It’s no surprise that Kending (墾丁), with its national park and surrounding beaches, is inundated with tourists seeking some R & R at Lunar New Year. This year, add a two-day music festival to the itinerary. FreakFest 2010 at Liufu farm (六福山莊) near Kending takes place on Feb. 15 and Feb. 16.
The music begins at 2pm on Feb. 15 with an eclectic and relaxed set by DJ Tai Ji, then continues with live hip-hop from THC (Taipei Hip-hop Crew, H中P在台北) and the Shaman (玄武), and a roster of DJs including Duckie, vDub, aka Shaun Kidd, Koala, Mixter T, Marcus Aurelius and Dragon spinning until
4am. Feb. 16 follows a similar schedule.
“The two days look a bit similar on paper,” said organizer Rock Starkey, “but will prove to be quite different stylistically.”
Day one focuses on hip-hop and tribal electronica, while day two is veers off into psychedelic territory, ending with a five-hour psytrance party.
Starkey said he chose DJs who “have their own style and are a little freaky,” and will each play different sets over the weekend to show off the fill range of their repertoires.
Live acts include Rock in Hose Burlesque.
THC will host an open mic session for would-be MCs and rappers to show off their stuff from 5pm to 6pm on Tuesday. The group will perform three gigs over the two days. Audience members can expect to hear “new songs [from the crew’s upcoming album, slated for a summer release], razor sharp freestyles, and some of the best underground hip-hop,” said the Shaman, aka Elliot Tsai (蔡一暐).
The venue has free camping, hot showers, public washrooms and four tented areas. Tent rental will not be available on-site so festivalgoers are advised to take along their own gear. While February in the south is often mild, with warm days, the nights can get chilly: a hooded jacket and a sleeping bag or blanket are recommended.
Tin Pan Alley, Starkey’s Tainan-based restaurant, will sell smoked Andouille hot dogs and pizza by the slice, and man a bar. A booth from the Surf Shack in Hengchun (恆春) will serve burgers and sandwiches. Bottled water, soft drinks and juices will
be available.
Food and drinks are priced from NT$50 NT$200, with beers around NT$100. No outside drinks are allowed at the festival.
Though there will not be shuttle buses, local taxi companies have been informed of the festival, and from the center of Kending the farm is 20 to 30 minutes away on foot.
Set in Kending National Park, the site offers ample opportunity to commune with nature. A hike to the summit of Dajian mountain (大劍山) takes three to four hours return journey.
Kending’s main beach (across from the Howard Plaza Hotel) serves drinks and rents out umbrellas, but is the plain sister when compared with nearby spots such as Baisha (白沙), which is a 10 to 15-minute scooter or taxi ride west of town.
Scooters can be rented at various locations along Kending’s main drag — if they are out, try taking a taxi to nearby Hengchun and renting there. It’ll give you a chance to check out the old city gates and see a town that is far less touristy than Kending or Nanwan (南灣).
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