Taiwanese pop single Bobee, which bounces along to an elctro-house beat, has caused quite a stir, and was even featured on CNN. How a cheesy rip-off of a South Korean song could get so big is a mystery, but it may spark renewed interest in dance music. And not just the type that commercial clubs play. But for anyone interested in finding something less mainstream, the pickings are thin on the ground. All is not lost: Read on for a rundown of venues that put a bit of thought into their programming.
The Villa-Herbs
Every Friday and Saturday this fancy little cafe/bar near Tunghua Night Market plays really good tech from 10pm to 1am. The retro/artsy chic interior and the exotic patio make it a really cool spot for small parties, and resident DJs NDUiq, MiniJay and Yoshi are known for their top-notch music selections. Free entry.
Photo Courtesy of Chris Scott
■ 32, Ln 11, Leli Rd, Taipei City (台北市樂利路11巷32號)
InHouse and Barcode
If you’re around Taipei 101 and feel like bar hopping, head to the adjacent Neo 19 building and you’ll find a couple of nice spots. At the back of the building is InHouse (www.inhouse19.com), a stylish cafe/lounge bar that boasts a bass-heavy sound system and a spacious outdoor area. Underground house rules almost every Wednesday, Thursday and weekends. Veterans David S, Nina, Mitch and Jimmy Chen are the residents here. On the fifth floor of the same building is Barcode (www.bar-code.com.tw), a slightly upscale lounge bar that usually attracts a more mature clientele and has pretty good music and DJs on weekends. Neither bar levies a cover charge.
■ 22 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路22號)
Tin Pan Alley
Run by a couple of music lovers/psy-trance followers, this hippie-style outdoor cafe has become a popular hangout spot for expats in Tainan. The delicious pizza, chilled atmosphere and Saturday night DJs and parties are the main attractions. This Lunar New Year, the sequel to last year’s Freakfest takes place here. From Thursday to Feb. 5, nightly parties feature electro, breaks and psy-trance courtesy of Tin Pan’s own Rock Starky, special guest Dragon, Koala and Naked, and more. Free entry.
■ 28, Beimen Rd Sec 2, East District, Greater Tainan (台南市東區北門路二段28號), tel: (06) 2231-223
■ Search for “Tin Pan Alley” on Facebook for more information
And some words about a couple of upcoming events:
A new edition of Planet Clash takes place tomorrow from 9pm to midnight at the Red Wolf Tavern in Tainan. Though it won’t be half as big as the New Year’s Eve event in Kaohsiung, the music should be similar, so expect a mix of everything. The party is being held as a warm-up for Sven Vath’s gig in Taipei on Feb. 19.
■ 229 Gongyuan Rd, North District, Greater Tainan (台南市北區公園路229號)
■ Admission is NT$400 for guys and NT$300 for girls
A drum ’n’ bass event titled Rumble will be held at Pipe in Taipei on Feb. 12 in memory of Mark Bennett, who was killed in a traffic accident last weekend. “Mark was an avid drum ’n’ bass party attendee. You could always see him socializing amongst everybody. He was everyone’s friend,” says Gregory Russell, a friend of Bennett’s and organizer of the party. The lineup includes Lai, Jonathon and Rich, among others. Russell says he is in the process of organizing a benefit party at Revolver, with the proceeds to go to Bennett’s family.
■ From 10pm to 6am
■ 1 Siyuan St, Taipei City (台北市思源街1號)
■ Admission is NT$350. For more info, visit waakao.com/en/happening/event-calendar/details/1929-rumble
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