The Gongliao Sea Music Festival 2013 Kicks Off in 10 Days, Mayday to Headline Opening with Five Days of Rock

Reported by Hong Shengyi / Taipei

Just one week away, the annual Gongliao International Marine Music Festival (hereinafter referred to as the Sea Festival) is set to begin. To ensure high attendance, the organizers have booked a heavyweight band—Mayday—for the first day this year, with Sodagreen closing the show. This classic celebration of indie marine music will be globally livestreamed in collaboration with Google+ and YouTube. From July 10 to 14, a continuous five-day musical extravaganza will rock the world from Taiwan.

▲The 2013 Gongliao Sea Festival kicks off next Wednesday. (Photo / 2012 Gongliao Sea Festival footage, photo by Hong Shengyi)

▲The 2013 Gongliao Sea Festival microfilm. (Video / from YouTube)

This year’s Sea Festival features a “starfish” as its mascot, symbolizing the powerful regenerative ability of starfish to represent how musicians can rise again through their passion and dedication to music despite setbacks and challenges. From July 10 (Wednesday) to July 14 (Sunday), a continuous five-day event will gather bands from Russia, the United States, Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and local Taiwanese acts. Through relay performances, attendees can relax on the beach, sip drinks, enjoy barbecues, and immerse themselves in music.

▲The 2011 Gongliao Sea Festival. (Photo / archival footage, photo by Hong Shengyi)

The theme of the 2013 Gongliao International Marine Music Festival is “Rock On,” broadly divided into two main areas: the “Heatwave Small Stage” and the “Main Stage.” On the Main Stage, the first day’s theme is “Rock the Global Village,” featuring bands from Russia, the U.S., Australia, China, Japan, and Taiwan, with Asian superstars Mayday headlining as the closing act. The second day’s theme is “Taiwan Family Rock,” where local bands such as Echo, Won Fu, Fire EX, and Chairman will perform.The third day’s theme, centered on women, is called “Asian Female Power 2.0,” showcasing renowned female artists from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan, with Jia Jia closing the night.

The fourth day, the highlight of the Gongliao Sea Festival—the “Marine Indie Music Awards”—is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m., with 13 bands that have won preliminary rounds taking the stage in sequence, including Gunji Pula, Shi Huai Band, TuT, Flux, P！SCO, Sugar Lady, Ding Ding & Xi Xi, Zhong Li Dog, Qiu Yu Le Band, An Hei Bai Ling Jie, Lu Jiao Band, TRASH, and Sui Xing Band. They will ignite the audience's most primal rock spirit on Saturday afternoon.

The final day, titled “Go for It, My Sea Festival,” runs from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., featuring many well-known bands that have previously won acclaim at the Sea Festival, such as Silent Voice, Little Nurse, and Boxing. They will present their latest music, with Sodagreen, a regular at the festival, closing the event.

▲The 2013 Gongliao Sea Festival will also feature Boxing. (Video / photo by Hong Shengyi)

To boost publicity, the organizers have released the festival’s first microfilm, highlighting the support of both Mayday and Sodagreen. In addition, they are partnering with Taiwan Google to livestream the event on Google+ and YouTube, giving the Taiwan Sea Festival a global voice.

Beyond the five days of performances, visitors can explore nearby eco-tourism spots in Gongliao District, such as Nanya Fishing Village, Bitou Fishing Port, Maokao Fishing Village, Shuangxi Citrus Foot Wellness Village, Sanzhong Temple Old Street, Bitou Cape Trail, Houfanzi Pit Ecological Park, Shuinsun Cave Settlement, Thirteen Levels Site, and the Gold Museum. Alternatively, head inland to Ruifang and Jiufen to visit the famous Golden Waterfall, gaze upon the Yin-Yang Sea phenomenon, stroll through Jiufen Old Street, and enjoy taro ball ice and coffee. Before or after the Sea Festival, you can also take a side trip to Pingxi to release sky lanterns or visit Houzhuang Cat Village in the morning for great one-day tour options.

▲Aside from the Sea Festival, you can also explore Jiufen, Ruifang, Houzhuang, and Pingxi. (Photo / photo by Hong Shengyi)

In fact, Gongliao boasts a great location. By car, visitors can easily stop by Keelung’s Miaokou Night Market for snacks, stay in a local guesthouse, or embark on a one-day trip to Yilan, Jiaoxi, or Luodong. By the way, Yilan’s Wushi Port has also hosted a music festival since July 5 (Friday)!

※ Transportation Information:

【Car】

• Take the Shiding Interchange on the Taipei-Yilan Expressway → Provincial Highway 106 → Provincial Highway 2B → Parking around the venue
• Take a shuttle bus to the event venue
• Take the Badu Interchange on National Freeway No. 1 → Provincial Highway 62 (eastbound) → Provincial Highway 2 (Coastal Highway)
• Parking around the venue → Take a shuttle bus to the event venue
• Take the Keelung Interchange on National Freeway No. 1 → Provincial Highway 2 (Coastal Highway) → Take a shuttle bus to the event venue

【Motorcycle】

• Taipei Railway Station → Provincial Highway 5 → Keelung → Provincial Highway 2 → Parking around the venue
• Take a shuttle bus to the event venue (approx. 2.5 hours)
• Taipei Railway Station → Shenkeng → Provincial Highway 106 → Provincial Highway 2B → Parking around the venue
• Take a shuttle bus to the event venue (approx. 2.5 hours)
• Taipei Railway Station → Shiding → Provincial Highway 9 (Taipei-Yilan Section) → Yilan → Provincial Highway 2 → Parking around the venue
→Take the shuttle bus to the event venue (approximately 3.5 hours)

[Public Transportation]

Train
For train schedules, please refer to the latest announcements at Taiwan Railway stations or check online: http://twtraffic.tra.gov.tw/twrail/

Bus
(1) Taipei: Take the “Taipei–Luodong Coastal Highway Line” or “Taipei–Nanfangao Line” from Taipei West Bus Station (Building A) of Kuo-Kuang Bus, and get off at Fulong Station.
(2) Ruifang: Take the “Taiwan Tourist Shuttle – Gold Fulong Line” from Ruifang Railway Station and get off at Fulong Visitor Center.
(3) Keelung: Take the Keelung–Fulong Line from Keelung Bus Station of Keelung Bus, and get off at Fulong Station.

*Source:2013 Gongliao International Marine Music Festival Schedule、Transportation Information