Theater
Taipei-based VM Theatre Company’s (耀演) Daylight aspires to become a Broadway-type spectacle. It tells a story about greed, lust and love that takes place at a night club called Daylight. The performance is in Chinese with English subtitles.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$650, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Cuckoo’s Last Tango (那一段在杜鵑窩裡的日子) by Drama Club Company (劇樂部劇團) tells of a 30-year-old aspiring journalist sent to uncover the dirt on a mental hospital.
■ Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場), 2, Ln 5, Guling St, Taipei City (台北市牯嶺街5巷2號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The National Taiwan College of Performing Arts (國立臺灣戲曲學院) pays tribute to Taiwanese opera master Yeh Fu-jun (葉復潤) with a series of operatic classics featuring Yeh.
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Organized by Taichung Improv, the Quickies — Instant Play Festival — Taichung 2012, now in its third year, offers a fun challenge to aspiring writers, directors and actors who, after given random ideas, will create a theatrical show from scratch within 24 hours. The curtain goes up at 8pm on Saturday. For more information, go to www.taichungimprov.net/quickies.asp.
■ Open Theater, B1, 107, Taichung Harbor Rd Sec 3, Greater Taichung (台中市西屯區台中港路三段107號B1)
■ Saturday at 8pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 at the door and NT$300 in advance, available from various venues in Taichung including Salut Pizza, tel: (04) 2310-3541 and Best Language School, tel: (04) 2265-1403
All U People Theater’s (全民大劇團) Crazy Idol Soap (瘋狂偶像劇) returns with five performances in Taipei. A comic satire on soap operas starring entertainment industry idols, the show casts TV soap actor James Wen (溫昇豪) as a successful TV producer who coaches supporting actress Megan Lai (賴雅妍) on how to become a female lead.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$3,600, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
French classical pianist Roger Muraro will perform Turangalila-Symphonie by Olivier Messiaen with the National Symphony Orchestra on Saturday. Inspired by the legend of Tristan and Iseult, the piece is part of the French composer’s trilogy of works that explore the theme of love. Lu Shao-chia (呂紹嘉) will conduct.
■ Saturday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Taipei Mandolin Ensemble will perform a diverse program on Sunday afternoon. Music will range from pop music to compositions by Charles Chaplin. Oana Yuichi will conduct.
■ Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Recital Hall (國家演奏廳), 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21-1號)
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Electronic rock group Chemical Monkeys (化學猴子) performs tomorrow night, followed by Mando-pop singer Nick Chou (周湯豪) on Saturday afternoon. The Next Big Thing on Sunday features a roster of up-and-coming bands, including PUMPKINney Fan Club (南瓜妮歌迷俱樂部), Queen Suitcase (皇后皮箱), IGUband (那我懂你意思了) and Mary See the Future (先知瑪莉).
■ 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 8pm tomorrow, 3pm Saturday and 3pm Sunday
■ Tickets are NT$500 tomorrow, NT$900 Saturday and NT$350 Sunday. Tickets available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw and at ibon electronics kiosks at 7-Eleven stores.
French-English electro disco funk duo Jupiter play at The Wall (這牆) tonight, with DJs VISA, Disk0Kidz, Spykee, Bunjibeat and J.F. Amadei. Japanese hardcore group Crossfaith takes to the stage tomorrow night with New Breed. Indie rock bands Inhuman (非人物種), DamnKidz, B.B. Bomb (B.B.彈) and Funky Brothers (放客兄弟) will play at a party in support of a charity for stray pets on Saturday (a portion of the ticket sales will go to animal welfare groups). Australian indie pop band The Jezabels performs Sunday night.
■ 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
■ Music shows start 8pm
■ Entrance fee is NT$1,000 tonight, NT$1,200 Friday, NT$350 Saturday and NT$900 Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Jazz-pop-blues fusion group Mr. Why Why (壞壞嗓) appears tonight at Witch House (女巫店), followed by Early. Summerbred Ah-Liang (夏生阿亮) and Insecteens (昆蟲白) are on tomorrow’s roster. Indie pop/acoustic duo Ding Ding and Shi Shi (丁丁與西西) play Saturday night.
■ 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
■ Performances 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 fee for music shows is NT$300
Jelly and the Backpackers appear tonight at Riverside Music Cafe (河岸留言) with Vchuan (陳威全). Guitarist Pipa Yang (楊騰佑) appears tomorrow night with fellow six-string slingers Lin Dong (林董), Ting Ting (丁丁) and Ark Lin. Indie rock group La Petite Nurse (小護士樂團) celebrates its 10th anniversary on Saturday. Mr. Why Why plays on Sunday with Vast and Hazy.
■ 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 9pm tonight, 9:30pm tomorrow night, 8:30pm Saturday and 9pm Sunday. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance fee is NT$350 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow night and Saturday and NT$350 Sunday
Gospel Project bills itself as the first group dedicated to Christian music in Taiwan. It plays at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館) in Ximending tonight.
■ 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 8:30pm tonight
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse and tickets.books.com.tw
Garage punk group Vampires Watching Television (吸血鬼看電視) and Hi-Jack will perform at Underworld (地下社會) tomorrow night. Saturday’s lineup was not available as of press time.
■ 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
■ Music shows run from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays. Sunday’s recording session runs from 3pm to 9pm. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy Hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance is NT$300, which includes one drink
The Shawna Yang Piano Trio (楊曉恩鋼琴三重奏) appears tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge and jazz venue. Soy La Ley Latin Jazz (古巴爵士樂團) is on tomorrow’s bill and MaJaM Jazz Band (麻將爵士樂團) takes the stage on Saturday.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1), tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net: www.sappho102.biz
■ Shows start 10pm tonight, 10:30pm tomorrow night and 11pm Saturday night
■ Entrance is NT$200
Tonight’s Band Night at Revolver features Frusciante (佛香甜) and Young Me Now Me Starts. Tomorrow’s lineup is Kid Millionaire, The Looking Glass and Okay Cars. On Saturday, it’s DJ sets by Fion, amStereo, Bombthreats and James Ho at Saturday’s Night Zoo (重低音逆襲) party.
■ 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$150 tonight, NT$250 tomorrow night and NT$250 Saturday. All fees include one drink
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.
■ 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
Guitar duo Blurrs Bros perform American songbook tunes tonight at Italian restaurant Capone’s. On Fridays, Taipei Swing holds dance socials 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” Sunday nights and on Wednesdays it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas.
■ 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 Mercury (水星酒館) an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts live music every Saturday. Indie rock group Echo (回聲樂團) makes its debut at the venue this week with a sold-out show.
■ 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: visit mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Starts at 9pm
■ Sold out
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). This Saturday’s concert features a lineup of hardcore bands including Human Brutality (人類暴行), Metal Blood (鐵血政策) and MeiMetal (咩咩頭合唱團).
■ 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
■ Show starts at 7:30pm Saturday
■ Entrance is NT$300 Saturday
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