Upcoming
Yen Chen-shen (嚴震生), a research fellow at National Chengchi University’s Institute of International Relations, will discuss post-Gaddafi Libya in a lecture titled Why Do People Feel Insecure Even Though the Dictator Is Gone? (為什麼強人垮了?我們更覺不安?). Government restructuring, disputes among different tribes, armed conflict and the threat of terrorism are among the topics Yen will discuss in the talk, which is part of the Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation’s (龍應台文化基金會) Thinkers Salon (思沙龍) lecture series. A screening of State of Denial, a documentary directed by Anne Reevell, will precede the lecture. The film tells the story of Muammar Gaddafi’s fall from power through the lives of insiders, defectors and military advisors who helped to end the dictator’s four-decade-long regime last year.
■ Thinkers Salon (思沙龍), Why Do People Feel Insecure Even Though the Dictator Is Gone? The lecture and film screening take place at Yue-han Hall (月涵堂), 110 Jinhua St, Taipei City (台北市金華街110號). The film is in English with Chinese subtitles; the lecture will be conducted in Mandarin only. Admission is free, but those attending must register online at www.civictaipei.org or by calling (02) 3322-4907
Photo Courtesy of the Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation
■ Feb. 18, from 1:30pm to 4:30pm
— By Noah Buchan
Theater
As part of the ongoing Headspring Festival 2012 (匯川藝術節), Comma Theater Company’s (逗點創意劇團) Sit Down uses chairs to examine the absurdity of life. The festival features a rich lineup of music, dance and theatrical performances and runs through April 1. For more information, visit www.head-spring.com.
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ For schedule and ticketing information visit the festival’s Web site or call (02) 2930-0754
Ou Yeh (歐耶) of the comedy troupe NG Improv Club (新激梗社劇團) will go solo for the very first time and perform improv comedy tomorrow night at Live Comedy Club & Cafe Taipei. On Saturday, Comedy Night With Rifat features expat stand-up comedian Rifat performing alongside magician Meng Hsiang (孟享).
■ Live Comedy Club & Cafe Taipei (卡米地喜劇俱樂部), 20, Ln 553, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段553巷20號)
■ Both shows begin at 8pm
■ Tickets are NT$350, available at the door and online through www.walkieticket.com. Alternatively, contact the Comedy Club by sending an e-mail to ticket@comedy.com.tw or calling (02) 2764-5529 to reserve seats
All U People Theater (全民大劇團), the multimedia group that produced the wildly popular spoof politics TV show The Largest Political Party (全民最大黨), turns its satirical eye to soap operas starring entertainment industry idols for Crazy Idol Soap (瘋狂偶像劇). In the show, TV soap actor James Wen (溫昇豪) plays a successful TV producer who coaches supporting actress Megan Lai (賴雅妍) on how to become a female lead.
■ Metropolitan Hall (台北市社教館城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tomorrow, Monday and Wednesday at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$750 to NT$3,000, available online at www.artsticket.com.tw and through 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Taipei Quyi Troupe (台北曲藝團) presents three children-friendly opera programs this weekend that draw on ancient Chinese literature, poetry and novels.
■ Wenshan Theater (文山劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$200, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Formosa — The Legendary Heaven (蓬萊仙島), the newest Taiwanese operatic production by the renowned Ming Hwa Yuan Arts and Cultural Group (明華園戲劇總團), presents an ancient tale of one emperor’s quest to conquer Formosa.
■ Tainan Municipal Cultural Center Performance Hall (台南市立文化中心演藝廳), 332 Jhonghua E Rd Sec 3, Greater Tainan (台南市中華東路三段332號)
■ Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,600, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
2012 Lexus Classical Musical Series — A Night of Nigel Kennedy (2012LEXUS古典音樂會 — 甘乃迪之夜) brings the British-born violinist to Taiwan for two concerts. He will perform Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Minor.
■ Saturday at 7:30pm (Taipei) and Sunday at 7:30pm (Taichung)
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City and Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$4,800 for Taipei and NT$800 to NT$4,800 for Taichung, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Sparks of NTSO (心星之火花) presents flautist Mark Sparks performing with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (國立臺灣交響樂團) under the baton of guest conductor Li Xincao (李心草). The program includes the Taiwan premiere of Christopher Rouse’s Flute Concerto, as well as the prelude to Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, Haydn’s Symphony No. 96 in D Major, Hoboken I/96 and Richard Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche Op. 28.
■ Saturday at 7:30pm
■ National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Music Hall (國立台灣交響樂團演奏廳), 738-2 Chungcheng Rd, Wufeng Township, Greater Taichung (大台中霧峰鄉中正路738之2號)
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tonight it’s The Next Big Thing, a showcase of up-and-coming bands that includes Coconuts (椰子), Hungertist (飢餓藝術家), Astro Bunny (原子邦妮), I Get It (那我懂你意思了) and Flesh Juicer (血肉果汁機). Tomorrow night, the venue hosts London indie rock band The Vaccines whose guitar-based sound riffs on the Modern Lovers, The Velvet Underground and The Clash. On Saturday, pop singer Chi Yu (齊豫), best known for her 1979 hit The Olive Tree (橄欖樹), takes to the stage for a comeback concert. Sunday is a night of extreme metal with Swedish group Opeth.
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 7:30pm tonight, 8pm all other nights
■ NT$200 tonight, NT$1,450 tomorrow (NT$1,200 in advance), NT$1,700 and NT$1,400 on Saturday (depending on seating area), NT$2,000 or NT$2,800 on Sunday (depending on seating area). Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw, www.legacy.com.tw and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Tomorrow The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts London-based electro DJ Erol Alkan, along with DJs Rory Phillips and Renaissance Man. On Saturday, alt-rock/nu-metal band Overdose takes to the stage. On Tuesday, it’s a Valentine’s Day-theme dance party featuring chillwave DJ Toro Y Moi and British indie rock group Yuck, whose sound is along the lines of Sonic Youth. The group plays again on Wednesday with local trio Forests as the opening act.
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 10pm tonight, 8pm all other nights
■ NT$1,400 tomorrow (NT$1,200 in advance), NT$500 (NT$400 in advance) Saturday, NT$1,500 (NT$1,300 in advance) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Post-punk rockers Manic Sheep and electro-rock group OCD Girl (強迫女孩) play tomorrow at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. On Saturday, it’s experimental noise music from a performer who goes by the name The Black Wolf of Dark College Folk Songs (暗校園民歌之) and experimental electronica act Shishukong (屍術控). On Wednesday, it’s up-and-coming bands Belabus (白蘿蔔) and Eggplantegg (茄子蛋).
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1), tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Shows run from 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance is NT$300 tomorrow (includes one drink) and NT$500 on Saturday (includes one drink before 11:30pm, two drinks after). Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts acoustic pop group Sardine and indie rock group Paper Girl (紙片女孩). Tomorrow it’s Taitung folk rock musician Balai (巴賴) and Amis folk rock group Passiwali (巴西瓦里) . On Saturday solo folk musician Lo Chung-han (羅崇漢) and alt-rock band Silent Toads (啾吉惦惦) take to the stage.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號), tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net: www.witchhouse.org
■ Shows start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games, open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays, 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300
Mando-pop group Every Planet (美味星球) and folk pop duo Crispy (脆樂團) perform tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Tomorrow the venue hosts Banana Fusion Project and electric blues band Black Sheep. Happy-go-lucky indie rockers Relax One (輕鬆玩) take to the stage on Saturday. On Sunday, it’s jazz pop outfit Mr Why Why (壞壞嗓樂團) and indie-pop acoustic duo DingDing and ShiShi (丁丁與西西)
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓), tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 9:30pm tonight, 9pm all other nights
■ NT$350 tonight and Sunday, NT$400 tomorrow and Saturday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tomorrow Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館) hosts Mando-pop singer Janice Yan (閻奕格). Disco-rockers Cosmos People (宇宙人) perform on Saturday, and on Sunday it’s pop singer Jet (易桀齊).
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號), tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8:30pm
■ NT$600 tomorrow, NT$500 Saturday (NT$400 in advance), NT$800 on Saturday (NT$640 in advance). Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight The TAV Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts jazz pianist Mike Tseng (曾增譯) and tenor saxophonist Terry Hsieh (謝明諺). Tomorrow, pianist Andrew Page, and drummer Paul Kresowik perform as an instrumental jazz/rock duo called The Do Wells, and on Saturday Coromandel Express performs traditional and contemporary Indian music.
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377, X207
■ Shows start at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, which includes one drink
Tonight, indie rock club Revolver hosts rock band Mike Mudd and the Silence and pianist Andrew Page and drummer Paul Kresowik performing as the instrumental jazz/rock duo The Do Wells. Tomorrow, it’s DJs Simona Blaze and Walk in White (白色大道), among others. On Saturday, Funky Brothers provide live music, followed by DJs Digital D, Radio Ra, Marcus Aurelius and Bounce Girlz. Selectah Taili spins dub and roots reggae on Wednesday.
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight, NT$300 tomorrow, NT$350 on Saturday, and free on Wednesday
Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs every Thursday at EZ5 Live House, which hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday, and veteran performer Ann Lang (郎祖筠) on Wednesdays.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號), tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Taipei Swing holds dance socials on Friday nights at Italian restaurant Capone’s, with live music from electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). On Saturday, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. Iris sings “romantic chansons” on Sunday nights.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號), tel: (02) 2773-3782
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). On Saturday, the venue hosts Taiwanese rapper Dog-G (大支), who has a new album out.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ NT$400 on Saturday
The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts live music every Saturday. This weekend, it’s punk/power-pop band The Locals (草地人) and post-rock outfit Sorrow of Youth (少年維持的煩惱).
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市左營區立文路46號), tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, which includes one drink
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