Event
A qualifier will be held on Sunday afternoon at National Taiwan University’s Athletic Stadium for the World Bboy Classic, winners from which will compete in the World Final next month in the Netherlands. Heats include Bboy 2 on 2 Battle and Bboy 3 On 3 Battle. For more information, visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WorldBboyClassicAsia.
■ NTU Athletic Stadium (國立台灣大學綜合體育館), 1 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段一號)
Photo courtesy of Peggy Hsu
■ Sunday from noon until 6pm
■ Admission is free
Dubbed the best “Relentlessly Gay Party,” it’s a night of house music, drag shows and the hunky Gogo Boyz tomorrow at Taipei’s Triangle. Music will be performed by DJ Nina, Sona, Slamer and KJ Stone, with drag queen performances by Magnolia La Manga and Mangelica Blast. The venue will also provide free HIV testing on site.
Photo courtesy of Mister Green
■ 1, Yuman St, Taipei City (台北市玉門街1號)
■ Tomorrow from 11pm to 4:30am
■ Tickets are NT$600 at the door
Taipei Story Slam is back for another evening of competitive storytelling. Held on Thursday at Taipei’s Sappho Live, a jazz club, story tellers are given seven minutes to tell a true, personal story fitting a pre-assigned theme that will be judged by people chosen randomly from the audience. Storytellers will be judged on their ability to adhere to the seven-minute time frame, tell the story without the use of notes or props, apply the theme in a way whereby the story has a conflict and a resolution. The storyteller with the top score will go on to compete against this year’s other winners in the GrandSlam Championship. E-mail the venue a short pitch (three to five sentences) of your story to: taipeistoryslam@gmail.com
■ 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
■ Show starts at 9pm; admission is NT$200
This weekend marks the seventh installment of Beats for Breakfast, an event on Sunday at the Red Room that features yoga (with a bilingual instructor), music by DJ Howl, a dance workshop and plenty of dancing.
■ Taiwan Air Force Innovation Base (TAF 空總創新基地),177, Sec 1, Jianguo S Rd (台北市建國南路一段177號) (intersection of Jianguo and Jinan Rds)
■ Sunday from 9:30am to 2pm
■ Admission is by donation
Contemporary
Indie-pop singer-songwriter Peggy Hsu (許哲珮) performs tonight at Legacy Taipei, a venue that hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Young songstress Sway (思衛) performs 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
■ Admission is NT$1,200 tonight and NT$800 on Wednesday. Tickets available through www.indievox.com and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Insomnium, a Finnish melodic death metal band, performs tonight at The Wall (這牆), a prominent Taipei venue for indie rock artists. South Korean thrash metal group Ares is also on the bill. Hardcore punks The Roadside Inn, alternative/cyber/electronic outfit Morals Abyss (道德深淵) and post-hardcore/metalcore act Fish Stick (魚條樂團) perform tomorrow. Sunday is punk, with Taoyuan’s Noise Book, Tntbox and Coastal Kanpai (海岸乾杯). Techno and house are on the menu tonight at Korner, a venue located inside The Wall, with Masato, Diskonnected, Al Burro, Toska and France’s Zadig.
■ 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 tonight and Sunday at 8pm and tomorrow at 7pm; Korner shows start at 11:50pm
■ The Wall tickets cost NT$1,500 tonight, NT$800 tomorrow and NT$350 on Sunday; Korner tickets cost NT$650, available through thewall.tw
Indie rockers Maffine (瑪啡因) perform on Sunday at Legacy Mini, a spin-off of Legacy Taipei.
■ Legacy Mini at Amba Taipei Ximending (台北西門町意舍), 5F, 77, Wuchang St Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段77號5樓)
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$500, available through www.indievox.com and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Metal act Zangief (桑吉爾夫) and death metal act Un Avec Deux perform on Sunday 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
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$400, available through www.indievox.com
Punk and alternative rock are on the menu tonight at indie rock club Revolver, with Japan’s Energish Gold and Taiwan’s B1 (地下一樓) and Cheap Pistols (平價手槍). Tomorrow, the venue will host two parties. The first, starting at 7:30pm, features ACG and J-Rock with Japan’s Kanarai, Ze:Kev and Taiwan’s Ring. The second party, beginning at 11pm, sees Leo37, OST and guest VJ Translate spin some hip hop, house and soul. On Sunday, it is alternative rock, post-rock and dream pop with 50Hz, CustoMood and Free Falla (自由落體). Doherfy (盜飛), Grain Surfboard (穀制浪板) and Playmess will perform new-old groove and alternative rock on Wednesday.
■ 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 9pm, tomorrow at 7:30pm and 11pm, Sunday at 8:30pm and Wednesday at 9:30pm
■ Admission is NT$300 tonight, Sunday and Wednesday and NT$400 for each of tomorrow’s shows
Japanese shoegazers Cruyff in the Bedroom and Taiwan’s psychedelic/folk combo Doodle perform on Sunday at Pipe Live Music, a major venue for indie music and parties.
■ 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 7pm
■ Admission is NT$600, available through www.indievox.com, pipemusic.kktix.cc and at FamilyMart (全家) FamiPort kiosks
Southern rock/country band Twangover describe themselves as “four drunk but technically adequate musicians.” They will play 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
Singer and acoustic guitarist Wu Yang-fan (吳揚帆) performs tonight at Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area. Shen Hsueh-chen (沈雪晨) is also on the bill. Psychedelic folk act Spell Lee (李漫) and Urayn (魚雷), the songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and frontwoman of the band U.TA (屋塔), will perform tomorrow. Folk/jazz musician A-Tz (阿子) and No 24 (貳拾肆號) take the stage on Thursday.
■ 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
Puyuma rockers Savakan, Paiwan-Amis ensemble Mafana, Amis-Pinnyumayan duo Savulu & Laway and Sonlay perform tomorrow at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). Indie rock band College Kingdom (學院王國) shares the venue on Sunday with EDM live music group Project X. We’re Sorry (問題總部) is also on the bill. American instrumental progressive metal band Polyphia performs on Thursday.
■ 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
■ Show starts tomorrow and Thursday at 7pm and Sunday at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$400 tomorrow and Sunday and NT$350 on Thursday, available through www.indievox.com and tickets.books.com.tw
Guitarist and singer Luyi (盧一辰) performs tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Aboriginal band Original Brewing (原味醞釀) plays folk, funk, blues and hip-hop tomorrow. Lu Yuan-cheng (盧苑呈) is also on the bill. Indie rock group Freenote shares the stage on Sunday with Cemelesai Pasasauv, who will perform songs from his Paiwan-language album of folk-pop.
■ 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 tonight, tomorrow and Sunday
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow and NT$350 on Sunday, available through www.indievox.com and tickets.books.com.tw
Duke Fantasy (范特西公爵) performs an eclectic collection of jazz, rock, Latin and R&B tonight at Sappho Live, a late-night lounge bar that hosts mostly jazz shows. Ash and Friends, led by bandleader Ash Hines, perform modern jazz standards tomorrow. The Samuel Tsai Trio will play jazz on Wednesday.
■ 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
Rock group Major in Body Bear (體熊專科) and The Waiit take the stage 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 7:30pm
■ Admission is NT$400, available through tickets.books.com.tw and www.indievox.com
Indie-folk singer Enno Cheng (鄭宜農) performs tomorrow at Legacy Taichung, a spin-off of Legacy Taipei. On Sunday it is post-hardcore/metalcore group MenLiveN, melodic hardcore and alternative ambient group Petrichor and Vanitas.
■ 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 tomorrow and 7pm on Sunday
■ Admission is NT$899 tomorrow and NT$650 on Sunday, available through www.indievox.com and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Electronica ensemble Unfamiliar Friends Party (不熟的朋友派對) returns tonight to TCRC (前科累累俱樂部), a small venue for independent musicians and local artists in Tainan.
■ 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$400, available at www.indievox.com
Acoustic folk duo Crispy (脆樂團) perform tomorrow at In Our Time, a restaurant-cum-gallery located inside Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Arts Center (駁二藝術特區).Tickets for the PiA (吳蓓雅) concert are sold out.
■ 99, Penglai Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市蓬萊路99號), tel: (07) 521-0017
■ Show starts at 7pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 tomorrow, available through www.indievox.com and tickets.books.com.tw
Indie rock band Mary See the Future (先知瑪莉) will play tonight at Live Warehouse, a venue for indie music located inside Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Arts Center (駁二藝術特區). Indie-pop singer-songwriter Peggy Hsu (許哲珮) performs tomorrow.
■ 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 8pm tonight and 7:30pm tomorrow
■ Entrance is NT$800 tonight and NT$1,200 tomorrow, available through tickets.books.com.tw
It’s a night of rock ‘n’ roll 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, with 50hz, blush and nowhere (週五共演夜). Tomorrow it is pop tunes by Dr. James Music (Dr.詹姆士醫療團隊). Pop group Crossroad (十字路口), Smash and Who Cares (胡凱兒) perform on Sunday.
■ 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 tonight and Sunday at 7pm and tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Admission for each show is NT$400, available through www.walkieticket.com and www.indievox.com
The Zero Filters play a quirky blend of folk, pop and rock tomorrow 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 8:30pm
■ Admission is NT$200, available through www.indievox.com
Canadian singer-songwriter Mister Green and Highway 9 (九號公路) take to the stage tonight at Tiehua Music Village (鐵花村), an arts village in Taitung City. Mando-pop singer/songwriter Hsiao Hung-jen (蕭閎仁) croons 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$350 tomorrow, available at tickets.books.com.tw
Acoustic folk duo Crispy (脆樂團) perform tonight at Hummingbird Nest, a performance space in Tainan.
■ 128, Youai St, Tainan City (台南市友愛街128號)
■ Show starts at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through www.indievox.com
Classical
NSO Music Discovery III — Why Chamber is a night of chamber music tomorrow at Taipei’s National Recital Hall. Led by music critic Chiao Yuan-pu (焦元溥), the concert seeks to expose audiences to duet, trio and quartet performances to gain a deeper understanding of the secrets of the composers. The program includes Reinhold Gliere’s 8 pieces, op. 39, Nos. 3, 5, Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Trio in C minor, op. 9, No. 3, Alexander Glazunov’s Elegy, op.44 and Robert Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-Flat major, op. 47.
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tomorrow at 2:30pm. Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Last week Joseph Nye, the well-known China scholar, wrote on the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s website about how war over Taiwan might be averted. He noted that years ago he was on a team that met with then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), “whose previous ‘unofficial’ visit to the US had caused a crisis in which China fired missiles into the sea and the US deployed carriers off the coast of Taiwan.” Yes, that’s right, mighty Chen caused that crisis all by himself. Neither the US nor the People’s Republic of China (PRC) exercised any agency. Nye then nostalgically invoked the comical specter
April 15 to April 21 Yang Kui (楊逵) was horrified as he drove past trucks, oxcarts and trolleys loaded with coffins on his way to Tuntzechiao (屯子腳), which he heard had been completely destroyed. The friend he came to check on was safe, but most residents were suffering in the town hit the hardest by the 7.1-magnitude Hsinchu-Taichung Earthquake on April 21, 1935. It remains the deadliest in Taiwan’s recorded history, claiming around 3,300 lives and injuring nearly 12,000. The disaster completely flattened roughly 18,000 houses and damaged countless more. The social activist and
Over the course of former President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) 11-day trip to China that included a meeting with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping (習近平) a surprising number of people commented that the former president was now “irrelevant.” Upon reflection, it became apparent that these comments were coming from pro-Taiwan, pan-green supporters and they were expressing what they hoped was the case, rather than the reality. Ma’s ideology is so pro-China (read: deep blue) and controversial that many in his own Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) hope he retires quickly, or at least refrains from speaking on some subjects. Regardless
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