U LOUD Music Birthday Bash

To celebrate U Loud's anniversary, a special show will be held in Kaohsiung featuring every band on the label's roster. But, we are getting ahead of ourselves. First, it should be noted that Kaohsiung's finest punk/ska band Shy Kick Apple have recently been signed to the label after lengthy negotiations. Things are beginning to look up for Kaohsiung's scene, as the folks at the Taipei-based company are starting to show keen interest in the southern bands.

Anyhoo, on July 4th at the Pier 2 Arts District, come check out a lineup that will blow your mind: Shy Kick Apple, Fire Ex, KoOk, Orange Grass, Sugar Plum Ferry, as well as clione-index from Japan and international stars Cthonic!!

Check our previous post for Kaohsiung's Design Festival for the location and how to get there!! The Fourth Of July takes on a whole new meaning for Kaohsiung denizens this year!!

VFTS Screening In Tainan!!!

On June 2nd, the Tainan premiere of Voices From The South will take place at Li De University in Tainan. 5 bands will be featured, including Fire Ex, The Hindsight, and three local bands. Admission is free, so bring as many people as you can!! See some kick-ass rock and roll, learn about the indie scene in southern Taiwan, and perhaps be inspired to start your own band!
More information is available at Li De University's Hot Rocks Club site!

Kaohsiung Design Festival Band Lineup

This year's Kaohsiung Design Festival is being held at the Pier 2 District, and each and every day of the event will feature live shows from Taiwan's best bands!!! Included in the performances will be a rare show for Kaohsiung native 小倩, the leader of The Peppermints (薄荷葉), as well as heavy hitters Sugar Plum Ferry, Aphasia and Orange Grass. The cream of Taiwan's indie crop will all be at this event!

Each day of the festival has two bands, and show times start at 6:00PM. The Kaohsiung bands' times are:
May 1 (Friday) Shy Kick Apple
May 3 (Sunday) Orange Doll
May 8 (Friday) KoOk
May 10 (Sunday) Fire Ex

Tickets are $199 each day, and that allows you access to all of the other displays/events at the festival. More information is available at the official festival site.

Finally... The Official Website!

Well, the movie festival circuit has run its course, Maho is on hiatus, and there's trouble brewing within one of the other bands, but we are undaunted. At long last, we have created an official website which will allow everyone to see the film in its entirety, absolutely FREE!! We figured it's the best way to let the maximum amount of people see it, rather than showing it a festival once every two months. So, come check it out at www.voices-from-the-south.com! Enjoy!!

Shy Kick Apple Live @.... Shi Hu Elementary School??!!

For this semester's bake sale/fundraising day on April 1st at Shi Hu Elementary School in Kaohsiung, the morning's entertainment was none other than everybody's fave punk/ska act Shy Kick Apple. No, they didn't sing nursery rhymes or Sesame Street tunes, but performed their usual songs to an audience of students ranging from Grade 1-6, as well as parents and teachers. They started their set at about 10:30 AM, which is roughly about 12 or 13 hours earlier in the day than they are usually booked to play a show. However, they did sell some CDs, and spent a good 15 or 20 minutes after their show signing autographs for the students and posing for photos. Way to get those kids started on music at a young age!!

Spring time, nothing doing

A very slow time of the year for bands. Three KHH acts (Orange Doll, KoOk and Shy Kick Apple) are confirmed to perform at Spring Scream this year. Maho were accepted, but have decided not to partake this year, as band guitarist A-Fang has been far too busy with his job to devote any time to rehearse.

The Tainan screening of VFTS originally slated for March 28 has been postponed until after Spring Scream. The Taichung show will also occur sometime in April. We are currently working on a website that will have the entire film streamed for free.

VFTS Screening at "PUTS SOUND 8"

Dates have been confirmed for this month's screenings. Voices From The South will be screened in Taipei on Feb. 14, 7:00 PM, at 第十巷活影空間 , and Feb. 15, 2:00 PM in Kaohsiung at Womb Bloc. Both of these dates are part of the Puts Sound 8 Film Festival.

Puts Sound started out as a humble, one-day event deep in the basement of ATT in Kaohsiung many years ago. The idea was to showcase the best of Taiwan's underground/indie music, with a focus more on the post-rock/indie-guitar sound rather than the punk element. Now, Puts Sound 8 has morphed into a week-long, two-city event! Shows have been confirmed for Taipei at the Underworld (88 Balaz, others) and The Wall (Sugar Plum Ferry, Sorry Youth, others), and Kaohsiung at ATT (with Voices From The South-featured band Shy Kick Apple, as well as Sugar Plum Ferry and Taichung's Damn Kidz).

The organizers have also planned a week-long film festival featuring indie-rock-related documentaries from Taiwan, China and Malaysia! As well as Voices From The South, filmgoers will get to see the documentary about Taiwan's legendary band L.T.K. The best part is, all the films are FREE ADMISSION!!

Come get some culture, come learn about underground music in Asia!