Gongliao Ocean Music Festival pioneers Top 10 Touring Bands; rock seeds bloom everywhere

▲ Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Government)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The "2016 New Taipei City Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival" is set to kick off passionately from July 22 to July 24. A total of 58 bands from 7 countries will deliver spectacular performances, promising an exciting experience. This year also introduces the inaugural "Top 10 Touring Plan," featuring 5 Live House shows across northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan, aiming to spread the festival’s rock spirit far and wide. The Top 10 bands made a symbolic entrance at the press conference on May 31 by riding the "Touring Bus," representing the unity and readiness of independent bands.

Since its inception in 2000, the New Taipei City Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival has entered its 16th edition. It has not only become one of the internationally recognized music events but also the highest stage for independent bands and a shared summer memory for music fans across Taiwan. Upholding its support for original music, the festival provides a platform for domestic and international independent bands to showcase their creativity, and this year promises a fresh audiovisual experience for attendees.

Chen Shen-hsien, Deputy Mayor of New Taipei City, stated that while various music festivals are increasingly common in Taiwan, the Gongliao Ocean Music Festival stands out due to its accumulated vitality over the years, as vast and powerful as the ocean. This energy has nurtured countless outstanding musicians. The festival also embodies the absolute rock spirit of independence, maintaining its unwavering support for original music. Thus, this year’s theme is "THE ONE," symbolizing that "only the Gongliao Ocean Music Festival is truly unique." It aims to unite the passion and enthusiasm of the bands into a tremendous force. Elements unique to the festival—such as its annual performances at the northeast coast, the sunshine of midsummer July, the soft sandy beaches and beer, the dedicated stages for independent music, and the annual support from veteran bands—are memories for the bands, the fans, and the very essence of the festival spirit, the "THE ONE." "THE ONE" also sounds like "come play." New Taipei City’s Gongliao, with its mountains and sea, boasts diverse and rich tourism resources, making it well worth a visit to deeply explore this beautiful place.

The three-day performances from July 22 to July 24 in 2016 will stay true to the original rock spirit of "THE ONE, the only Ocean Music Festival," delivering a brand-new audiovisual experience. On July 22, "Taiwan Rock Battle," bands and singers on both the main and smaller stages will perform in relay, featuring folk rock celebrating life’s small joys, rock ballads addressing social issues, and hip-hop raps expressing philosophical life concepts. Various genres will unleash the Taiwanese rock soul, with diverse music shouting out stories unique to this land.

▲ The "Touring Bus" carrying the courage and dreams of the band members.

On July 23, the "Ocean Independent Music Grand Prix" represents the core spirit of the festival each year. The Top 10 bands advancing to the finals from last year’s three preliminary contests include: Nora Says, The Roadside Inn, Savakan, 30 Years Tiger, Life Tree, AnnieTola, Youth David, Very Mouth, Pink Noise, and Showy Band (listed in alphabetical and stroke order). They will compete on the blue sky and sea stage this day to vie for the highest honor of the Ocean Flag. This year’s Top 10 bands feature a variety of music styles, including American rock, electronic rock, punk rock, and indigenous tribal tunes. In addition to the exciting competitions, veteran bands will return to perform this day, cheering on the newcomers and passing on the passionate rock spirit of the festival.

On July 24, "World Rock Cheers On" will invite 17 independent bands from 7 countries, creating a rock carnival that allows fans in Taiwan to sync with the world. The invited international bands are eager to perform. As the host, New Taipei City not only welcomes them with international-standard music event arrangements but also hopes to impress these foreign bands and fans with the beauty of Gongliao.

Always innovative, this year’s festival has introduced the 2016 "Top 10 Touring Plan" for the first time. At the press conference, a large "Touring Bus" was brought to the venue, carrying the courage and dreams of the band members. The Top 10 bands, holding various instruments, sang "Fishing Song" (the theme song of New Taipei City’s newly launched outdoor performance venue "Tamsui Fisherman’s Stage") in surprise, lining up grandly to unveil the 2016 Top 10 Touring Plan at bus stops symbolizing the five touring locations. The atmosphere was lively. Band members also expressed great anticipation for performing beyond Gongliao, spreading the voice of independent music across Taiwan.

The "Top 10 Touring" will cover all of Taiwan, serving as a warm-up for the Ocean Independent Music Grand Prix while increasing exposure and performance opportunities for the bands. Sharing the creations of independent bands and spreading them to every corner of Taiwan will allow more people to feel the passion and beauty of loving music. The Top 10 Touring kicks off on June 12, starting from the "Tamsui Fisherman’s Stage," a new original music platform launched in New Taipei City in May. The tour will span Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Taitung, ensuring the seeds of independent music bloom and shine across the island.

The "CTBC Cultural and Educational Foundation," also a strong supporter of original music, has once again partnered with New Taipei City Government to launch the "CTBC Popular Band Award" online voting campaign. Voting runs from 00:00 on June 1 to 21:20 on July 23. Visit the Ocean Music Festival official website to vote for your favorite band. Each person can vote once per day. Show your support for your favorite bands with action. The band with the most votes will win 10 performance opportunities provided by the CTBC Cultural and Educational Foundation. Fans can not only vote for independent bands but also join the "Octopus Prediction Activity" on the CTBC Cultural and Educational Foundation’s Facebook fan page. Those who correctly predict the winner of the "CTBC Popular Band Award" may win a super "festival-flavored" prize.

For more information about the "2016 New Taipei City Gongliao International Ocean Music Festival," please visit the New Taipei City Tourism website or join the New Taipei Travelers Facebook fan page.