Live indie music event to kick off in Taipei

2015/11/09

Live Forever in Taipei will kick off Nov. 7 at Taipei Expo Park, showcasing the nation’s emerging independent music scene and the artistic vibrancy of the northern Taiwan metropolis.

Organized by Taipei City Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the four-weekend event featuring 103 concerts by 45 singers and bands will be staged at 18 venues including Eslite bookstores, Guang Hua Digital Plaza, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xinyi Plaza and Taipei Cinema Park.

“Our goal is to provide young indie singers, songwriters and bands with a chance to promote their music and gain more experience of performing live,” DCA Commissioner Ni Chung-hwa said Nov. 4 at a promotional event.

Echoing Ni’s remarks, Wang Chih-cheng, director of the Department of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development under the Ministry of Culture, said offering emerging musicians the opportunity to stage shows at venues across the city will cultivate exceptional local talent.

“It will also help boost the sector as a whole and raise the profile of Taiwan artists on the world stage,” he said, adding that the completion of the Taipei Pop Music Center, scheduled for 2018, will further facilitate the growth of the industry.

One of the highlight acts of the opening day is Hush, a vocalist and composer well-known for his poetic love songs. He was a nominee for the Best Singer-Songwriter prize at the 2014 Golden Indie Music Awards and the winner of Best Lyricist at the Golden Melody Awards this year. Hush has also composed songs for famous singers like Chang Hui-mei and Stefanie Sun.

Another eye-catching performer is Mixer. Formed in 2013, the rock group won Best Band at the Golden Melody Awards last year and has participated in ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs-backed cultural diplomacy tours of Japan and South Korea, with their energetic shows proving popular with both local and overseas audiences.

Equally impressive is Easy Shen, who first gained a following while performing at national musical fairs as a senior high school student. He was named best newcomer by prestigious Singapore-based online Freshmusic Magazine for his 2012 debut album “Prophecy.”

In addition, the event includes a live performance competition for emerging talents in which a total of 10 singers and bands selected from an 85-strong field will seek to claim the top award Nov. 7 at the expo park.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=238615&ctNode=2194&mp=9)