THEATER
For Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s (雲門舞集) newest work, Listening to the River (聽河), the troupe’s founder Lin Hwai-min (林懷民) drew inspiration from the Tamsui River.
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:45pm, tomorrow
at 2:45pm and 7:45pm and Sunday
at 2:45pm
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Staged as part of the Taiwan International Festival, Salt (鹽) by Italian-Danish theater director Eugenio Barba is the story of one woman’s quest for love. Adapted from Letters in the Wind by Italian author Antonio Tabucchi. Roberta Carreri from Odin Teatret plays the lead.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday
at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available
through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Comedy Club presents Funny Hypnomind, a night showcasing Brian David Phillips’ hypnotic powers.
■ Comedy Club, B1, 24 Taishun St, Taipei City (台北市泰順街24號B1)
■ Tomorrow at 10pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 at the door, includes one drink
Honwa Folk Dance Troupe (紅瓦民俗舞蹈團) blends folk, street and tap dance in Outdoor Banquet (辦桌), which takes the Taiwanese culture of outdoor banquets into the theater.
■ Hsinchu Municipal Performance Hall (新竹市立演藝廳), 17, Dongda Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號)
■ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Eugenio Barba and Odin Teatret from Denmark will stage The Flying Carpet and The Dead Brother and hold two workshops this weekend in Kaohsiung. For more information, go to www.wretch.cc/blog/ustg.
■ Preparatory Office, Wei Wu Ying Center for the Arts (高雄縣衛武營藝術文化中心籌備處), 449-1 Nanjing Rd, Fengshan City, Kaohsiung County
(高雄縣鳳山市南京路449-1號)
■ Performances take place tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm. Workshops are tomorrow at 2pm and Sunday at 9am
■ Tickets are NT$250 for the play and NT$150 for the workshop, available through ERA ticketing or online at
www.ticket.com.tw
CLASSICAL MUSIC
The International Chopin Festival 2010 (20X10蕭邦 — 薩洛鋼琴獨奏會) opened yesterday in Taipei and continues with a second concert in Taichung tonight by pianist Alexandre Tharaud. The theme of the concert is The Spirit of Bach and the Art of the Salon. The program comprises Bach’s Italian Concerto BWV 971, and Chopin’s waltzes, mazurkas and Ballade No. 1 in G Minor Op. 23 (第一號敘事曲). This is the opening salvo of the festival, which runs throughout the rest of the year, featuring artists Pascal Roge, Ivo Pogorelich, Krystian Zimerman, Garrick Ohlsson, Dang Thai Son, Gwhyneth Chen (陳毓襄), Ning An (安寧), Yen Chun-Chieh (嚴俊傑), Mikhail Rudy
and Lilya Zilberstein at venues in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung. Complete details of the yearlong program
and discounts on tickets to multiple concerts can be found at
www.asiamusicarts.com.tw/EDM/page-chopin.html.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Syueshih Rd, Taichung City
(台中市學士路98號)
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,400, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
2010 Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival — Through the World of Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 (2010高雄春天藝術節 — 穿梭在村上1Q84異托邦) presents the Kaohsiung City Symphony Orchestra (高雄市交響樂團) performing under the baton of guest conductor Zdenek Macal, with pianist Liu Meng-chieh (劉孟捷). The program includes Mozart’s Overture from the Marriage of Figaro and Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, Dvorak’s Carnival Overture and Janacek’s Sinfonietta.
■ Thursday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Drum Beat, Heart Beat! (鼓動, 心動), part of the Vision of the Future — Taiwan International Art Festival (2010台灣國際藝術節), combines the talents of the National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) under Lu Shao-chia (呂紹嘉) with those of the percussion artist Martin Grubinger. The program includes the percussion concerto Frozen in Time, which was written for Grubinger by Avner Dorman.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or 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 the venue presents a sold-out show by The Long Clan (龍之家族), a group whose members serve as the technical crew for pop-rock band Mayday (五月天). Appearing tomorrow is J-pop star May’n, who is touring Asia. On Wednesday reggae-rock group Matzka and Di Hot takes the stage.
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Fifth Hall (中五館), 1,
Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 7pm tonight, 7pm tomorrow and 8pm Wednesday
■ Tonight’s show is sold out. Entrance is NT$2,000 to NT$2,500 tomorrow, NT$400 on Wednesday. Prices include one drink. Tickets are available through ERA ticketing, online at www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Indie-electronica band Telephone Booth (電話亭樂團) appears tonight at The Wall (這牆). Tomorrow emo band Hindsight (光景消逝) throws a CD release party [see Highlight]. On Sunday Chinese group Rebuilding the Rights of Statues (重塑雕像的權利) takes the stage. The Beijing-based group garnered international attention with an appearance at the South by Southwest festival and recorded a few tracks from its debut EP Cut Off! with Brian Eno. Opening the show will be Taipei garage rockers The White Eyes (白目樂團) [see Highlight]. Appearing on Wednesday are experimental musician Olafur Arnalds of Iceland and Cicada.
■ 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 at 8pm tonight, tomorrow and Sunday
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$500 Sunday (NT$400 in advance) and NT$1,200 (NT$950 in advance) Wednesday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Peppy and cutesy pop rockers Jellyship (果凍飛船樂團) appear tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Puyuma Aboriginal singer Leo Chen (陳永龍) and guitarist Gelresai (陳世川) appear tomorrow. On Thursday it’s folk-rock singer Hanni (涵妮) and pop-rock band Pink Haze.
■ 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 and 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Entry for music shows is NT$300
Expect a full house tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言), which hosts JACK, or “jazz plus rock,” featuring pianist Chang Kai-ya (張凱雅) and violinist Hsieh Chi-pin (謝啟彬). The two lead a jazz band that performs classic rock and pop songs, which in the past have included Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song and the Jackson Five’s Going Places. Female Mando-pop singer Devin Wu (吳佩珊) appears tomorrow, along with pop pianist and vocalist Si Han (思涵). On Sunday it’s pop rocker Misi Ke (柯泯薰) and her band
D-Power and Baba Band. Monday is the venue’s weekly open jam session.
■ 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 and 9pm tomorrow and Sunday. Monday’s open jam starts at 9pm. For a list of standard songs and ground rules, visit the venue’s Web site
■ Entrance fee is NT$400 tonight, tomorrow and Sunday, and NT$150 Monday
Taiwanese rock legend Bobby Chen (陳昇) performs tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow pop singer A-Lin (黃麗玲) takes to the stage. Indie-rock band Totem (圖騰樂團) appears on Sunday. A short Japanese documentary on the band will be shown before the show. On Thursday it’s Come On!
Bay Bay!, which has an indie-pop sound along the lines of Belle and Sebastian, and indie rock band Miss Stocking (絲襪小姐).
■ 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 tonight, tomorrow, Sunday and Thursday
■ Entrance fee is NT$800 to NT$1,500 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow and Sunday and NT$400 Thursday. Tickets
can purchased online through
www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Metal punk band Total Disruption plays tonight at Underworld (地下社會). Tomorrow is an evening of sweaty garage rock from The Deadly Vibes and My Skin Against Your Skin. Tough Black Tea (硬式紅茶) and Mr Smile take the stage on Wednesday.
■ 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. Underworld is open daily from
9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy
hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays
before midnight
■ Entrance on Fridays and Saturdays is NT$300, which includes one drink, and NT$100 on Wednesdays
Pianist Mark Kuo (郭馬克) and his quartet perform tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow it’s the Jo Jo Ma Quartet, a group led by saxophonist Joseph Marchione. On Tuesday drummer Ed Schaefer and friends take the stage. On Wednesday the venue hosts Flaneur Daguerre, a
jazz quartet that plays everything
from Bach to Bjork and Ornette Coleman to the Ramones. Folk musician and former Taiwan resident Scott Cook performs on Thursday.
■ 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
■ Music shows begin at 10pm all nights except Tuesday’s program, which begins at 9:30pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$100 tomorrow, free on other nights
Tonight Roxy Roots hosts an evening of punk and hip-hop with Beright and Slow Motion. Tomorrow it’s blues and surf rock from The Blues Vibrations.
■ 90 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路90號). Tel: (02) 2725-3932. On the Net: www.roxy.com.tw
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 Fridays and Saturdays, NT$200 of which can be used to purchase food and drink
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week include beloved female singer Tiger Huang (黃小琥), who performs two sets every Monday, Julia Peng (彭佳慧), a major draw who appears every Tuesday, and male crooner Shin Lung (辛隆), 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
■ Music shows run from 9:45pm
to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
The Mercury (水星酒館) in Kaohsiung features indie bands every week. This week’s performer is expat acoustic duo T-Bone and Yasu.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市左營區立文路46號).
Tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net:
mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Show starts at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$100
HIGHLIGHT
Can’t make it to Kaohsiung for the Megaport Music Festival [see story on Page 13]? Some of the festival’s featured acts are also performing in Taipei at The Wall (這牆) tomorrow and Sunday. Those who like rage with their rock will want to check out The Hindsight (光景消逝) tomorrow night. The four-piece band combines emo, hardcore punk and metal and has just released its second album, the obliquely titled From Dripping Tears, He Saw Hopes.
On Sunday, Beijing-based trio Rebuilding the Rights of Statues (重塑雕像的權利) takes to the stage. The band enjoyed a spell of media attention in the US after appearing at the South by Southwest festival. The group’s quirky post-punk music also caught the ear of legendary producer and musician Brian Eno, who contributed to the group’s debut Cut Off! Warming up the crowd tomorrow are local favorites, garage rockers The White Eyes (白目樂隊).
■ The Hindsight (tomorrow) and Rebuilding the Rights of Statues
(on Sunday)
■ 8pm tomorrow and Sunday at
The Wall (這牆), B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1)
■ Tickets are NT$400 tomorrow and NT$500 Sunday (NT$400 in advance), available at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
or online at www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
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