The Mercury Bar

Started up by Voices From The South director Don and Maho lead singer A-Chang, The Mercury is going to be Kaohsiung's best spot for eclectic live music shows. The premises features a pub on the first floor, where you can choose from a vast menu of beers, highballs and cocktails, including martinis. The menu also includes western pub snacks such as burgers, hot dogs, nachos, onion rings, fries and Mexican quesadillas. Weekly specials include $50 NT draft beer on Wednesdays, and on Friday/Saturday nights, buy 2 beers get one free!

In August, the second floor will be renovated to include a stage for live performances. There have already been negotiations with The Wall in Taipei and Womb Bloc in Kaohsiung to host shows here!

The Mercury is located at 46 Li Wen Road in San Min District, Kaohsiung. It is two blocks west of Bo Ai Road, and Li Wen road is between Yu Cheng and Ming Hua Roads.
Hours of operation: 9:00 PM-2:00 AM every day
地址:高雄市立文路46/48號 (富國路與立文路交叉口-慶聯有線電視旁邊)
電話: (07) 550-8617
(Don):0953336410
(阿昌)0916949017

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.