| Highlight | |
High Tide plays at the Wall as part of the late-night Roots Dub Session party.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HIGH TIDE | The Wall (這牆) hosts an evening of live reggae and dub tomorrow night with Roots Dub Session, a late-night party featuring two bands and two DJs. Organized by DJ Taili, the party is dedicated to promoting live reggae and dub music in Taipei. Kicking off the evening is High Tide, the roots, rocksteady and dub band of Public Radio singer and guitarist Moshe Foster, who also writes original material for the group. The band is a patchwork of other musicians from Taipei’s expat music scene: Mike Tennant of the Bopomofo Blues Band (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ) on bass, Andy Francis of the Money Shot Horns on trombone, guitarist and singer Jesse Morden-Green of Johnny Fatstacks and Consider the Meek drummer Greg Russell. Taking the stage next is Taimaica Sound System, one of Taiwan’s foremost homegrown reggae and dub outfits. The group prides itself on representing a diversity of musical dance styles; its nine members play electronic instruments and the standard guitar, bass and drum kit. After the bands, DJs Taili and Katzu of the Jamaican sound system Black Reign International will keep people dancing the rest of the evening, spinning classic and modern roots.
▲ Roots Dub Session with Taimaica Sound System, High Tide, and DJs Taili and Katzu
▲ Tomorrow, 11:30pm, The Wall (這牆), B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 for more information
▲ NT$350 cover includes one free drink
▲ On the Net: www.the-wall.com.tw |
DJ and producer Jef Stott brings his unique fusion of electronica and world music to Taiwan.
PHOTO: RON BROWNLOW, TAIPEI TIMES | Electro-global-fusion DJ Jef Stott brings his blend of Middle Eastern sounds and modern dub and dance music to Taipei and Taichung this weekend to groove with DJs Nate D and Jez Bob and a troupe of Taiwanese belly dancers. Stott — who is signed to the highly regarded San Francisco label Six Degrees — improvises with electronica and global remixes while sampling live percussion and the oud. For more information, visit www.jefstott.com, www.myspace.com/theatx or www.bellydancing.com.tw.
▲ 9pm tonight at 89K, Takuan Rd, Nantun Dist, Taichung City (台中市南屯區大觀路21號); 5pm tomorrow at Sababa (DJs only), 17, Ln 283, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段283巷17號); 10pm tomorrow at Vibe, B1, 155, Jinshan S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市金山南路一段155號B1); 10pm Sunday at Underworld (DJs only), B1, 45, Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1)
▲ Entrance is NT$400 for 89K; free for Sababa; NT$400 for Vibe; and NT$350 for Underworld. NT$350 pre-sale tickets for Vibe are available at Taipei City Sababa locations |
Theater
Windmill Fantasia (紙風車幻想曲) is an entertaining children’s performance by Paper Windmill Theater
(紙風車劇團) that uses float-sized puppets, black lighting, music and acting to enthrall and delight audiences.
▲ National Theater, Taipei City
▲ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and Sunday at 10:30am
▲ Tickets are NT$350 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing
Heart of Ocean (海洋之心)
is a diabolo dance production by
Diabolo Dance Theater (舞鈴劇場) that portrays life underwater.
▲ Hsinchu City Performance Hall (新竹市立演藝廳) 17, Tungtah Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號)
▲ Today at 7:30pm
▲ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$900, available through NTCH ticketing
Every Breath You Take (你的每一次呼吸...) is a dance performance by Big Knowledge Tree Theater (大知樹排練場) that uses breathing as a key element to explore the eternal themes of dreams, jealousy and love.
▲ Y17 (台北市青少年育樂中心), 17 Renai Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市仁愛路一段17號)
▲ Tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm
▲ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing
Visionary director Robert Wilson returns to Taiwan with I La Galigo, a performance based on an Indonesian creation myth, Sureq Galigo, that fuses theater, dance, music and poetry. The three-hour epic production includes 50 actors, dancers and musicians from Indonesia who use the traditions and folklore of the Bugis people to tell the story of forbidden love between a brother and sister.
▲ National Theater, Taipei City
▲ Thursday, Aug. 8, and Aug. 9, at 7:30pm; Aug. 10, at 2:30pm
▲ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,400, available through NTCH ticketing
Classical music
8th Taipei International Choral Festival (2008第八屆台北國際合唱音樂節) ends tomorrow with a Final Concert that includes sets by The Chanters Group of the Church of St Panteleimon the Healer, Georgia, St John’s College Choir, South Africa, The Idea of North, Australia, in addition to a performance of Handel’s Israel in Egypt by the Festival Choir (節慶合唱團), the Taipei Philharmonic Chorus (台北愛樂合唱團), and the Taipei Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (台北愛樂青年管弦樂團) with Gabor Hollerung conducting.
▲ Tomorrow, 7:30pm
▲ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing
Double Bass Works of 20th Century Vienna (維也納二十世紀低音提琴作品) is a concert that will see cellist Chou Chun-hsiang (周春祥) and pianist Lin Hui-ying (林慧英) in a number of works composed as a dedication to bassist Ludwig Streicher. The program includes Rudolf Jettel’s Sonate fur Kontrabas und Klavier, Paul Furst’s Ars Bassi fur Kontrabas und Klavier Op.41, Fritz Leitermeyer’s 12 Essays fur Kontrabas und Klavier Op.33 and Paul Angerer’s Quicquam fur Streichers Kontrabas und Streicher.
▲ Thursday, 7:30pm
▲ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
▲ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing
Classical Lounge Bar — A Summer Fantasy (夏日綺想曲—古典Lounge Bar) has the chamber quartet of Hung Yun-yao (洪韻堯) and Hung Ju-chiang (洪如薇) on violin, Chen Yung-chan (陳永展) on viola and cellist Tseng Chia-yi (曾加宜) performing Mozart’s String Quartet in C Major, K.465, “Dissonance”, Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 59, No. 1 ‘Razumovsky’ in F Major and Borodin’s String Quartet in D Major Op. 77, No. 2.
▲ Sunday, 2:30pm
▲ Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Henry Mazer Music and Culture Hall (台北愛樂暨梅哲音樂文化館) at B1, 7 Jinan Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市濟南路一段7號B1)
▲ Tickets are NT$350, available through NTCH ticketing
Contemporary
Tomorrow night the Cosmopolitan Grill hosts David Chen and the Muddy Basin Ramblers, who play vintage blues, swing jazz and jug band music. They will be joined by country act 2 Acres Plowed. Every Wednesday night at the Cosmopolitan Grill there’s a blues open mic held by the Blues Society on Taiwan and hosted by Torch Pratt. All are welcome to bring their instruments and sit in on guitar, bass or drums.
▲ 1F, 218 Changchun Rd, Taipei City
(台北市長春路218號1樓).
Call (02) 2508-0304 or visit www.cosmo.com.tw for more information
▲ Tomorrow, 9pm to 11pm; every Wednesday, 8pm to 11pm
▲ NT$250 minimum charge tomorrow; free admission on Wednesday. Happy Hour from 7pm to 9pm with specials on Jack Daniels drinks
Auto da Fe, garage rockers Rabbit Is Rich (兔子很有錢) and punk band Random (隨性) appear tonight at
VU Live House. Tomorrow it’s Japanese new wave punk band Six O’Minus and indie-electronica outfit The Shine and Shine and Shine and Shine (閃閃閃閃).
▲ B1, 77 Wuchang St, Taipei City
(台北市武昌街二段77號B1).
Call (02) 2314-1868 for more information
▲ Starts at 10pm
▲ NT$300 entrance includes one drink
Appearing tomorrow night at Center Stage (formerly the Living Room) are Abandoned Machines, punk band Angry Young Men (生氣的年輕人) and Nevermore.
▲ 3F, 8, Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓).
Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit
www.myspace.com/taipeicenterstage for more information
▲ Shows start at 10pm
▲ Free tonight; NT$200 cover tomorrow
Tonight Dafu Jazz Trio takes to the stage at Sappho de Base. There is no show scheduled for tomorrow. On Tuesday night the Grace Jazz Trio plays a set, with an open jam afterwards. The Accidentals appear on Wednesday, and on Thursday it’s the Phase-in Jazz Quartet, featuring original compositions by group leader Michael Haack.
▲ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1).
Call (02) 2700-5411 (after 9pm) or visit www.sappho102.biz for more information
▲ Performances begin at 10:30pm
▲ No entrance fee
Amis Aboriginal pop singer Van Fan (范逸臣) performs at The Wall
(這牆) tonight. Tomorrow it’s noise band Black Faith With Sonic Pace (黑色信念跟隨著音速腳步) and
acoustic rockers All Become F,
followed by a late night reggae show, Roots Dub Session.
[See Highlight for details.]
▲ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1).
Call (02) 2930-0162 or log on at www.the-wall.com.tw for more information
▲ 8pm tonight, tomorrow and Sunday
▲ NT$450 tonight and tomorrow for the first show; NT$350 for second show tomorrow night and Sunday. Admission includes one drink
Peppermint (薄荷葉) and Japanese bands Tonic, Six O’Minus and Ground Cover appear tonight at Underworld (地下室). Indie-electronica band Telephone Booth (電話亭) and low-key indie-rock duo Zag Lope (柴可洛噗) take to the stage tomorrow. US DJ Jef Stott mans the decks on Sunday. [See highlight on Page 15.] On Wednesday it’s Space Cake (太空蛋糕), which recently played at the Formoz Rock Festival and the Shine and Shine and Shine and Shine (閃閃閃閃).
▲ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103
or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information
▲ Live shows go from 9:30pm to 11:30pm. The bar is open from 8pm daily, closed Mondays. Before midnight on Tuesdays and Thursdays, drinks are buy-one-get-one-free
▲ Entrance is NT$400 tonight and NT$300 tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday with one drink; NT$100 on Wednesday
Tonight Witch House (女巫店)
hosts Bai Ronghe (白融合), a group playing jazzy compositions led by singer Jyotsna Peng (彭靖惠). Tango Negro takes to the stage afterwards, playing accordion music inspired by Argentinean tango composer Astor Piazzolla. Tomorrow night it’s the Chinese jazz fusion band Sizhukong (絲竹空). [See story above.]
▲ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號).
For more information, call
(02) 2362-5494 or visit
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
▲ NT$300 entrance includes one drink
Veteran jazz combo JEG (這個爵士樂團) plays standards, Latin, funk, rock and fusion tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Girl alt-rockers Cherry Boom (櫻桃幫), who were nominated for Best Band at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, share a bill with pretty-boy pop-rock group Rock Oriental Express (搖滾東方).
On Sunday it’s quiet electronic sounds from Anie Fann, followed by
indie-folk duo U.TA (屋塔樂團).
▲ 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). Call (02) 2368-7310 or visit www.riverside.com.tw for more information
▲ Shows start at 9:30pm
▲ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday. Admission includes one free drink. There is a one-drink minimum on Monday
Tonight at Tone 56 Live Bar, a new restaurant on the corner Fuxing North (復興北路) and Minquan East (民權東路) roads, is Rubber Band, which plays rock, pop and dance music. The group plays every Friday. Tomorrow it’s house band Loaded, which plays “rock classics to today’s hits.” Sundays feature a regular rotation of bands. This Sunday is Dafu Trio, playing jazz and blues.
▲ 1F, 56, Minquan E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市民權東路三段56號1樓), near the corner of Fuxing North (復興北路) and Minquan East (民權東路) roads.
Call (02) 2517-3869 for more information
▲ Music shows go from 9:30pm to 12:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7:30pm to 9:30pm on Sundays
▲ No entrance fee
The Diner’s (樂子) new branch on Dunhua Road hosts The Diner Jam, an open mic every Thursday.
▲ 6, Ln 103, Dunhua S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路二段103巷6號), just off Anhe Road (安和路), in the lane behind Carnegie’s. Call (02) 2700-1680 or visit www.thediner.com.tw for more information
▲ 9:30pm to midnight every Thursday
▲ Free admission
Jef Stott plays “bangin electro beats and bellydancin breaks” tonight at 89k, while tomorrow night is a CD release party for expat indie-rockers The Doolittles, with special guests The Money Shot Horns and Johnny and Eeyore (強尼屹耳). [See the Highlight.]
▲ 25 Daguan Rd, Taichung City (台中市大觀路25號). Call (04) 2381-8240 for more information
▲ Show starts at 9pm tonight and 10:30pm tomorrow night
▲ Entrance fee NT$300
Exhibition
Tracing the Che School in Chinese Painting (追索浙派). Since the 17th century, the term Che School has been used to refer to a group of painters based in China’s Zhejiang province during the Ming Dynasty. Che school landscapes are often filled with auspicious subjects painted in a vigorous folk manner. In the last years of the school, some painters developed an increasingly free form of brushstrokes to pursue more dramatic visual effects. The exhibition is divided into two parts, each of which runs for three months.
▲ National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院), 221, Zhishan Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市至善路二段221號). Open Mondays through Sundays from 9am to 5pm; closes at 8:30pm on Saturdays. Call (02) 2881-2021 for more information
▲ Until Dec. 25
The Art of Mortal Apparatus: Huang Hsin-chein Solo Exhibition (人間機關術：黃心健個展). In the series The Art of Mortal Apparatus, Huang Hsin-chein uses digital installations to reinterpret the interaction between human beings and machines. Apparatuses that mimic human organs such as the ears, eyes and lips make sounds and movements according to visitors’ responses, with the aim of highlighting the absurdity of miscommunication between the two.
▲ Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館), 181, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市中山北路三段181號). Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9:30am to 5:30pm; closes at 8:30pm on Saturdays
▲ Until Sept. 14
Intangible Culture — Solo Exhibition of Chen Shih (非物質文化遺產—陳實作品展). The Chinese artist makes mosaics out of printed advertisement to point to the fragmentation of human memory in the information age.
▲ Jia Art Gallery (家畫廊), 1F-1, 30, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市中山北路三段30號1樓之1). Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2591-4302 for more information
▲ From tomorrow to Aug. 26
The Epic Stitched on Miao’s Clothes (穿在身上的史詩—苗族服飾特展). The exhibition introduces visitors to the rich diversity of costumes that exists among the Miao people of China’s mountainous Guizhou Province. Exquisitely embroidered and dyed, each clan’s traditional apparel uses different patterns and weaving skills.
▲ National Museum of Natural Science (國立自然科學博物館), 1 Kuanchien Rd, Taichung City (台中市館前路1號). Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9am to 5pm. Call (04) 2322-6940.
▲ Until Feb. 28, 2009
While global attention is finally being focused on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) gray zone aggression against Philippine territory in the South China Sea, at the other end of the PRC’s infamous 9 dash line map, PRC vessels are conducting an identical campaign against Indonesia, most importantly in the Natuna Islands. The Natunas fall into a gray area: do the dashes at the end of the PRC “cow’s tongue” map include the islands? It’s not clear. Less well known is that they also fall into another gray area. Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claim and continental shelf claim are not
Since their leader Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and others were jailed as part of several ongoing bribery investigations, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) has risen in the polls. Additionally, despite all the many and varied allegations against Ko and most of the top people in the party, it has held together with only a tiny number of minor figures exiting. The TPP has taken some damage, but vastly less than the New Power Party (NPP) did after it was caught up in a bribery scandal in 2020. The TPP has for years registered favorability in the thirties, and a Formosa poll
Nov. 4 to Nov. 10 Apollo magazine (文星) vowed that it wouldn’t play by the rules in its first issue — a bold statement to make in 1957, when anyone could be jailed for saying the wrong thing. However, the introduction to the inaugural Nov. 5 issue also defined the magazine as a “lifestyle, literature and art” publication, and the contents were relatively tame for the first four years, writes Tao Heng-sheng (陶恒生) in “The Apollo magazine that wouldn’t play by the rules” (不按牌理出牌的文星雜誌). In 1961, the magazine changed its mission to “thought, lifestyle and art” and adopted a more critical tone with
Chiayi County is blessed with several worthwhile upland trails, not all of which I’ve hiked. A few weeks ago, I finally got around to tackling Tanghu Historic Trail (塘湖古道), a short but unusually steep route in Jhuci Township (竹崎). According to the Web site of the Alishan National Scenic Area (阿里山國家風景區), the path climbs from 308m above sea level to an elevation of 770m in just 1.58km, an average gradient of 29 percent. And unless you arrange for someone to bring you to the starting point and collect you at the other end, there’s no way to avoid a significant amount
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