No longer satisfied with having to choose between a weekend in nature or a weekend of partying? Today’s movers and shakers seem to be on the ball with trying to provide it all. River Bash was a smash, last weekend’s reggae beach party by Island Jam was slamming, and this weekend there’s something new from Panda Productions — a two-day overnight trip to Sun Moon Lake (日月潭).
Panda has scheduled DJs for tomorrow and Sunday afternoons only, with tomorrow evening and Sunday morning devoted to relaxation and exploring nature.
“Some people don’t like that,” said promoter Patricia Tsou (鄒佩菁). “They want to party all night long. But if I want that, I can do it anywhere in Taipei. I want people to enjoy the mountains and the lake,” she said.
Because sound echoes across the water, late-night music was not an option. Instead, early morning transportation tomorrow will have everyone at Sun Moon Lake by noon, where they will be ferried from Dehua dock (德化社碼頭) to a floating water bungalow. DJs will spin music all afternoon while partygoers dance, swim and eat barbecue. A jet ski will tow a banana boat and Tsou advises people to bring their own inflatable water toys to float on.
An early night will be followed by a choice of outdoor activities Sunday morning, including hiking and cycling, followed by another afternoon of music before shuttle buses return to Taipei and Taichung.
They want to have “every kind of music for every kind of people,” said Tsou, with Black Reign doing dancehall and reggae and DJs Gareth Jones and Matty D and Marcus Aurelius spinning hip-hop and funk. Jones has branched out from electro house and also spins tracks by indie-dance music artists such as Alex Metric, Crookers and Evil Nine and remixes of bands like Passion Pit, MGMT and Phoenix. Matty D blends electro house, indie dance, breaks and big-ass bass, and wants to “bring something fresh to let your inhibitions float away” this weekend.
Food will also be fresh, catered by Chou Wen-lin (周玟琳), best known for her barbecuing skills at the Spring Breeze pool parties in 2006. A few vegetarian choices will be available. Drinks include Taiwan Beer (NT$50), Heineken (two for NT$150) and cocktails (NT$100).
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