Peacefest Band Bios

Band Info

.22 - 1:15am Fullmoon Friday

.22 are dirty, funky, and funny. For the last few years they have been "giving the local music scene a firm, yet courteous reach around" with their groovy basslines & progressive rock riffage. Their late-night Friday set will "leave you feeling like you've had nothing less than a good slick leggin'." And that's a quote. point22.com .22 on myspace

88 Guava Seeds - 2:45pm Sunday

One of the best-loved Taiwanese indie bands, 88 Guava Seeds play an eclectic mix of garage rock and groovy, fuzzy blues on acoustic guitars. Sure to go down REAL smooth on a Sunday afternoon.

ad hoc - 12:30pm Sunday

ad hoc fuses various genres into what is best generalizable as rock & roll. They are the only foreign band that plays original songs living in Chiayi. The band is made up of singer/songwriters who trade instruments during performance. The band's philosophy is simply ad hoc. band website ad hoc on myspace

The Admissionaries - 9:15pm Saturday

From the ashes of Aquablam!, Spliffabyss, and Wise Maneouvers comes Jungli's newest & simultaneously oldest band, the Admissionaries. They deliver a tasty blend of roots, rock & reggae that will get your body grooving. Admissionaries on myspace

The Anglers - 11:45pm Fullmoon Friday

The Anglers have been with the Peacefest from the beginning and are glad to be back for another year. Their clean reggae grooves and righteous lyrics have won them a large following all over the island. Scott is leaving after the fest, so we hope you'll all come out Friday night to witness what will be their last show for the forseeable future. scottcook.net Anglers on myspace

Boogie Chillin’ - 10:45pm Saturday

Influenced by classic Blues greats such as Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Elmore James, and Willie Dixon, Boogie Chillin’ also steps it up with original compositions and covers of contemporary blues artists such as Canada’s Big Sugar. Their Friday night performance last year was the stuff of legend. boogiechillinband.com Boogie Chillin' on myspace

Brian Funshine

Brian has been here in Taiwan for many years, producing and performing all kinds of music, including kids' songs under his alias Brian Funshine. He returns for his third Peacefest as a wandering minstrel and children's entertainer. brianfunshine.com Brian on myspace

The Charlie Swiggs Band - 3:30pm Saturday

The Charlie Swiggs Band from Tainan is one of the oldest bands in the country. For over ten years, frontman Axel Schunn and various accomplices have been plying their brand of groovy, progressive rock and roll. They have played the Spring Scream festival many times & Axel has also organized Tainan's May Jam festival for the last six years. We are really excited to have them up in our neck of the woods for the first time. band website Charlie Swiggs on myspace

David Chen & the Muddy Basin Ramblers - 5:45pm Saturday

Some call it blues, some call it jazz, some call it country, some call it hillybilly swing -- the Muddy Basin Ramblers love to it play it all. They perform the music of the jug bands that emerged in the American south in the 1920s and 30s, which is traditionally a mixture of styles including country blues, ragtime and jazz. The band members entertain and make noise (mostly musical!) using a variety of string, brass, and "homemade" instruments, which include kazoos, a ceramic jug, a washboard and a washtub bass. Their music will keep people singing along, dancing or tapping their feet, with some friendly help from the band's tap dancer. This is their third appearance at Peacefest and we are very grateful to have them back. muddybasin.com

Divebomb - 2pm Saturday

Tainan's Divebomb is relatively new on the scene but they are already making a big impression with their new album and jumping shows all over the island. They play fast, high-energy punk rock with a smirk. They are Chuck Norris' favorite band. All four hail from a 1-hour truck-driving hour radius in the Canadian flatlands of Alberta, a place more renowned for wheat than rock and roll. Over the last five months, the band has toured all over Taiwan, including shows in Taichung, Pingtung, Kaohsiung, Kenting, Hualien and of course Tainan, where divebomb prefers to claim its supremacy. divebomb on myspace

DJ Marcus Aurelius - 2am Fullmoon Friday

From the deepest, darkest corner of the universe comes a man determined to do one thing--make everyone in the world move their bodies while freeing their minds. Marcus is one of Taiwan's best-known talents behind the turntables, with his big bag of hip-hop, funk, soul, dancehall, 80s, bmore, elektrokrunk, and more. It's an honor to have him at our festival for the first time. Marcus on myspace

Dragon - 3am Fullmoon Friday

Dragon is Taiwan's godfather of trance. He has taken party-goers on blissful psychedelic journeys at the biggest outdoor parties in Taiwan since before you were cool. He has played with some of the most famous Trance names in the world, a regular at the famous Full moon festivals in Thailand as well as playing at Huge festivals in London, Hong Kong and South Africa. Having recently signed with trance label ManicDragon, he's now producing his own music, & he will be playing a special live performance set on Fullmoon Friday at the Peacefest. It is sure to be mind-bending. dragon's website

Faye & the Slacks - 11pm Fullmoon Friday

Faye Blais has been in Taiwan for less than a year but she has already made a big splash, touring with her group Faye & the Slacks and the Freemosan Outlaws High n' Lonesome Cowpoke Roadshow. The Slacks--Geoff & Phil--lay down a funky, infectious rhthym with bass and djembe that pushes Faye's folky style into boogie land. fayeblais.com the Slacks on myspace

Full house - 2pm Sunday

Tainan's Full House get the party jumping with their energetic brand of rockabilly & ska, all rolled up with a punk rock sneer. band website full house on myspace

Heavy Smoker - 12:15am Saturday night/ Sunday morning

ZMN Records recording artists Heavy Smoker are set to rock your face off! Along with label-mates Semi-Con and Stay Gold, they represent the young forward guard of punk rock on this island. Their debut album “Shout of Teenagers” came out in 2005, and like its name, is full of the teenager’s anger, energy, and power. The average age of Heavy Smoker is just 19 years old. Their lyrics are both English and Japanese--the vocalist/guitarist Keijilo is from Japan and the bassist hails from Paraguay. Heavy Smoker on myspace

the idiots - 4:15pm Saturday

Changhua's the idiots are new on the Taiwan scene, but are already fondly remembered for making asses of themselves at many a party. They play their own funky brand of rock n' roll and are known for chicanery of all kinds. the idiots on myspace

Macedonian Music Band - 11am Saturday

Macedonian Music Band is made up of Alex, Angel, Jose and Simo. Sometimes Chino joins in on the percussions as well. Alex plays a traditional macedonian instrument called "tambura". He has been practicing it for years, learning from some of the best masters in Macedonia. Angel is also from Macedonia. He learned how to sing back in Macedonia and has known Alex for several years. Jose and Chino are from Costa Rica. Jose does the guitar. He likes world music, and Balkan music has inspired him. Rika is the Paparazzi drum prodigy. Finally, Simo from Spain joined a few months, and his violin is a great addition. They are all classmates, studying Mandarin together. Says Angel: "It's always honour to be able to present the music about mountains, love and friendship from the Macedonia. Cheers and looking forward to waking up everybody on Sat morning!"

Militant Hippi - 8:30pm Saturday

Militant Hippi is a tongue in cheek, politically aware, fun, energetic, original, talented group of manboys in possession of an uncanny ability to pull brilliant shit out of their asses. Militant Hippi was born out of Boston Paul's weekly jams at the Dakeng Refuge in Taichung, where musicians and artists from around the Island would come to mingle, play music, BBQ and do whatever else tickled their fancy. They manage to bring that free & open weekend vibe along with them whenever they play. Militant Hippi on myspace

Mister Green & Highway 9 - 5pm Saturday

Now in his third appearance at the Peace Festival, Mister Green is known for his lyrical and personal honesty and backwoods charm. This year he will debut the newest incarnation of Highway 9, a sonic Frankenstein made of body parts cannibalized from The Anglers, Fireflower, and Public Radio. Mister Green's website Mister Green on myspace

The Money Shot Horns - 3:30pm Sunday

This Taichung super-group is unstoppable! The group draws members from Milk, Round Midnight, Boogie Chillin’, Ad Hoc and the Anglers. A killer rhythm section backs up the best horn section on the island, while lead singer Dooley works the crowd into a frenzy. Not to be missed!!! the Horns on myspace

MoShang - chillout stage, Saturday

MoShang is a sound jeweler living in Taiwan. He collects rough audio diamonds from the streets of Taiwan (be they overheard conversations, street-ads blared from the ubiquitous blue-trucks, street processions or funeral chants) and fuses them with traditional Chinese instruments and laid-back beats to create a unique blend of downtempo electronica he likes to call Chinese Chill. MoShang.net MoShang on myspace

Native Space - 11:45am Sunday

A long-running project out of Boston Paul's Dakeng Refuge, Native Space has involved dozens of musicians through the years and could be described more as a collective than a band. Every show is sure to contain hypnotic, rhythmic jams, spooky soundscapes, and plenty of surprises. Native Space on myspace

New Hong Kong Hair City - 12:30pm Saturday

In the land of rock the guitar is king. Few have dared question its dominance until now. Enter New Hong Kong Hair City--keys, drums, bass and sax. Part funk, part pop, 100% rock. Come experience the revolution in the seedy underbelly of New Hong Kong Hair City. NHKHC on myspace

Pan Africana Cultural Troupe - 10pm Friday

The Pan Africana Cultural Troupe presents artists from West Africa and the Caribbean, combining intoxicating African rhythms with the sounds of Reggae & Soca to produce a unique and very danceable sound. If you haven't seen this group yet, you're in for an experience! Even if you have, you'll be glad to know that they've recently added new members and the sound continues to evolve and elevate. Not to be missed! band website

Paparazzi - 11:45am Saturday

Paparazzi are a very talented group of individual musicians from all over the world, who fuse jazz, latin music, and rock into a very eclectic, truly unique sound.

Public Radio - 12:30am Fullmoon Friday

Public Radio rocked the Peacefest last year and are coming back for another round under the full moon Friday night. These guys have been heating up the local music scene for the last while & are surely bound for glory. They combine rock n' roll, old soul, punk rock, country, latin jazz, and reggae into a funky stew for me and you. Public Radio on myspace

Rabbit Is Rich - 1:15pm Sunday

Taiwanese garage rockers Rabbit is Rich have been heating up the Taiwan scene for some time now. Lead singer Andrea adds an artful edge to tight, choppy rock riffs over a steady backbeat with hints of disco. band website Rabbit is Rich on myspace

Ren Jian Bao Puppet Theatre - 10pm Fullmoon Friday

Ren Jian Bao (which loosely translates as "dumplings of humanity") is a puppet theatre group based out of the Dream Community in Xizhi. On Friday night they will present their play "Sad, Funny, Fucked-up, Beautiful Puppet World," featuring the already notorious "Bao Pi Pi Bao: The Foreskin Show," a political black comedy about circumcision, anti-sex conspiracies, and the war on terrorism. renjianbao.com

Rocket Grrrl - 1am Saturday night/Sunday morning

Rocket Grrrl are notorious as the loudest band in Taiwan, a free form psychedelic jam rock explosion, the trademark being the really loud freakouts that accompany all of their songs. That and mind-numbing locutions on diverse subjects such as the evil plots of Lord Xandar, the nature of the 11th dimension, and the joys of going naked. Rocket Grrrl! on myspace

Sophie & Cemelesai from Totem - 1:15pm Saturday

Sophie and Cemelesai are better known as members of Totem, an aboriginal original rock band that has made a big impression all over Taiwan with their combination of wide-ranging influences into a very tight and danceable sound. For Peacefest, Sophie & Cemelesai will be treat us to a more stripped-down version. Not to be missed!

Stereotypes (DJs Cap & That Guy) - 2-4am Saturday night/Sunday morning

Cap and that Guy (Soundmindset, Stereotypes) have been promoting and rocking parties all over the island for some time now. They are old friends of the Peacefest and we're glad to have them rocking mainstage for the first time. That Guy on myspace Cap on myspace

to a god unknown - 7:45pm Saturday

to a god unknown return to Peacefest with their eerily beautiful soundscapes of crashing rhythms and distorted guitars. This band might make you wet your pants. You should listen to them very loud with your eyes closed. Not while you are washing up or doing some inane task. Maybe have a beer, or a glass of wine. to a god unknown on myspace

Uli & the Brood - 11:30pm Saturday

Tainan's Peacefest veterans return for their third Peacefest, under their third name. Fans who remember the Mooks and Brickbat will love the new group and the deep funk and reggae grooves they turn out.

Viba - chillout stage, Saturday

Viba is one man armed with an array of electronics making out-of-this-world music live on stage. He will be entertaining the crowds Saturday night with a downtempo set in the forest. Viba on myspace