Film
Taipei Shin Kong Cinemas will tomorrow show two documentaries rarely seen in Taiwan. All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records is a 2015 documentary by Colin Hanks about music retailer Tower Records, and Cobain: Montage of Heck is a documentary about 90’s icon and Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain.
■ Taipei Shin Kong Cinemas (台北新光影城), 4F, 36, Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路36號4樓)
Photo courtesy of Vader
■ Tomorrow at 7pm. Admission is NT$888, available through www.indievox.com
Classical music and Dance
There will be a series of performances tonight in the plaza between the National Theater and the National Concert Hall. Ju Percussion Group (朱宗慶打擊樂團) will hold a drumming performance and perform versions of Solar Myth (射日), Zhong Kui Marrying His Sister Off (媚影) and Espiritu Libre (自由精神). Later in the evening, Cloud Gate Dance School (雲門舞集舞蹈教室) will perform Rhythms of Life (生活律動) followed by a showing of The Wall (牆) by Cloud Gate 2 (雲門 2).
Photo courtesy of Penguincat
■ The Plaza between the National Theater and National Concert Hall (中正紀念堂 國家兩廳院藝文廣場). From 6pm until 9:25pm. Performances begin at 7:35pm
■ Admission is free
In celebration of the 120 years of La Boheme, the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra will present its version of the famous four-act opera by Giacomo Puccini, under the baton of conductor Chun-Chiang Chiu (邱君強).
Photo courtesy of Vice City
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Thursday at 7:30pm. Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing
Argentine classical piano sensation Sergio Tiempo will make his Taiwan debut on Sunday at the National Concert Hall. The program will include Brahms’ Intermezzo in B minor, Op 119 No 1, Beethoven’s Sonata in F minor, Op 57 (Appassionata) and Debussy’s Reflets dans l’eau from Images, Set 1.
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Sunday at 2:30pm. Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through NTCH ticketing
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tomorrow, Hong Kong-Canadian, singer-songwriter Ellen Loo (盧凱彤) will take the stage. On Sunday it is Mando-pop artist Tarcy Su (蘇慧倫). On Wednesday, the club will host Rokon 2 Future, with the UK’s drum and bass duo Sigma, Japan’s hip-hopster Taku Takahashi, DJ Mykal (林哲儀), electronic dance and rock band OVDS, electronic pop group The Girl and The Robots (女孩與機器人) and a whole host of others.
■ 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 and Sunday, and 4pm on Wednesday
■ Admission is NT$1,000 tomorrow, NT$1,400 on Sunday and NT$2,200 on Wednesday. Tickets available through www.indievox.com and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Poland’s Vader will thunder its death metal tonight at The Wall (這牆), a prominent venue for indie rock artists. Japan’s Tyrant of Mary and Australia’s Earth Rot will provide support. Taiwanese visual rock band Naraku (奈落) and Kaohsiung-based punk/metal act Spade 14 (黑桃十四) will share the venue on Sunday with Holy Temptation and Makoto Project. Ben Klock plays tonight at Korner, a club located inside The Wall. Yoshi Nori, Mondo Cool, Al Burro and others will lend support. It’s a night of dub, world beats and electro swing with James Ho, Kuleflux, @llen, Nini and Duanger (杜蟲) tomorrow.
■ 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: thewall.tw
■ Shows at The Wall start tonight at 8pm and Sunday at 7:30pm; Korner show at 11pm tonight and 11:50
■ Tickets for The Wall shows are NT$1,500 tonight and NT$400 Sunday; Korner shows cost NT$900 tonight and NT$200 tomorrow, available online through thewall.tw
Overhear Vocal Group (驚聆人聲樂團), an a capella group, will play on Sunday at Legacy Mini, a spin-off of Legacy Taipei. Wednesday’s performance by alternative rock outfit PUMPKINney Fan Club (南瓜妮歌迷俱樂部) is sold out.
■ Legacy Mini at Amba Taipei Ximending (台北西門町意舍), 5F, 77, Wuchang St Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段77號5樓)
■ Show starts at 4pm
■ Admission is NT$450. Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased online through www.indievox.com and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Kaohsiung-based industrial rockers Shallow Levee (淺堤) perform on Sunday at APA Mini (小地方展演空間). Solo rocker Hung Sheng-hao (洪申豪) is also on the bill.
■ B1,147, Hangzhou S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市杭州南路一段147號B1), tel: (02) 2327-8658. On the Net: www.facebook.com/apamini
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$600, available through www.indievox.com
There will be two separate performances tonight at indie rock club Revolver. The first begins at 8:30pm and features alternative punk and rock with ChicKNUP (奇克拿樂團), Rosy (玫瑰紅) and Talking Without Sense (低水平). Later in the evening, Canada’s Jimmy James and Vision: Duckcrow will spin some hip-hop, dub and dance. Tomorrow, MC: 88, Neil Yan, Joey Huang and others will perform hip-hop and rap, while Sunday is a night of alternative metal with Japan’s Disorder and Tombo and Taiwan’s Future after a Second (瞬?未?).
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678. On the Net: www.revolver.tw
■ Show starts tonight at 8:30pm and 11:30pm tonight, 6:30pm tomorrow and 8:30pm on Sunday
■ Admission is NT$350 (8:30pm) and NT$150 (11:30pm) tonight, NT$300 tomorrow and NT$300 on Sunday
Japan’s DJ Zeebra will put on a show tonight at Pipe Live Music, a major venue for indie music and parties. Support will be given by YoungQueenz and BR. David Jam and KD Chloe will play on Sunday.
■ 1 Siyuan Rd, Taipei City (台北市思源路1號), tel: (02) 2364-8198. On the Net: www.pipemusic.com.tw
■ Show starts at 11pm tonight, 7:30pm on Sunday
■ Admission is NT$1,000 tonight and NT$350 Sunday. Tickets available online through www.indievox.com, pipemusic.kktix.cc and at FamilyMart (全家) FamiPort kiosks
Your jammin tonight at Bobwundaye (無問題), a small pub in Taipei, with the Reggae Riddims, who will give their lively interpretation of classic reggae and ska.
■ 77, Heping E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市和平東路三段77號), tel: (02) 2377-1772
■ Show starts at 10pm
■ Admission is NT$300
Pop group Big Pei Chou (周大派) and acoustic guitarist Cheng Kuang-hsien (鄭光顯) are among the performers tonight at Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area. Indie band Penguin Cat (企鵝貓) and blues rock ensemble Commuters (通勤少年) perform tomorrow.
■ 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$350
Indie rockers Angry Youth (厭世少年) and indie pop outfit Freckles (雀斑) take the stage tonight at Kafka by the Sea (海邊的卡夫卡), a coffee house-cum-music and arts venue. R&B/funk combo Space Cake (史貝絲考克) will get your bones shaking tomorrow.
■ 2F, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號2樓). On the Net: www.kafkabythe.blogspot.tw
■ Show starts at 8pm. Cafe/bookstore opens noon to midnight Sundays through Thursdays, noon to 2am Fridays and Saturdays
■ Admission is NT$400, available online through www.indievox.com
Rock and rollers Sweeping Music (漩指) take the stage tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). Pop punks Party Sense (派對紳士) play tomorrow. Three piece US fusion group Aristocrats will play songs from their third studio album Tres Caballeros on Sunday.
■ 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
■ Show starts at 8pm tonight, 7pm tomorrow and 8pm on Sunday
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight, NT$800 tomorrow and NT$300 to NT$2,5000 on Sunday available online through www.indievox.com and tickets.books.com.tw
Sam’s Jazz Quartet plays tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Dabe Chen (安婕希) continues her Autumn Light concert tour tomorrow. On Sunday, O2 Sun Shine (氧樂團) plays house, EDM and dubstep. .
■ 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 tomorrow, Sunday and Wednesday
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight, NT$450 tomorrow and NT$350 on Sunday and Wednesday, available online through www.indievox.com and tickets.books.com.tw
The Flat Fives play swing and R&B tunes from the 1940s and 50s tonight at Sappho Live, a late-night lounge bar that hosts mostly jazz shows. J’s Electric Band plays tomorrow.
■ 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.sappholive.com
■ Shows start at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$400
Kaohsiung-based industrial rockers Shallow Levee (淺堤) and indie pop group Freckles (雀斑) each play a set tomorrow at Taichung’s Forro Cafe (呼嚕咖啡). On Sunday, it’s WeeMusic (味樂團).
■ 47, Jingcheng 3rd St, Taichung City (台中市精誠三街47號), tel: (04) 2310-1661. On the Net: forrocafe.blogspot.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$450 tomorrow and NT$500 on Sunday, available through www.indievox.com
PUMPKINney Fan Club (南瓜妮歌迷俱樂部), a group that mixes Brit rock, psychedelic and electronic sounds, will play tonight at TCRC (前科累累俱樂部), a small venue for independent musicians and local artists in Tainan. Kikiilimikilii, the solo project of one founder of the Parisian art group and label Heia Sun, will play his version of noisy psychedelia and trance-leaning rhythms tomorrow. He will be joined by DJ Vice City. Singer-songwriter Easy Shen (沈簡單) continues his cross-country tour on Sunday.
■ B1, 314, Simen Rd Sec 2, Tainan City (台南市西門路二段314號B1), tel: (06) 222 3238.
■ Show starts 8pm today and tomorrow and 4pm on Sunday
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight, NT$250 tomorrow and NT$300 on Sunday, available at www.indievox.com
Industrial rockers Shallow Levee (淺堤) and Leo (Leo王) will perform tonight at The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung. Tomorrow it’s the psychedelic sounds of PUMPKINney Fan Club (南瓜妮歌迷俱樂部). It’s a night of new age electric, rap and hip-hop with Nine Point Eight (自由引力) on Sunday, with RubyBand lending support.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市立文路46號), tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.tw
■ Show starts tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 8pm and Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$350 tonight and tomorrow and NT$250 on Sunday, available at www.indievox.com
Upbeat punk rockers Punkhoo (胖虎) and ska punk group Destroyers (擊沈女孩) will get you on your feet tonight at Live Warehouse, a venue for indie music located inside Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Arts Center (駁二藝術特區).
■ 2-5 Dayi Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市大義街2-5號), tel: (07) 521-8114. On the Net: livewarehouse.tw
■ Show starts 7:39pm tonight
■ Entrance is NT$500, available online through tickets.books.com.tw
Psychedelic rock act Obviously (顯然樂隊) performs tonight at Paramount Bar (百樂門酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung. They will be joined by Hong Kong’s Silhungmo (小紅帽).
■ 70 Minzu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市三民區民族一路70號), tel: (07) 389-0501
■ Show starts at 7pm
■ Entrance is NT$400, available through www.indievox.com
Kuo Ming-lung (郭明龍) will play songs from his album Longer Story tonight at Tiehua Music Village (鐵花村), an arts village in Taitung City. The Ghost Money All-stars and Tokyo-based rockers Shuhari will play tomorrow. Shao An (韶安) plays an acoustic guitar set on Sunday.
■ 26, Ln 135, Sinsheng Rd, Taitung City (台東市新生路135巷26號), tel: (089) 343-393. On the Net: www.tiehua.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm. Music venue and crafts shops are open 2pm to 10pm Tuesdays through Sundays
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight, NT$120 tomorrow and Sunday, available online at tickets.books.com.tw
When nature calls, Masana Izawa has followed the same routine for more than 50 years: heading out to the woods in Japan, dropping his pants and doing as bears do. “We survive by eating other living things. But you can give faeces back to nature so that organisms in the soil can decompose them,” the 74-year-old said. “This means you are giving life back. What could be a more sublime act?” “Fundo-shi” (“poop-soil master”) Izawa is something of a celebrity in Japan, publishing books, delivering lectures and appearing in a documentary. People flock to his “Poopland” and centuries-old wooden “Fundo-an” (“poop-soil house”) in
Jan 13 to Jan 19 Yang Jen-huang (楊仁煌) recalls being slapped by his father when he asked about their Sakizaya heritage, telling him to never mention it otherwise they’ll be killed. “Only then did I start learning about the Karewan Incident,” he tells Mayaw Kilang in “The social culture and ethnic identification of the Sakizaya” (撒奇萊雅族的社會文化與民族認定). “Many of our elders are reluctant to call themselves Sakizaya, and are accustomed to living in Amis (Pangcah) society. Therefore, it’s up to the younger generation to push for official recognition, because there’s still a taboo with the older people.” Although the Sakizaya became Taiwan’s 13th
For anyone on board the train looking out the window, it must have been a strange sight. The same foreigner stood outside waving at them four different times within ten minutes, three times on the left and once on the right, his face getting redder and sweatier each time. At this unique location, it’s actually possible to beat the train up the mountain on foot, though only with extreme effort. For the average hiker, the Dulishan Trail is still a great place to get some exercise and see the train — at least once — as it makes its way
Earlier this month, a Hong Kong ship, Shunxin-39, was identified as the ship that had cut telecom cables on the seabed north of Keelung. The ship, owned out of Hong Kong and variously described as registered in Cameroon (as Shunxin-39) and Tanzania (as Xinshun-39), was originally People’s Republic of China (PRC)-flagged, but changed registries in 2024, according to Maritime Executive magazine. The Financial Times published tracking data for the ship showing it crossing a number of undersea cables off northern Taiwan over the course of several days. The intent was clear. Shunxin-39, which according to the Taiwan Coast Guard was crewed
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