TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) rode a special test version of the Taipei MRT “Jazz Express” train on Sunday (Aug. 25).
Chiang said several MRT carriages will be decorated with jazz images and include a live jazz band performance on the Tamsui-Xinyi (red) line in the afternoon on Sept. 6-7, bringing music to many different areas of the city. The MRT promotion is meant to draw attention to the Taipei Jazz Festival, scheduled for the same weekend at Taipei’s Daan Park.
Chiang noted that the jazz festival is part of the Taipei City Government’s larger program, Trendy Taipei, taking place at the Taipei Music Center from Aug. 31–Sept. 8. The event is an interdisciplinary approach to cultivating music, creativity, curation, and emerging technology.
Trendy Taipei not only includes several live performances taking place around the city, but also includes industry forums, bringing together artists and a supporting network of professionals to discuss everything from the “live house” economy to digital marketing and promotion.
Another event under the umbrella of Trendy Taipei is Jam Jam Asia, a ticketed event scheduled for Sept. 7-8 at the Taipei Music Center. The concert sprawls across multiple stages and features 50 different artists from Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore.
The biggest act is South Korea’s ASMRZ. Founded by two comedians, needmorecash and Tanaka, the duo parody South Korea’s idol industry, delivering amusing dance performances and funny lyrics such as the duo’s hit song “Good Night Ojosama." It will be ASMRZ’s first performance in Taiwan.
As for local recording artists, Enno Cheng (鄭宜農) will be one of the biggest names, a female singer-songwriter whose work also appears in many film scores. Cheng won Best Female Singer in Taiwanese and Best Album in Taiwanese at the 34th Golden Melody Awards in 2023.
Chiang said that the success of Trendy Taipei and associated music festivals will determine the city government's support for future musical performances and concerts in in Taipei next year as well as in the future.
