Eating, Drinking, Playing, Having Fun': 2011 Compass Taichung International Food & Music welcomes the summer with a bang

By Douglas Habecker
Translated by Angel Pu

The popular Chinese phrase "Eating, Drinking, Playing, Having Fun" (which sounds a lot better in Chinese) has become a convenient, common means of describing Compass Magazine content, used by the publication's publishers, editors, writers and salespeople on countless occasions. These same words are also a perfect way of describing one of Taichung's biggest, most-anticipated annual events, the Compass Taichung International Food & Music Festival, not surprising given the fact that festival was launched eight years ago to celebrate everything the magazine aims to promote about this city.

From 2 to about 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29, this year's Compass Festival will once again help usher in the summer months with a weekend packed with non-stop live music, a vast array of food/drink vendors and other festivities. As in the past three years, the event will once again be ideally situated on the Art Museum Parkway, a broad, attractive strip of grass bordered by WuQuan West 3rd and 4th streets, and WuQuan 5th and 7th streets, already popular for its eclectic, creatively-decorated collection of restaurants, cafes and shops (see the Art Museum Parkway Map on p. 32 or the separate Compass Taichung Map).

Over the years since the Festival was first held in 2004, participants have used various phrases to label it: "Best weekend of the year", "Taichung's version of Spring Scream", "Biggest city event besides the Jazz Festival", "Biggest international gathering in Taichung" and so on. Whatever one's personal opinions or tastes may be, it's hard to dispute the Festival's appeal to Taichung residents and visitors of all backgrounds, nationalities, ages and flavors, as a great way to sample in one place the broad spectrum that Taichung offers when it comes to international dining, nightlife, music, shopping and entertainment. This fact has been borne out by a turn-out that has continued to grow and sees the event drawing an estimated 8,000-10,000 visitors per day.

Compass Magazine's essential partners in bringing yet another festival to life include the Taichung City Government, and the Art Garden Art Museum Parkway Management Committee, as well as major sponsors Taiwan Beer, Costco Wholesale, Corning, and Sunny FM89.1. Without the much-appreciated support of these businesses and organizations, there simply would not be any event.

For 2011, there are no radical changes in the tried-and-true recipe for the event, starting with over 50 vendor booths occupied by many of Taichung's finest restaurants, pubs, hotels, retailers and other services and organizations. Given the success of past years, one growing trend that will be seen at this year's event more than ever is vendors' use of multi-booth areas to create their own mini-establishments, complete with bars, chairs and tables--ideal for visitors to relax in as the day progresses. As this edition went to print, signed-up vendors included: Cosby Saloon, Da Juice Man, De Trio Pastry, Free Bright Eyewear Co., Frog Restaurants, Go West Co., Holiday Inn Express, Hotel ONE, Kuang Tien General Hospital, Lippolis Gelato, The Londoner, Moon Cheese, Moment In Peking restaurant, Mr. India Indian Restaurant, Sake-show, National Veterinary Hospital, Oldies Franks, Orgasmo Cafe & Bar, Pasta and Pizza Buena restaurants, PJ's Cafe, and Taipei Language Institute. Among the major sponsors, Exclusive Event Beer Sponsor Taiwan Beer will also be operating a beer-selling area, providing plenty of cold beer for sale.

As visitors eat, drink and shop their way through the day and night, the true heartbeat of the Festival are the 16 foreign and Taiwanese bands--mostly from central Taiwan--that will be playing non-stop from 2 p.m. to almost 10 p.m. (see "Festival Live Music Schedule"). Once again, Festival Music Coordinator Patrick Byrne has stepped up to ensure musical variety with something to please almost everyone, including '70s rock, blues, Brit-pop/rock, country, punk, ambient, alternative rock, jazz fusion, reggae, hip hop, and even something labeled as "ambient folk". Back by popular demand, returning acts include Dirty Skies, Dr. Reniculous Lipz and the Scallyunz, 3 Day Bender, .22, Reider, and Wailin Soul which, led by Trinidadian songster extraordinaire Sherwyne Pereirra will wrap up the festival Sunday evening.

Festival-goers can also look forward to first-ever appearance by a wide range of bands and artists, including the classic-rock trio known as San Jiao Miao; regular multi-talented Taichung performer Mike Mudd and The Silence, a versatile quintet playing blues, rock and even classic Latin tunes; the rock trio known as Moss; Reigndear, an ambient duo somewhat reminiscent of old Roxy Music; the charismatic, very entertaining reggae band Zion Rising; The Ever So Friendlies, a bold, gritty rock trio fronted by Shawn Armstrong; and The Briegel Brothers, made up of exceptionally-talented brothers from France who have toured extensively and are treating Taichung to their brand of jazz fusion.

After being a part of the Compass Festival for the first time last year, an Oriental Fashion Show will once again take place on Saturday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in a special area along the parkway to the south of the main area. Organized by Hungkuang University Department of Applied Cosmetology & Graduate Institute of Cosmetic Science Professor Shih Pei-Ti, this year's "Wedding" theme Oriental Fashion Show Part 2 will feature an interesting array of Chinese, Japanese and Korean wedding-dress styles designed and modeled by local and international university students in what promises to be an exotic, cross-cultural display.

Whether you're a faithful annual participant or a first-time attendee, be sure and set aside the entire weekend for what again promises to be an unbeatable way to unwind, have fun and welcome the summer. It is important to note that this festival will continue rain or shine, with organizers working to provide covered areas to protect visitors from both the hot sun and/or any precipitation. Good food and drink, great music, a fun, healthy environment and, best of all, the great company of thousands of festival-goers makes this an occasion to be enjoyed in any weather or conditions.

GETTING THERE
As noted above, the Festival venue can easily be located via Compass Magazine's Art Museum Parkway Map. From the main entrance plaza of the National Taiwan Museum of Natural Science on WuQuan West Road, Section 1, head south for two blocks on either WuQuan West 3rd or 4th streets and you'll come to the main event area. In addition to streetside public parking, there are large parking lots at the museum and a five-minute walk away on CunZhong (TsuenJung) Street (see Compass Art Museum Parkway Map), just off of MeiCun Road. Note: Public restrooms are also available at the parkway committee's office on southwest back corner of the venue at 59, WuQuan 7th Street, 2F.
Inquiries about the Festival may be directed to Compass Magazine at (04) 2358-5466 during weekday office hours.

Compass Festival Live Music Schedule
5/28 (Saturday)
*2 pm- Native Space (ambient)
*3 pm- San Jiao Mao (Classic rock n' roll)
*4 pm- Mike Mudd and the Silence (Blues/rock)
*5 pm- Dirty Skies (Original Country Rock)
*6 pm- Moss ('70s rock style)
*7 pm- 3 Day Bender (Original Blues)
*8 pm- .22 (Funkified alt rock)
*9 pm- Dr. Reniculous Lipz and the Scallyunz (Anglo Hip-Hop)
5/29 (Sunday)
*2 pm- Reigndear (Ambient folk)
*3 pm- 2 Acres Plowed (Country)
*4 pm- The HandKnife Club (Punk)
*5 pm- Reider (original pop/folk)
*6 pm- The Briegel Brothers (Jazz fusion)
*7 pm- The Ever So Friendlies (Original Brit pop/rock)
*8 pm- Zion Rising (Reggae)
*9 pm- Wailin' Soul (Dance/reggae/funk)

Note: Schedule may be subject to change.