Since 2007, Eslite Bookstore has held an annual live music event to pay tribute to the legendary Beatles’ rooftop concert in London shortly before the group disbanded.
The Rooftop Live! series, which runs from tonight through Sunday, has become a tradition of sorts for Taiwan’s most popular indie rock bands and their fans.
This year is no different, with headline sets from power-pop trio Mojo (Mojo樂團), which performs tonight, indie-pop veterans 1976 and singer-songwriter Dadado Huang (黃玠).
Photo courtesy of Eslite Bookstore
Those expecting the atmosphere of the Beatles’ historic live session on top of their headquarters on Savile Row will have to adjust their expectations.
Passersby are unlikely to even hear the music from the busy streets of Taipei’s East District (東區), the informal name of the area bounded by Fuxing South Road to the west, Civic Boulevard to the north, Songshan Road to the east and Xinyi Road to the south. The “rooftop” of Eslite’s event is a spacious outdoor terrace and garden on the seventh floor that holds around 1,000 people. The bands will play on a professional stage facing their audience, instead of standing near the edge of the building as the Beatles did.
Still, Rooftop Live! makes for a good party setting for live music fans. The space is a novel setting compared to the usual live music spots and offers a close-up view of nearby Taipei 101.
Photo courtesy of Eslite Bookstore
Tonight’s lineup promises an evening of straightforward, hard-hitting rock, with nu-metal group Monkey Pilot (猴子飛行員) opening for Mojo. There will also be a short appearance by veteran indie-folk musician and producer Ze Hwang (黃小楨).
Tomorrow, the hipsters are likely to be out in full force for Macbeth (馬克白), a post-punk/synth band whose sound nods to Joy Division and Arcade Fire. The group opens for indie-pop stalwarts 1976, who will play two sets of their Brit-rock influenced music. Rounding out the evening is an opening set from indie-folk band Hush!, as well as guest appearances by Tizzy Bac lead singer and pianist Chen Hui-ting (陳惠婷) and Loh Tsui Kweh Commune’s (濁水溪公社) zany bandleader Ko Ren-chien (柯仁堅), who is bound to raise some laughs.
Sunday is a more eclectic collection of performers, including We Save Strawberries (草莓救星), a group with a female vocalist that mixes indie-pop and post-rock, the highly regarded singer-songwriter Suming (舒米恩), whose work ranges from synth-pop to Aboriginal folk and rock, and rapper Soft Lipa (蛋堡). They open for Dadado Huang, a currently popular, squeaky-clean indie folk performer.
Photo courtesy of Eslite Bookstore
Snacks and beverages, including beer, will be on sale at the event. In the case of rain, bring an umbrella or plan on using one of the plastic disposable raincoats that the organizers will provide free of charge.
Schedule
Tonight
Monkey Pilot
Mojo
Tomorrow
Hush!
Macbeth
1976
Sunday
We Save Strawberries
Suming
Dadado Huang
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