Famed Irish songwriter and activist Bob Geldof once asked, “Do they know it’s Christmas?” And although it was actually more of a rhetorical question aimed to shed light on Ethiopia’s famine problem, the answer Bob is: Yes, the Taiwanese do. And no, it’s just not their thing.
Fortunately, there are a few movers and shakers who do their best to maintain the holiday spirit in both expats and Taiwanese alike. First up, Taipei’s newest contender for best live house, Roxy Roots, will be celebrating its first Christmas this year with Christmas Carols Special, a party led by Coach, Taiwan’s answer to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, with support from the Blues Vibrations and Kenyatta Quartet. Expect funky renditions of some of your favorite Christmas songs, along with classic Christmas movies and more than a few surprises.
Christmas Carols Special happens on Thursday from 10pm until 4am at Roxy Roots, 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號). Admission is NT$600.
Also in the capital, Brass Monkey will once again be holding down St Nick as it presents the Red Christmas Party. Anyone sporting red attire gets free entrance to the Monkey before 11:30pm, and ladies wearing red get free drinks from 9pm to midnight. As an added bonus, sexiest Santa of the evening goes home with NT$5,000.
Red Christmas Party is tomorrow from 10pm at Brass Monkey, 166 Fushing N Rd, Taipei City (台北市復興北路166號). Door damage for guys is NT$300, or free before 11:30pm for men wearing red. There is no cover charge for women before midnight. After midnight, women also pay NT$300. On the Net: www.brassmonkeytaipei.com.
Never one to be outdone, Luxy has lined up not one, but two events to get your festive mojo pumping. Tomorrow there’s Santa’s Secret Social featuring DJs Anti-Hero and Hooker spinning a mash of house and hip-hop. With advance tickets going for NT$500 (includes four drinks), your best bet is to reserve a spot now by calling 0955-904-600.
Then, on Christmas Eve, it’s So So Def signee DJ Felli Fell. Known as a West Coast version of Funkmaster Flex, Felli Fell is known for his unrelenting energy and ability to create mayhem on the dance floor.
Tomorrow and Thursday from 10pm at Luxy, 5F, 201, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段201號5樓). Admission for tomorrow is NT$500 in advance or NT$600 at the door. Cover charge on Christmas Eve is NT$1,000 at the door. On the Net: www.luxy-taipei.com.
Meanwhile, Canadian hip-house dup Art of Fresh, who tore up Taipei last week, are still on the island with two shows left, tonight in Taichung and tomorrow in Kaohsiung. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see two world-class performers do their thing.
Art of Fresh tonight from 10pm at Light Lounge, B1, 85, Huamei W St Sec 1, Taichung City (台中市華美西街一段85號B1), and tomorrow from 10pm at the Brickyard, 507, Jhongshan 2nd Rd, Cianjin Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市前金區中山二路507號).
And last — but certainly not least — trendy East District nightspot Barcode is celebrating its fourth anniversary with special events through Dec. 26. Expect an uplifting mix of funky and soulful house tonight with British DJ Andy Daniell, whose remixes have appeared on releases from Strictly Rhythm, Defected Records and Ministry of Sound. Daniell, 23, is also Defected’s assistant A&R man and is responsible for compiling and mixing the label’s Bargrooves series CDs. Opening set by Room18 and Barcode resident DJ Andrew Ford.
The party moves to Barcode’s Kaohsiung location tomorrow.
Andy Daniell tonight from 9pm at Barcode Taipei, 5F, 22, Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路22號5樓), and tomorrow from 9pm at Barcode Kaohsiung, 30-1, Siwei 3rd Rd, Lingya Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市四維三路130號-1). For reservations, call 0920-168-269 (Taipei) or 0918-859-085 (Kaohsiung). Admission is free for both evenings.
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