Some of Taiwan’s best-known indie-rock bands are part of a weekend festival that starts tonight on the rooftop gardens of Eslite Bookstore’s flagship store on Xinyi Road.
Rooftop Live!, which Eslite started in 2007, was inspired by the Beatles’ legendary rooftop concert in London, held just before the group disbanded.
After a hiatus last year, the event returns with popular acts such as Tizzy Bac, Sugar Plum Ferry (甜梅號) and 1976 lead singer Chen Ray-kai (陳瑞凱), aka Ah-kai (阿凱).
Indie-rock fans will have the rare chance to enjoy live performances in an idyllic setting, at least compared to the usual venues such as The Wall (這牆) or Underworld (地下社會).
Eslite’s seventh floor rooftop gardens, which can hold more than 1,000 people and offer close-up views of neighboring Taipei 101 and the East District (東區), are only open to the public for the Rooftop Live! concerts, said Evelyn Tsai (蔡孟庭) of the store’s PR department.
This year the event is taking on a space fantasy theme, with Eslite’s glass window complex and terrace serving as “Station No. 11” (named after the store’s address) for the event’s “rock spaceship.”
Tsai says concertgoers can expect to see futuristic decor in the stage design, as well as a few “surprises.”
The modern rock from this weekend’s lineup of solid bands ought to suit the sci-fi theme. Unsurprisingly, Tizzy Bac’s show tomorrow is already sold out.
Tonight’s headline act is Bearbabes (熊寶貝), a versatile trio whose sound ranges from slow-core rock to catchy power-pop. Also on the bill are polished indie-rockers 13 (拾參樂團), and Ah-Kai of 1976, who will make a guest appearance with Bearbabes.
On Sunday, Sugar Plum Ferry, one of Taiwan’s first and longest-running post-rock groups, headlines a program that also features Orangegrass (橙草), which mixes post-rock grooves and emo vocals, and female-led indie-pop outfit Miss Stocking (絲襪小姐).
Beer and other refreshments will be on sale. The concerts will still go on in the event of light rain, says Tsai, but check the event’s Web site for possible rescheduling announcements.
Tickets will only be available through 7-Eleven ibon kiosks (they can be booked through indievox.com), and not at the door. For last-minute ticket-buyers, there is a 7-Eleven store in the basement of Eslite.
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