Inspired by the Beatles’ rooftop concert in London shortly before they disbanded, Eslite Bookstore is holding Rooftop Live! — a live music festival that takes place tonight, tomorrow and Sunday afternoon on the rooftop gardens of its flagship store in Taipei’s Xinyi District.
The concerts feature a carnival of Taiwanese indie bands, with sounds ranging from the alternative folk-rock of Deserts Chang (張懸) to the post-rock drones of Sugar Plum Ferry (甜梅號). Organizers say to expect a “party” atmosphere and an amusement park theme, complete with elaborate stage props.
The concert series, now in its second year, are intended as “a tribute to the spirit” of the famous Beatles performance in 1969, says the event’s Web site.
Fortunately concert attendees won’t have to crowd the street or perch on neighboring rooftops as Beatles fans did on Savile Row. Eslite’s outdoor terrace and gardens on the seventh floor holds 1,500 people, with full views of Taipei 101 and surrounding urban scenery, says Cathy Yu (�?�) of Eslite’s public relations department.
Chang and her band launch the festivities at tonight’s show, which is already sold-out, with a special guest appearance by Suming (約翰淑敏), a singer and multi-instrumentalist from the popular college rock band Totem (圖騰). The Bearbabes (熊寶貝樂團) round off the evening with their sparse, atmospheric sounds and the ethereal voice of female singer and bassist Cookie (餅乾).
Tomorrow night takes on a funk and disco theme, with performances from two popular indie musicians and fellow DJs at Hit FM: rocker Ciacia, who performs an eclectic mix of rock styles ranging from electronica to grunge, and Ma Nien-hsien (馬念先), frontman of the eccentric rock band Sticky Rice (糯米糰).
Sunday afternoon features Echo (回聲), a band that started as a group of classmates at National Tsing Hua University (清華大學) and enjoys a large following for its modern Brit-rock sound; Sugar Plum Ferry, a favorite in Taiwan’s post-rock scene; and electronica-pop band Mrs This (這位太太). If the weather cooperates, concertgoers will be treated to pleasant views of the sunset, says Yu.
Light snacks, beverages and band merchandise will be on sale at the venue. Check the event’s Web site for re-scheduling announcements in the event of inclement weather.
Tickets are available at the door or at NTCH ticketing outlets.
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