Event
Long-term expat, singer and author Joe Henley will hold an event tomorrow at 3pm at Taipei’s Vinyl Decision to celebrate the publication of his second novel Bu San Bu Si (不三不四). Henley says there will be drinks, music and at some point he’ll talk about the book and why he wrote it, followed by a Q&A session. Henley’s publisher, Taipei-based Camphor Press, will also be on hand with the novel and some other works that they have published.
■ Vinyl Decision (黑膠咖啡 — 上菜囉), 6, Ln 36 Chongde St, Taipei City (台北市崇德街38巷6號).
Photo courtesy of My Skin Against Your Skin
■ Tomorrow at 3pm
The Latin American Food and Music Festival returns on Sunday to Taipei Artist Village. Organized by the Foundation of Latino Residents in Taiwan, there will be plenty of cuisine and crafts from Bolivia, Argentina, Haiti, Mexico and others. The pinata will be back in the children’s corner, and for adults, there will also be a lucky draw, books, souvenirs, cooking workshops and live music (salsa, bachata, merengue and reggae) by new Taiwan-based Last Minute Latin Band, Latin Retro and Encanto Latin Jazz.
■ Sunday from 11am to 6:30pm at 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)
Photo courtesy of Deadpan
■ Admission is NT$100, which comes with a lucky draw raffle. For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/LatinHeritage/
Classical
NSO’s Choice — French Masterpieces is a performance tomorrow at Taipei’s National Concert Hall. Under the baton of French conductor Pascal Rophe and a performances by Israeli-born flutist Sharon Bezaly and the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus, the program includes Henri Dutilleux’s Metaboles, Flute Concerto by Carl Nielsen and Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe.
Photo courtesy of Karren Kao
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm. Tickets are NT$700 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Strive For Omnipresent Joy — Vietnamese Music’s Colorful World is a performance on Sunday at the National Concert Hall. The concert will feature Vietnam’s traditional court music from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries with a focus on the pipa and piano.
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Sunday at 2:30pm. Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800 (NT$1,000 and NT$2,000 tickets are sold out), available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Tickets for the Crowd Lu (盧廣仲) concert tonight at The Wall (這牆), a prominent Taipei venue for indie rock artists, are sold out. Emo rockers ZANI (渣泥), alt rockers The Fake Adult Project (偽造成人計劃) and TOBE perform on Sunday. Shogaze and noise-rock band Manic Sheep will play on Wednesday with Japanese garage/punk band DYGL. There are still tickets available for Thursday’s concert by Crystal Castles, a Canadian experimental electronica duo famed for its raucous take on electro-punk. It’s a night of techno and house tonight at Korner, a venue located inside The Wall. Initials B.B., Lyova Lyubov, Ruby Fatale, Andy Chiu and LMF are set to perform.
■ 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 start Sunday and Thursday at 8pm and Wednesday at 7:30pm; Korner shows start at 11:50pm
■ The Wall tickets cost NT$400 on Sunday, NT$1,000 on Wednesday and NT$1,800 on Thursday; Korner tickets are NT$200, available through thewall.tw
Punk rock and blue rock are on the menu tonight at indie rock club Revolver, with punk and garage rock favorites 88 Balaz (88顆芭樂籽), punk rockers For Winners (勝利一族) and China’s Pumpkins (小南瓜). Tomorrow it is metal, metal core and rock with From Ashes, Rebel Slaves (蚋蓓死淚), The Next Morning and Falling Black. On Sunday, it is indie rock and post rock with Boycany, Redwater (紅水) and Dr. Geek (神經博士). Wednesday features rock with Amuse (遊樂), Sadog and Reversing into Garage (倒車入庫).Thesameday (平凡生活), Messyroom (梅西的房間) and Tntbox take the stage on Thursday for some punk and rock.
■ 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, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:30pm, tomorrow at 7pm and Sunday at 8:30pm
■ Admission is NT$350 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and Sunday and NT$300 on Wednesday and Thursday
The Burning Agents will perform their version of rock, blues and funk music influenced by the likes of the Stones, Velvets and the Stooges tomorrow at Bobwundaye (無問題), a small pub in Taipei.
■ 77, Heping E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市和平東路三段77號), tel: (02) 2377-1772
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Admission is NT$300
Taitung-based singer and guitarist Dulan DaShu (都蘭大叔) will perform tonight at Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area. Indie pop combo Mr Pineapple Band (鳳梨先生) and TiniFlower (鄭小韻) will take the stage tomorrow. Solo act Su Yu-ting (蘇育霆) performs on Sunday.
■ 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
Pop singer Lumi (許含光) will take the stage on Sunday at Kafka by the Sea (海邊的卡夫卡), a coffee house-cum-music and arts venue.
■ 2F, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號2樓). On the Net: www.kafkabythe.blogspot.tw
■ Show starts at 8pm. Cafe/bookstore opens noon to midnight Sundays through Thursdays, noon to 2am Fridays and Saturdays
■Admission is NT$400, available online through www.indievox.com
Mando-pop singer-songwriter Shino (林曉培) performs tomorrow at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館).
■ 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 8pm
■ Admission is NT$550, available through www.indievox.com and tickets.books.com.tw
Paiwan crooner Seredau (桑梅絹) will take the stage tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow, Tulbus Mangququ will perform with the Bunan Warriors (農男樂團). Playmess performs old time rock ‘n’ roll on Sunday with pop group Hide & Six also on the bill. Trip-hop/dream pop act Kingdom of Rain (雨國) take the stage on Wednesday.
■ 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
■ Show starts tonight at 8pm, and tomorrow, Sunday and Wednesday at 9pm
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow and NT$350 Sunday and Wednesday, available through www.indievox.com and tickets.books.com.tw
Two Bass Hit, a jazz quartet featuring electric bass, upright bass, piano and drums, appear tonight at Sappho Live, a late-night lounge bar that hosts mostly jazz shows. The Last Minute Latin Band, a new Latin music project formed early last year and composed of Latinos and Americans, will perform tomorrow. The Matt Fullen Trio plays jazz classics and standards on Wednesday. The Ikumi Koyama Trio with Japan’s Ikumi Koyama on piano will take the stage on Thursday.
■ 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
Trip-hop/dream pop act Kingdom of Rain (雨國) and rockers Cui Ruo Shao Nu Zu (脆弱少女組) perform tomorrow at There Cafe & Live House (那兒咖啡), a venue for indie music in Taoyuan.
■ B1, 454, Fuxing 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
Electronic musician Waves of Dopple (都普勒浪潮), ambient group Barkher (吠人), oriental electronic ensemble April Red (紅樂團), ambient electronica artists Empty Space on a Chessboard (棋盤上的空格) and electro rockers My Skin Against Your Skin (激膚樂團) perform tomorrow at Legacy Taichung, a spin-off of Legacy Taipei.
■ 117, Anhe Rd, Taichung City (台中市安和路117號), tel: (04) 2359-8780. On the Net: www.legacy.com.tw/taichung.
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$250, available through www.indievox.com and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Metal/post-hardcore act Way of Puzzle (謎路人), melodic hardcore group Between the Savage (人性先覺) and hardcore metal group Deadpan perform tomorrow at TCRC (前科累累俱樂部), a small venue for independent musicians and local artists in Tainan. Post-punk/blues act Gentle Squid (烏賊紳士), indie and black metal group Feed Pigs (餵飽豬) and China’s Pumpkin (小南瓜) will take the stage on Sunday.
■ 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 tomorrow at 8pm and Sunday at 4pm
■ Admission is NT$350 tomorrow and NT$300 on Sunday, available at www.indievox.com
Indie-folk singer Enno Cheng (鄭宜農) will perform songs from his second solo album, Pluto (登陸), tonight at Live Warehouse, a venue for indie music located inside Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Arts Center (駁二藝術特區). Tomorrow’s concert for college-pop favorite Crowd Lu (盧廣仲) is sold out. Kaohsiung-based industrial rockers Shallow Levee (淺堤) and Japanese garage/punk band DYGL arrive on Thursday.
■ 2-5 Dayi Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市大義街2-5號), tel: (07) 521-8114. On the Net: livewarehouse.tw
■ Shows start tonight at 8pm and Thursday at 7:30pm
■ Admission is NT$899 tonight and NT$820 on Thursday, available through tickets.books.com.tw
Punk and rock group Sir Nineteen (十九爵士) takes the stage tomorrow with guitar and ukulele duo Stereo (平衡訊號) 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.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 7:30pm
■ Admission is NT$300, available through www.walkieticket.com and www.indievox.com
Paiwan rockers The Attractions (吸引力樂團) perform tonight at The Goat Restaurant & Bar (山羊飯館), a music venue and restaurant in Pingtung
■ 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 8:30m
■ Admission is NT$200, available through www.indievox.com
Acoustic musician Zhang Ya-chun (張雅淳) and folk act High CC (害喜喜) takes the stage tonight at Tiehua Music Village (鐵花村), an arts village in Taitung City. R&B singer Jiajia (家家) performs tunes from her latest album Still Missing (還是想念) tomorrow.
■ 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$120 tonight and NT$500 tomorrow, available at tickets.books.com.tw
Upcoming
Tickets are selling out fast for the May 26 to May 28 performances of the The Fountain at Taipei’s National Theater. Based on the novel by Ayn Rand and directed by Ivo van Hove, who brought the well-received Othello to Taiwan in 2014, the avant-garde and multimedia production follows the story of Howard Roark, an architect who is prosecuted after blowing up one of his creations when the government arbitrarily changes his designs. The adaptation, like the original novel, explores the conflicts between the individual and the collective, freedom and constriction.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ May 26 at 7pm and May 27 and May 28 at 2pm. Tickets are NT$800 to NT$3,000 (NT$500 tickets have sold out), available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
There are a handful of tickets available for the performance of Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land (暗戀桃花源) — 30th Anniversary Edition at Taipei’s National Theater beginning June 1. Performance Workshop (表演工作坊), one of the nation’s pre-eminent theater groups, revives the Chinese classic of two theater groups that are double-booked and end up rehearsing their plays on the same stage. One group is to perform a tragedy, while the other is rehearsing a farce. Adapted by respected playwright of Stan Lai (賴聲川) and directed by renowned stage director and actress, playwright and core member of the Performance Workshop (表演工作坊), Ismene Ting (丁乃箏), the show combines elements of tragedy and comedy that stretches the limits of its actor’s remarkable abilities by combining melodrama, verbal comedy and slapstick.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ June 1, June 2, June 3 and June 4 at 7:30pm and June 3 and June 4 at 2:30pm. Tickets are NT$1,400 to NT$3,400 (NT$600 and NT$900 tickets are sold out), available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
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