By MOOK Travel & Living Li Xinyi, compiled and reported
The annual highlight of original music – the Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival – is set to take place from July 11 to 15 this year (Year 101)! New Taipei City announced today (the 21st) the preliminary list of qualifiers for the “Ocean Indie Music Grand Prix” competition. After intense evaluation among 222 participating groups, a total of 30 bands have qualified for the finals. Three preliminary rounds will be held at Golden Waterfront Plaza (next to Tamsui MRT Station) on May 26, Bali Left Bank Gallery on June 2, and Avenue des Champs-Élysées Plaza (in front of A11 of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xinyi Store) on June 9.
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The competition among bands aiming to be selected for this year’s Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival is fierce. The public can start listening to performances by the shortlisted bands this Saturday. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
Among the 30 bands selected this year are “Fear of Fat Band,” which won the Ocean Star Award in 2008, “Ding Ding & Xi Xi,” who were previously finalists in the top ten, as well as “Slime Band,” led by Sanlih E-Television anchor Chuang Yu-chieh, which garnered significant attention last year. There’s also the new combination of indie singer “Li Dehui × Manman Shuo,” who have previously released albums. The shortlist, full of buzzworthy acts and creative energy, highlights the iconic status and special significance of the Ocean Grand Prix within the indie music scene. The judges noted that the overall performance level of this year’s bands is high, with many nearly ready to release albums right away – truly impressive.
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The “Ocean Indie Music Grand Prix” music competition has been nurturing high-quality indie bands every year. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The Gongliao Ocean Music Festival, held annually since 2000, is now in its 13th edition. The festival’s music competition, the “Ocean Indie Music Grand Prix,” was first launched in 2001 and has produced many outstanding indie bands every year. From the three preliminary rounds, 10 bands will be selected to compete in the final round of the “Ocean Indie Music Grand Prix” on July 14 during the Ocean Music Festival. They will vie for awards including the Ocean Indie Music Grand Prix, the Jury Grand Prize, and the Ocean Star Audience Choice Award. Notably, this year the organizers will take the winning bands of the Ocean Indie Music Grand Prix to perform and exchange at internationally renowned music festivals such as the MIDI Festival in Beijing and the Clockenflap in Hong Kong. This not only broadens the vision of the Ocean Music Festival but also enhances its international profile.
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