While hesitant at first to embrace the electronic culture, Spring Scream is now going all out, with one of its seven stages dedicated to 27 DJs as well as screens set up for video. Alexander Ives surprised many last year when he started off the Saturday afternoon by pumping Parliament-Funkadelic through the sound system and getting people to dance at such an early time. Expect more of the same this year. Australian-based Desert Collective is performing three times over the next four days for a good reason. Its brand of dancehall-infused break beats seems to fit Spring Scream’s vibe.
Tomorrow afternoon and evening promise some of the best hip-hop and drum ’n’ bass ever heard in Kenting. Be Happy DJs will make the soundtrack to the sunset pleasant to the ears and Twohands (real name Daniel Lambert) has been known to throw anything into the mix, including TV theme songs and other obscurities like Kool Keith, and keep the party vibe going all the while. Subtle (aka John Aiken) plays a little bit of everything — hip-hop to dubstep to drum ’n’ bass, which flows smoothly onto Robi Roka (real name Roberto Mallenzi), who has been making quite a name for himself around Taiwan lately.
Usually Sunday is a day of rest, but this weekend, it’s only the middle of the party. Bonestorm (aka Rob Jabazz) starts the day off with some UK grime, followed by Q-Kraft (real name Dominic O’Brien), an electro DJ who has built a loyal following in Kaohsiung. Funky house producer Mr Uppity (Scott Lelievre) will make his Spring Scream debut and is sure to move feet, while local heroes/hipsters Eat Me! Black Hole! and Bounce Girlz are aiming to surpass their impressive sets last year. Colour Wolf (real name James Jones), who always travels with a band of half-naked Taichungers, was in a diaper climbing the scaffolding last year, and he promises to top that this time around.
Photo Courtesy of Squeaker Tan
WHAT: Spring Scream (春天吶喊)
WHEN: Today to Monday
WHERE: Oluanpi Lighthouse National Park (鵝鑾鼻燈塔國家公園)
ADMISSION: One-day passes are NT$1,050 from 7-Eleven ibon kiosks (NT$1,100 at the door) or multi-day pass are NT$2,000, available at the door
ON THE NET: www.springscream.com
While most of the other parties taking place in the Kenting area are multi-day events, Spring Tide is a one-night affair with Max Graham, a Canadian progressive and trance producer that was ranked No. 23 in the world according to DJ Mag in 2001, in the mix. Graham is mostly known for a remix of Yes’ Owner of a Lonely Heart.
WHAT: Spring Tide (春潮海洋電音派對)
WHEN: Tomorrow, from 6pm to 3am
WHERE: Howard Beach Resort Kenting (墾丁福華渡假飯店), 2 Kenting Rd, Hengchun Township, Pingtung County (屏東縣恆春鎮墾丁路2號)
ADMISSION: NT$1,200 at the door
ON THE NET: www.2011springtide.com
Moonlight was one of the first electronic parties to jump on the Tomb Sweeping Weekend festival gravy train a decade ago. Over the years, there have been ups and downs because of a tragic drowning and weather problems, but Moonlight has persisted. Last year Moonlight was the place to be after all the other parties because it was located on Little Bay Beach (墾丁小灣海灘). This year, Moonlight goes upscale and moves to Nanwan (墾丁南灣) and features some of the heavyweights in the country’s electronic music scene like Vertigo, Cougar, Hooker and Tiger.
WHAT: Moonlight Party (南灣月光派對)
WHEN: Today and Monday from 10pm, tomorrow and Sunday from 2:30pm
WHERE: Nanwan (墾丁南灣)
ADMISSION: Tonight is free, for April 2 to April 4, admission is NT$800 at the door
While there may be more stages or bigger names at other places, everyone ends up at the Little Bay Beach party late at night because it’s free. Thousands and thousands of partiers set off fireworks and dance in the sand until the sun comes up every year and it will be no different this time. Squeaker has had a hand in the last-minute organization of the party and has chosen the bass-heavy sounds of Edify, Swingchild, Swank Sound System, Naked, Dakar and more for this three-day extravaganza.
WHAT: Coors Light presents Kenting Spring Beach Bash 2011
WHEN: Tomorrow to Monday, from 10pm
WHERE: Little Bay Beach (墾丁小灣海灘)
ADMISSION: Free
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