Theater
Maui (莫伊傳說) is a production by Jean-Luc Penso and his Le Theatre du Petit Miroir dealing with the demi-god of Polynesian mythology of that name. Penso spent the years 1974 to 1979 studying glove and shadow puppetry in Taiwan, and has taken these skills into the creation of a repertoire that draws inspiration from diverse cultures. Music for the production is by Liao Lin-ne (廖琳妮). The performance is in French with Chinese subtitles.
■ Tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Wenshan Theater (文山劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號)
■ Tickets are NT$660; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Breakfast (早餐時刻), created and performed by rising Taiwanese choreographer Sun Shang-chi (孫尚綺), who has built an international reputation after building his foundation with Taiwan’s Cloud Gate Dance Company (雲門舞集). Working together with author Gordon Florenkowsky and the filmmaker Krzysztof Honowski, Sun creates a live dance film that explores the world of “breakfast,” a time “between night and day, between wakefulness and abandoned dreams.”
■ Tomorrow and Saturday 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Taipei City Shuiyuan Theater (台北市水源劇場), 10F, 92, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段92號10樓)
■ Tickets are NT$700; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Undetachable, a performance that is part of the 2012 Summer Move — Interdisciplinary Spectrum (舞上癮) series being hosted by the Taipei Artists Village (台北國際藝術村). Performance by Taiwanese artist Lin Cheng-Wei (林正偉), described as “an interdisciplinary project that incorporates experimental video, magic techniques [and] dance.”
■ Tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm; Saturday at 8:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm and 3:30pm
■ Barry Room, Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村百里廳), 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號)
■ Tickets are NT$150; 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. Tonight’s show is the latest installment of The Next Big Thing (見證大團), a concert series showcasing the most popular bands on music site Streetvoice.com. This week’s pick is Trash, a group that blends inspiration from Brit pop, alternative rock and grunge. Pop icon Harlem Yu (庾澄慶) will perform shows tomorrow (tickets are already sold out) and Saturday. An interactive show featuring Cytus, a popular music game for smartphones, takes place Friday.
■ 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 starts at 8pm tonight, 8pm Saturday and 6:40pm Sunday.
■ Tickets are NT$200 tonight, NT$1,000 to NT$1,600 Saturday and NT$500 Sunday. Tickets available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw and at ibon electronics kiosks at 7-Eleven stores
Alt-rockers The Capelin (柳葉魚) perform tonight at The Wall (這牆) with Ego-Fugue (自我意識神遊). Punk rockers Forest (森林) mark the release of their latest album, The Moon Is Out. Japanese pop group Orange Range’s Saturday and Sunday evening shows are sold out.
■ 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.
■ Entrance fee is NT$200 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Singer and guitarist Chen Young-chung (小羊妹妹) and Hsiao Shou (小碩姐姐) perform tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Indie pop band Smoke Ring (煙圈) are on Friday’s roster, while Witch House regular singer-songwriter Europa Huang (黃建為) takes the stage 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
■ Performances start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games opens 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays; 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Entrance fee for music shows is NT$300
Tonight, Riverside Music Cafe (河岸留言) hosts indie folk rockers Pink Haze. The Steven Chang (張文光) Trio performs jazz fusion rock tomorrow night. Pop singers Kimberley and Rebecca (同恩) perform Saturday, while Sunday’s line-up is rock bands Wildflower (野花樂團) and Porn Star (煽琴史達).
■ 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 8pm tonight, 9pm tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site.
■ Entrance fee is NT$350 for tonight and Sunday and NT$400 for tomorrow and Saturday
GooDDD (好端端樂團) and Atayal rockers Arkmen (阿克曼樂團) perform tonight at Riverside Live House. Tomorrow’s lineup features Heartones (心電樂), Salamander (沙羅曼蛇) and sLeeping brain (眠腦). Pop singer Golden (高登) performs on Saturday.
■ 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 8:30pm tonight, 8pm tomorrow, and 2pm Saturday
■ Tickets are NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 Saturday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse and tickets.books.com.tw
Sappho de Base, a late night lounge and jazz venue, hosts Fusion Planet tonight, Ash and Friends tomorrow and Yipian Shuye Fengxialai (一片樹葉飄下來) on Saturday.
■ 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 tonight, 10:30pm tomorrow and 10:30pm Saturday
■ Entrance is NT$200
Revolver’s roster tonight includes an album release party for No Order (無秩序). Masquerader and The Junk (帆人) will also perform. AGNST ASIA presents Fish Story, Jest (下流紳士), Giant Lobsters (大龍蝦樂團) and She Bang A (死蚊子) tomorrow night. Tranquility Bass Productions (靜海基地) lineup on Saturday includes DJs Fu, Rich, Lai, Charles, Stoppa MC and The Corrupted.
■ 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 tonight, 10pm tomorrow and10pm Saturday
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight , NT$350 tomorrow, NT$250 Saturday. All fees include one drink.
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.
■ 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 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 Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts live performances every Saturday. This week’s roster includes hard rock band Blue Shadow (藍影) and indie rock icons 88 Balaz (八十八顆芭樂籽).
■ 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: visit mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$250, which 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). Hot Day Afternoon (熱天午後) includes performances by Combine (抗敗), The Lawns (草地人), Low Brightness Period (低明度時期) and The Gigantic Roar (巨大的轟鳴). Saturday’s show includes 8mm Sky (八厘米天空) and Fuguko (河豚子).
■ 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 tomorrow and 7:30pm Saturday
■ Entrance is NT$300 tomorrow and NT$400 on Saturday.
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