Tomorrow, it’s more live music from goth-punks Qi Lai Observatory (奇萊山觀測站), psychedelic rockers Sleaze (湯湯水水) and punks Eyeball Killer (眼球殺手). Saturday is Drums and Bass night with music spun by house DJs.
■ 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 NT$200 tonight, NT$250 tomorrow and NT$300 on Saturday. Admission includes one free drink.
Mando-pop group Every Planet (美味星球) and jazzy folk rockers Baba Band (爸爸辦桌) appear tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow Skyline Jazz Band performs mix of bossa nova, soul, funk and R ’n’ B. On Saturday, it’s io, a group of talented Chinese Canadian rockers that won ICRT’s Battle of the Bands in 2009. On Sunday Bao Bu (保卜) performs fingerstyle guitar followed by a set by female Mando-pop singer Tang Ching (唐青).
■ 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
■ NT$350 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and Sunday, and NT$500 on Saturday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Mando-pop producer/songwriter Lee Cheng-fan (李正帆) performs tomorrow at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). On Saturday, it’s Aboriginal rock group BOXING (拳樂團) and hard rock outfit GunPowder (槍砲樂團).
■ 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. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar, hosts live jazz from Trio JT. Tomorrow S.B.L.A Quintet# (西八辣五重奏) takes the stage and on Saturday, it’s fusionists Skyline Jazz Band.
■ 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. Highlights for the week ahead include male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who 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 at Italian restaurant Capone’s. On Fridays, Taipei Swing holds dance socials with live music from electric blues band Taipei 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 it’s socially conscious Hakka/Hoklo-rappers Kou Chou Ching (拷秋勤) while tomorrow it’s grunge rockers KoOk (庫克樂團) and newcomer Kaohsiung rock band Yidiansheng (一點生).
■ 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
■ Show starts at 7pm Saturday
■ NT$300 tomorrow and NT$400
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