Theater
A brand new production of Blooming Enlightenment (花蕊渡河) by the U-Theater group (優人神鼓), and featuring most of the material from the original show that proved such an enormous success at the Taipei International Flora Expo (台北國際花博) last year. Added to this is new material and performances featuring the theater group’s youth division.
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm; tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Judge Bao (包青天), a Beijing opera being presented as part of Contemporary Legend Theater’s (當代傳奇劇場) Legend Opera II series starring Liu Jaw-yu (劉琢瑜) and Liu Hai-yuan (劉海苑).
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Auditorium of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, 21 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21號)
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,500; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Show On (羞昂App), a production by Shakespeare’s Wild Sisters Group (莎妹劇團).
■ Today, tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm; tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm (some tickets remain for the show on Sunday 7:30pm; all other shows sold out)
■ National Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tickets at NT$800; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Title of Show, a musical by Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen, directed by Brook Hall and produced in collaboration with Taipei Players (Mandy Roveda and Brandon Thompson), Taiwanese musical regular (Ming Lee, 李宏鳴), and a new-to-town New York musical transplant (Cat Tsai, 蔡佳慈) as well as vocal and theatrical piano virtuoso Holy Chang (張聖潔). The show is in English with Chinese subtitles.
■ Today, tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm; tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Auditorium of the Central Motion Pictures Company Building (中影商業大樓演講廳), 260 Bade Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市八德路二段260號)
■ Tickets are NT$650; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Let the Water Bless the Land (奇想河圳), a production by Taipei Dance Circle (光環舞集) presents the work of three choreographers: Colin Offord, Chen Shu-hsi (陳樹熙) and Liu Hsueh-hsuan (劉學軒).
■ Tomorrow 7:30pm
■ Chiayi Performing Arts Center (嘉義縣表演藝術中心演藝廳), 265, Jianguo Rd Sec 2, Minsyong Township, Chiayi County (嘉義縣民雄鄉建國路二段265號)
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$400; available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Korean pianist Hyung-ki Joo and violinist Aleksey Igudesman are a classical music duet who also happen to be modern day pranksters. The pair will provide both instrumental virtuosity and silly theatrics onstage with the National Symphony Orchestra as they perform a program featuring the music of Mozart, Rachmanioff, Bach and Vivaldi.
■ Tonight at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, 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. Tonight is dance rock from P!SCO and Morning Call (輕晨電). Mando-pop singer Nylon Chen (陳乃榮) takes the stage tomorrow. Heartthrob Mando-popper Kenji Wu (吳克群) performs on Wednesday.
■ 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
■ NT$500 tonight, NT$800 and NT$600 tomorrow depending on seating area, NT$1,000 on Wednesday. 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
Tonight The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts hipster pop rocker Sadon (山東). Tomorrow is a big lineup of punk and metal bands, including Damnkidz and Flesh Juicer (血肉果汁機) and Japanese groups Brahman and Hawaiian6. J-rock star Inoran takes the stage on Sunday.
■ 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 8pm, except Saturday’s, which starts at 9:30pm.
■ NT$500 tonight, NT$1,700 on Saturday, NT$2,000 on Sunday. Tickets for all shows, with discounts on advance tickets, can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts alt-rock band Silent Toads (啾吉惦惦) and nu-metal band Overdose. Puyuma folk chantsuese Panai takes the stage tomorrow. On Thursday, it’s Aboriginal folk musician Sangpuy (桑布伊).
■ 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
Experimental electronica act Shishukong (屍術控) and Podiyu (破地獄) play at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. Tomorrow Glad Illusion (稍縱即逝) and How You Fu take the stage. On Wednesday, it’s up-and-coming bands Black Ocean (黑海) and Smashing Tangerines (捏爆柳丁).
■ 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 for music shows is NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, which includes one drink. Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts an evening of breakcore from house DJs. Tomorrow it’s the “night zoo” with DJs James Ho and Salamander and Madbrain. On Wednesday, it’s live music from Easy and Low-Brightness Period (低明度時期), among others.
■ 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 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$250 tonight and NT$300 tomorrow; free Tuesday. Admission includes one free drink.
Timeless Fusion Party performs fusion jazz tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Pop singer T-Work (陳零九) and Aboriginal music ensemble Beautiful Haiyan (美麗心民謠) take the stage tomorrow. Pop rock bands Huiyaodays (火曜日樂團) and Fun Box perform on Sunday.
■ 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
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow and NT$350 Sunday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
A trio of indie rock bands share a billing tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館) in Ximending: Elephant Gym (大象體操), Touming Magazine (透明雜誌) and Aphasia (阿飛西雅). Veteran alt-rockers Backquarter (四分衛) take the stage tomorrow.
■ 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$400 tonight and tomorrow. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Bobwundaye, a small pub on Heping East Road (和平東路) in Taipei, hosts expat acoustic rock duo T-Bone and Yasu. The venue holds an open mic every Wednesday.
■ 77, Hoping E Rd, Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市和平東路三段77號)
■ Shows start at 9:30pm
■ NT$200 on Saturday
Ash and Friends play modern jazz standards tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night jazz/lounge bar. Tomorrow, it’s blues and funk band Blues Vibrations.
■ 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 at 10pm. The venue is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight and tomorrow
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.
■ 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
On Fridays at Italian restaurant Capone’s, Taipei Swing holds dance socials with live music from electric blues band Taipei 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. Duo Blurrs Bros perform blues and American songbook tunes on Thursdays.
■ 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). Two popular rock bands, Mary See The Future and Queen Suitcase take the stage tonight. Tomorrow, it’s pop singer Wanfang (萬芳).
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pierer-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ NT$400 tonight, NT$600 tomorrow
The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts live music every Saturday. Tomorrow it’s garage rock punks Vampire Watching Television and psychobilly rockers The Flamencos.
■ 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 8:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, includes one drink
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