Classical
Liu Sheng-wen’s (劉聖文) cello recital ist6 tonight at the National Recital Hall in Taipei City. Liu holds a doctoral degree in cello performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University. Joined by pianist Joanna Ting (丁心茹), Liu will present a program of works, including Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008, Bohuslav Martinu’s Variations on a Theme of Rossini, Sonata for Cello and Piano (1957) by George Walker and Felix Mendelssohn’s Sonata No. 2 for Violin.
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
Photo courtesy of Sangpuy
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm. Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
An Evening with Shujaat Khan includes classical, Sufi and folk melodies of northern India tomorrow at Taipei’s National Concert Hall. Khan, a Grammy Award-winning sitar master, is one the most important classical musicians in northern India. Inheriting the sitar school established by his great-grandfather, Imdad Khan, Shujaat Khan is particularly famous for his skills in the gayaki ang style, imitative of the subtleties of the human voice.
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
Photo courtesy of Epica
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm. Tickets are NT$500 to NT$900 (NT$1,200 and NT$1,500 tickets are sold out), available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Composer Chen Mao-shuen (陳茂萱) will give a one-off performance on Monday at the National Recital Hall. Chen will play from his extensive list of compositions.
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
Photo courtesy of College Kingdom
■ Tickets are NT$300 and NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Anton Bruckner Mass No 3 in F minor, WAB 28 (布魯克納的榮耀 — 林勤超與台北愛樂) is a performance on Monday at Taipei’s National Concert Hall by the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus under the baton of Lin Chin-chao (林勤超). Bruckner’s work is composed for vocal soloists, chorus and orchestra, and organ.
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Monday at 7:30pm. Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Taiwan Just Music String Quartet (就是愛樂弦樂四重奏) will perform on Tuesday at Taipei’s National Recital Hall. The program includes Gioachino Antonio Rossini’s Sonata No 1, in G (for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello), Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet in C minor No. 4, Op. 18 and Antonin Dvorak’s String Quintet in G Major, Op. 77.
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tuesday at 7:30pm. Tickets are NT$300 to NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Cosmic Inversion promises to get punters on their feet and their bones jangling with their jam band music with psychedelic influences tomorrow at The Loft at WOW.
■ The Loft at WOW, 3F, 2, Ln 120, Wuchang St, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段120巷2號3F)
■ Show starts at 9pm
■ Tickets are NT$350 tonight and tomorrow, available at www.facebook.com/theloftwow
Instrumental group Sandbox (沙盒樂團) performs on Thursday at Legacy Taipei, a venue that hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts.
■ 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).
■ Show starts at 7:30pm
■ Admission is NT$700. Tickets available through www.indievox.com and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Epica, a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen after his departure from After Forever, will perform tomorrow at The Wall (這牆), a prominent Taipei venue for indie rock artists. They will be performing songs from their recently released album The Holographic Principle. Acoustic guitar trio Wooden Man (木頭超人) will take the stage on Sunday, with GoodBand (好樂團) also on the bill. It’s a night of techno and house tonight at Korner, a club located inside The Wall, with Germany’s Ron Albrecht, as well as Al Burro, Initials B.B. and DJ Umbra. Korean-born Tobias Lee, a producer and DJ based in Berlin and Copenhagen, will perform tomorrow. Total Freedom will also lay down a set of rap, grime and ballroom house.
■ 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: thewall.tw
■ The Wall shows are tomorrow at 7pm and Sunday at 7:30pm; Korner shows start at 11:50pm
■ The Wall tickets cost NT$2,000 tomorrow and NT$350 on Sunday; Korner tickets are NT$500 tonight and NT$550 tomorrow, available through thewall.tw
Captain P (屁孩隊長) will perform some rock ‘n’ roll tomorrow at APA Mini (小地方展演空間).
■ B1,147, Hangzhou S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市杭州南路一段147號B1), tel: (02) 2327-8658. On the Net: www.facebook.com/apamini
■ Shows start 9pm
■ Admission is NT$350, available through www.indievox.com
Indie rock club Revolver will host two parties tonight. The first, beginning at 7pm, features electronic and dance music with DJs Seah Seah (佘晉元), Jerry Lin (林哲宇), Yi Lu (盧藝), Sebastien Labrunie and Xanthe (楊邵安), among others. The second party, which kicks off at 11:30pm, will serve up dance music, funk and hip-hop with DJs Ingry Lee, James Aries and Dirty Soap from Los Angeles. The venue will also host two parties tomorrow. Indie rock and alternative rock are on the menu for the early party at 7:30pm, with South Bad Boy, Everfor and Japan’s Kebab Johnson on the bill. DJs Laser Pew, Madman, Vana and Chen Shan will throw down some electronic and dance music for the late concert, which begins at 11:30pm. Indie rock and alternative rock will nourish the punters on Sunday with Duda Deportiva holding its album release party. The Tic Tac will offer support. On Thursday it’s the Urban Nomad warmup party with some punk rock, chill wave and minimal synth with U.TA (屋塔), For Winners and Japan’s Omni Sight.
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678. On the Net: www.facebook.com/revolver.taipei
■ Shows start tonight at 7pm and 11:30pm, tomorrow at 7:30pm and 11:30pm, Sunday at 8:30pm and Thursday at 9pm
■ Admission is NT$300 tonight at 7pm and NT$350 at 11:30pm, NT$600 at 7:30pm and NT$300 at 11:30pm, NT$350 on Sunday and NT$400 on Thursday
Steph Pockets from the US will lead off a night of DJing tomorrow at Pipe Live Music, a major venue for indie music and parties. Japan’s DJ Tama, aka SPC Finest, and DJ Hustler, as well as Taiwan’s Ill Ken and DJ@llenblow are on the roster.
■ 1 Siyuan Rd, Taipei City (台北市思源路1號), tel: (02) 2364-8198. On the Net: www.pipemusic.com.tw
■ Show starts at 11pm
■ Admission is NT$700, available through the venue’s Facebook page
Folk rocking guitarist Cliff (克里夫, real name Huang Ke-wei 黃科維) will perform songs from his latest album tonight at Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area. Paiwan crooner Muniyu Saliljan performs tomorrow. On Thursday, it is jazz-pop musician Kuo Hung (郭宏) and crooner Max Chan (陳杳然).
■ 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$350
Singer songwriter Wu Ai-lun (吳艾倫) croons tomorrow at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言), with folk act Lee Te-yun (李德筠) also on the bill. Singer and guitarist Chai Kefu (鄧志峰) and indie alternative rock band Slowing Oscillation (斯洛頻率) take the stage on Sunday. On Wednesday, psychedelic/math rock band Palette (調澀盤) and hip-hopsters and activists Community Service (勞動服務) will take the stage. Indie rock bands College Kingdom (學院王國) and Trapping the Dragonflies (蜻蜓隧道) perform on Thursday.
■ 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
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight and NT$350 Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, available through www.indievox.com and tickets.books.com.tw
JJ & the Catz play an eclectic collection of blues, jazz and Latin tonight at Sappho Live, a late-night lounge bar that hosts mostly jazz shows. An ensemble of expat musicians, Fugue State (神遊狀態) mixes neoclassical, jazz, blues and rock music tomorrow, with rock rock trio The Beatle Nuts and Spirit Factory. The John Five, a jazz band led by drummer John Ashley Thomas and musicians from Hong Kong, will groove on Wednesday. On Thursday, it’s the soft jazz of the Caterwaulers.
■ 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.sappholive.com
■ Shows start at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow and NT$300 on Wednesday and Thursday
Young pop crooner Jan Lin (林正) takes the stage tomorrow at There Cafe & Live House (那兒咖啡), a venue for indie music in Taoyuan.
■ B1, 454, Fusing Rd, Taoyuan City (桃園市復興路454號B1), tel: (03) 339-8819.
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$400 , available through tickets.books.com.tw and www.indievox.com
Award-wining jazz sextet Timeless Fusion Party (無限融合樂團) performs tomorrow at Forro Cafe (呼嚕咖啡) in Taichung.
■ 47, Jingcheng 3rd St, Taichung City (台中市精誠三街47號), tel: (04) 2310-1661. On the Net: forrocafe.blogspot.tw
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$600, available through www.indievox.com
Heavy metal group Burning Island (火燒島) will jam tonight at TCRC (前科累累俱樂部), a small venue for independent musicians and local artists in Tainan. NajaAtra (飯匙槍) is also on the bill.
■ B1, 314, Simen Rd Sec 2, Tainan City (台南市西門路二段314號B1), tel: (06) 222 3238.
■ Show starts 8pm
■ Admission is NT$250, available at www.indievox.com
Mando-pop crooner Chuang Chuan-ying (莊鵑瑛) performs tomorrow at Live Warehouse, a venue for indie music located inside Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Arts Center (駁二藝術特區). Japanese punk rockers Alexandros play on Sunday.
■ 2-5 Dayi Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市大義街2-5號), tel: (07) 521-8114. On the Net: livewarehouse.tw
■ Show starts at 7:30pm tomorrow and 7pm on Sunday
■ Entrance is NT$1,200 tomorrow and NT$2,000 on Sunday, available through tickets.books.com.tw
Rockers Fragile Girls (脆弱少女組) will take the stage tonight at Sound Live House (迴響音樂藝文展演空間), an independent venue for music performances and art exhibitions in Taichung. DJ Puzzle Man is also on the bill. Pop punks Pa Pun Band (怕胖團) and punk group Flower Dregs (花渣) perform tomorrow. It’s an evening of hard rock on Wednesday with Partner We Trust (信伴侶樂團) and Hatred (仇).
■ B1-1, 429, Henan Rd Sec 2, Greater Taichung (台中市河南路二段429號B1-1), tel: (04) 2451-1989. On the Net: soundlivehouse.msmusic.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ Admission is NT$350 tonight, NT$450 tomorrow and NT$250 on Wednesday, available through www.walkieticket.com and www.indievox.com
Screamo act Ship of Fools (愚人船) and indie rock group Posh Inverse (優雅逆轉) take the stage tomorrow at Paramount Bar (百樂門酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung.
■ 70 Minzu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市三民區民族一路70號), tel: (07) 389-0501
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Entrance is NT$350, available through the venue’s Facebook page
Com’z (康姆士) will play its version of funk, punk and reggae tomorrow at The Goat Restaurant & Bar (山羊飯館), a music venue and restaurant in Pingtung. ReDor (銳豆樂隊) is also on the bill.
■ 23-2 Hengnan Rd, Hengchun Township, Pingtung County (屏東縣恆春鎮恆南路23-2號), tel: (08) 888-0183
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$300, available through www.indievox.com
Award-winning Puyuma musician Sangpuy plays a concert tonight at Tiehua Music Village (鐵花村), an arts village in Taitung City. Reggae artist Rick Buckman Coe takes the stage tomorrow. Paiwan folk/blues musician Danubak (毛恩足) will also perform.
■ 26, Ln 135, Sinsheng Rd, Taitung City (台東市新生路135巷26號), tel: (089) 343-393. On the Net: www.tiehua.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm. Music venue and crafts shops are open 2pm to 10pm Tuesdays through Sundays
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and NT$250 tomorrow, available at tickets.books.com.tw
Event
Taipei Discussion and Learning meets at Cosy (人性空間) to hear lectures and discuss topics such as philosophy, science, anthropology, globalization and alternative medicine. This week’s discussion is titled English as a Foreign Language in a Montessori Setting. The discussion will begin with a speech by Matt Bronsil, a long time Montessori EFL teacher based in Jhongli. All discussions and lectures are conducted in English.
■ Cosy (人性空間), 7, Ln 60, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路3段60巷7號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30 pm. Admission is free. Look for Taipei Discussion and Learning on Facebook
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
Approaching her mid-30s, Xiong Yidan reckons that most of her friends are on to their second or even third babies. But Xiong has more than a dozen. There is Lucky, the street dog from Bangkok who jumped into a taxi with her and never left. There is Sophie and Ben, sibling geese, who honk from morning to night. Boop and Pan, both goats, are romantically involved. Dumpling the hedgehog enjoys a belly rub from time to time. The list goes on. Xiong nurtures her brood from her 8,000 square meter farm in Chiang Dao, a mountainous district in northern Thailand’s
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