Theater
Headspring Festival 2012 (匯川藝術節) welcomes the Lunar New Year with a lineup of more than 170 music, dance and theatrical performances by 30 troupes. The organizer has built a large tent that can house 150 audience members for the shows. The festival opens with a masquerade party on Jan. 27 and runs through April 1. The dress code for the opening party: alien. For more information, visit www.head-spring.com.
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ For ticketing information visit the festival’s Web site or call (02) 2930-0754
For Entrance (奇幻旅程), Diabolo Dance Theatre (舞鈴劇場) takes audiences on a journey with its visually opulent, high-energy performance of diabolo, a traditional children’s game, and Chinese acrobatics. The show runs through the end of March.
■ Expo Hall at Taipei Expo Park (花博公園舞蝶館), located at the intersection of Zhongshan North Road (中山北路) and Minzu East Road (民族東路) in Taipei City
■ Tonight, tomorrow, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing and online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
As part of the Taiwan International Arts Festival (台灣國際藝術節) Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (哈丁與巴伐利亞廣播交響樂團), also known as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, will visit Taipei for two concerts. Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s great orchestras, it will be performing under conductor Daniel Harding and will feature violinist Christian Tetzlaff for the first concert and baritone Christian Gerhaher in the second. The program includes Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C Major on Feb. 28 and songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn and Ruckert Lieder by Mahler and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 on Feb. 29. A few tickets remain for the Christian Tetzlaff performance, and a slightly wider range of seats remain for the second concert.
■ Feb. 28 at 7:30pm (Christian Tetzlaff) and Feb. 29 at 7:30pm (Christian Gerhaher)
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$4,200, 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. Indie-folk duo katncandix2 (棉花糖) performs tonight. Tomorrow’s show, which features a reunion of the 1990s rock band Tolaku (脫拉庫), has already sold out. The venue is closed from Sunday until Jan. 28, when it hosts hip-hop/rock group Magic Power (魔幻力量). That show is already sold out, but tickets were available as of press time for the group’s additional Jan. 29 show. On Feb. 1, a trio of popular indie groups take to the stage: industrial rockers Salamander (沙羅曼蛇), garage rock mavens The White Eyes (白目樂隊) and electro-dance group Unfamiliar Friends Party (不熟的朋友派對).
■ 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$800 tonight, sold out tomorrow and Jan. 28, NT$700 on Jan. 29 (NT$600 in advance), NT$500 on Feb. 1 (NT$400 in advance). 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 local ska group Mary Bites Kerry (瑪莉咬凱利) and girl punks Hot Pink. The venue will be closed for the Lunar New Year holiday from tomorrow until Feb. 1.
■ 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
■ NT$400 tonight. Tickets for all shows 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 solo folk rocker Early. Tomorrow, it’s electronic music from Krzysztof Zimmermann, whose show is titled Yellow Brenda. On Saturday, Taichung expat indie rock band Aurora takes to the stage. The venue closes from Sunday until Jan. 26 for the Lunar New Year break and reopens on Jan. 27 with solo sets by Fiona Wu (吳南穎) and Light Engine (光引擎). On Jan. 28, it’s veteran rocker Sissey Chao (趙一豪).
■ 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
Metal bands Bazooka and Masquerader take to the stage tomorrow at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. On Saturday, it’s one-man electro-band Sonic Deadhorse and post-rock outfit Penguinbear Likes to Eat Chicken Ball (企鵝熊愛吃雞肉球).
■ 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 is NT$300 on Friday (includes one drink) and NT$500 on Saturday (includes one drink before 11:30pm, two drinks after 11:30pm). Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Tonight Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) hosts emo-rage band The Hindsight (光景消逝). The venue is closed from Saturday until Jan. 27. On Jan. 28 it hosts comedic band Wonfu (旺福), which, after spending the past year on a rock project for youth, is shifting genres to heavy metal. On Jan. 29, the venue hosts indie singer-songwriter Zoe Huang (黃玠瑋) and Come on! Bay Bay! (來吧!焙焙!), which has an indie-pop sound along the lines of Belle and Sebastian.
■ 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$350 tonight, NT$450 on Jan. 28 and NT$350 on Jan. 29. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館) hosts Mando-pop crooner Li Li-wei (李立崴). The venue will be closed for the holidays from tomorrow through Jan. 27 and reopens on Jan. 28, when it hosts pop rock band Crystal Dancer (舞璃) and Hsiao Hung-jen (蕭閎仁).
■ 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$500 tonight, NT$400 on Jan. 28. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Tonight indie rock club Revolver hosts local and expat indie rock performers Floaty, Haver and Trash. Tomorrow it’s indie electronica group Miss Banana (香蕉小姐), followed by DJs James Ho, Zo and amStereo. On Saturday, Mad Brain and Robi Roka are among a group of DJs spinning dubstep. The venue reopens after the Lunar New Year vacation on Wednesday, with DJs Sylvain, Katrina Niu and Rob Jabbaz. On Jan. 27th, it’s DJs Blackbells and Databass, among others performing for a party titled Brothers Gonna Work It Out. On Jan. 28, punk bands False Arrest (非法拘捕) and Crazy Lazarus (瘋狂拉薩路) take to the stage.
■ 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 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight and tomorrow, NT$250 on Saturday, free on Wednesday, NT$350 on Jan. 27, and NT$250 on Jan. 28th
Local jazz Trio Billy the Kid performs tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar. The venue is then closed for the holidays until Jan. 26. On Jan. 27 it hosts Latin-jazz group Musa’s Trio. Expat blues and funk outfit Blues Vibrations takes to the stage on Jan. 28.
■ 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 free tonight, NT$200 on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28
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. Highlights for the week ahead include male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday, and veteran performer Ann Lang (郎祖筠) on Wednesdays.
■ 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
Italian restaurant Capone’s hosts pop rock band Mary Jane and her Quartet every Friday. On Saturday, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. On Wednesday nights, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas. There will be no performances from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27.
■ 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
Tomorrow the TAV Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts the Kenyatta Funksters and the Danny Deysher Jazz Quartet on Saturday. The venue’s post-vacation schedule is not available as of press time. Check the venue’s Facebook page for updates.
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377 X207
■ Shows start at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, which includes one drink
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). No shows are scheduled until after the holiday. On Jan. 28, Mando-pop singer-songwriter Ric Huang (荒山亮) takes to the stage.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ NT$500 on Jan. 28
The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts live music every Saturday. The venue is closed this weekend for the Lunar New Year holiday, but reopens on Jan. 28 with shows from local emo group The 19th Port and indie pop band Rivertree.
■ 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 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$200, which includes one drink
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When the weather is too cold to enjoy the white beaches and blue waters of Pingtung County’s Kenting (墾丁), it’s the perfect time to head up into the hills and enjoy a different part of the national park. In the highlands above the bustling beach resorts, a simple set of trails treats visitors to lush forest, rocky peaks, billowing grassland and a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the coast. The rolling hills beyond Hengchun Township (恆春) in Pingtung County offer a two-hour through-hike of sweeping views from the mighty peak of Dajianshih Mountain (大尖石山) to Eluanbi Lighthouse (鵝鑾鼻燈塔) on the coast, or
Famed Chinese demographer Yi Fuxian (易富賢) recently wrote for The Diplomat on the effects of a cross-strait war on demography. He contended that one way to deter the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is by putting the demographic issue front and center — last year total births in the PRC, he said, receded to levels not seen since 1762. Yi observes that Taiwan’s current fertility rate is already lower than Ukraine’s — a nation at war that is refusing to send its young into battle — and that its “demographic crisis suggests that Taiwan’s technological importance will rapidly decline, and
Her greatest fear, dormant for decades, came rushing back in an instant: had she adopted and raised a kidnapped child? Peg Reif’s daughter, adopted from South Korea in the 1980s, had sent her a link to a documentary detailing how the system that made their family was rife with fraud: documents falsified, babies switched, children snatched off the street and sent abroad. Reif wept. She was among more than 120 who contacted The Associated Press this fall, after a series of stories and a documentary made with Frontline exposed how Korea created a baby pipeline, designed to ship children abroad as quickly as
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