By MOOK Scenic Spots Family / Compiled Report
Updated: 2017.07.27 17:30
Due to the threat posed by Typhoon Nesat to northeastern Taiwan, the event organizers have announced the postponement of all activities scheduled for July 28 to July 30 for safety reasons. The new dates will be announced separately. Visitors planning to attend the Ocean Music Festival are advised to stay tuned for further updates.
“Ocean 17, We’re In This Together!” The 2017 New Taipei City Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival will be held from July 28 to July 30 at Fulong Beach. This year’s lineup features must-see acts in Taiwan’s indie music history — Quartet and Rice, who will headline Day 1’s theme “Let’s Rock Together” as the final Battle bands; Day 2 will see 17 guitarists from across generations going head-to-head in an unprecedented guitar showdown, set to become one of the most iconic moments in the festival’s history; Day 3’s theme “Shake It” kicks off with American rock band Monkey Pilot, followed by performances from Japanese jazz band BLACK BOTTOM BRASS BAND, Russia’s WET RED, other international acts from Asia, and a grand finale on July 30 by Brotherhood (兄弟本色) and folk diva Chen Qizhen (陳綺貞).
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Image Source / Gongliao Ocean Music Festival
The Most Legendary “Let’s Rock Together” — Ten Bands Going Head-to-Head on Dual Stages
During the July 28 event themed “Let’s Rock Together,” the Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival will feature a unique Battle format where pairs of bands compete on stage. The ten invited bands include local rock acts such as Chengdu Creek Commune (濁水溪公社), Non-People Species (非人物種), and Hong Kong’s Egg Tart Meat Patty (雞蛋蒸肉餅) — a female-fronted band nominated for Best Band at this year’s Golden Melody Awards — along with two veteran heavyweights, Quartet and Rice, who will close the night. These two bands shared the stage over a decade ago and, due to their long-standing friendship and great chemistry, Rice has hinted they’ll “keep it mysterious” on July 28, letting fans discover the surprises onsite. Fans can leave comments on the band’s social media pages, suggesting their favorite classic songs or how they’d like to see the two bands interact. The bands will take fan input into consideration, and hope everyone will stay with them until the very end on the first day of the festival.
July 28 Schedule
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17 Guitarists Across Generations — A Once-in-a-Lifetime Performance Only at the Ocean Festival
One of the highlights of Day 2 of the Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival is a guitar showdown featuring 17 guitarists from different eras, all performing together on stage to create legendary moments. The lineup includes: Xiao Yang of Eastern Express/Rock East (東方快車/搖滾東方), A-Yu of Hate Love Songs/New Taiwan康乐队 (恨情歌/新寶島康樂隊), Sheng Zheng of Assassin/Monkey Pilot (刺客/猴子飛行員), A-Yi of Celluloid Band (賽璐璐樂團), Hu Shen, leader of Quartet, Jesse of Chthonic (閃靈), Da Ma of 1976, Hua Xiao of Power Station/So What (強辯/So What), Xiao Hao of Chairman Band (董事長樂團), Xiao Yu of Thirteen (拾參), Rachel of P!SCO, Yi Yuan of Trash, Xharkie of Hot Pink, Lao Lu of Chewy Thoughts (啾吉惦惦), AJ of Gunfire & Chili (槍擊潑辣), A-Tuo of Freestyle (隨性), and Da Yan of Non-People Species (非人物種). It’s definitely one to watch out for.
July 29 Schedule
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“Shake It” — A Global Stage Experience
The theme for Day 3 of the Ocean Music Festival is “Shake It,” featuring international acts such as Japan’s jazz band BLACK BOTTOM BRASS BAND, Russia’s WET RED, and Chinese indie rockers Er Shou Meigui (二手玫瑰). The night will also see the explosive stage presence of Brotherhood (兄弟本色) — a supergroup formed by musical genius Chang Chen-yue (張震嶽), hip-hop legend MC HotDog, and rising rap stars Matzka MJ116 — guaranteed to bring the festival’s final day to a thrilling climax. Additionally, singer-songwriter Chen Qizhen (陳綺貞) will close the show. The blend of local and international music promises to spark fresh creative energy.
July 30 Schedule
The preliminary rounds of this year’s Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival will be held on July 1 at The Wall in Gongguan, July 2 at Red Building Riverside Memo, and July 9 at San Ying Art Village. From the initial pool of 30 shortlisted acts, the final 10 will advance to the “Ocean Indie Music Grand Prix.” All three preliminary events are free to attend, and the public is welcome to join. Additionally, during the “Ocean Indie Music Grand Prix” on the second day of the festival, five high school students will be selected to form a Youth Jury, bringing their fresh perspectives to help choose the most promising bands. Registration for the Youth Jury is open from 3:00 PM on June 30, 2017, to 11:00 PM on July 7, 2017. For more details on how to apply, please visit the official website of the “2017 New Taipei City Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival.”
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Image Source / Gongliao Ocean Music Festival