An MBR Double-Header for the Ides of September

September 2012 is a busy month for the Ramblers; we've got two shows this weekend, and another next Sunday. We hope you can make it to at least one of these shows. Geographically, they're spread around the Taipei Basin, so one of them should be conveniently located.

I'm not really sure what the significance of a flying saucer (washtub) is, but Rambler TC's photographic artistry is undeniable. That's Slim at a park we affectionately call the Trainyard, since that is what used to occupy this space between Huashan Arts District and the Taipei Artist Village.

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 15, we'll be performing at the Black Town Music Festival in Nangang. We're on stage from 3:50 to 4:20 P.M.

Here's the poster for that gig. It's interesting that our band's name is listed in Chinese, while other groups have their English name posted instead.

You can find information about the venue via the link above, but we've also marked the spot on Google Maps. All of the Ramblers are looking forward to this gig because we'll be performing for people who probably haven't had much exposure to the type of music that we play. Plus, the old factory in Nangang where we'll be playing reminds us of performing at Huashan prior to its makeover by the city. We've previously worked with one of the promoters when we performed at an art gallery/workshop on Tihua Street, in Taipei's old Tataocheng district. Here's a video shot when we played on the sidewalk in front of that gallery. You can see we had a few swing dancers in attendance, and we expect that a few might follow us to Nangang as well. Here's a link to our Facebook page. Perhaps you want to advertise to your FB friends just how hip you are by liking it.

On Sunday, September 16, we'll be taking part in the Blues Queens Cruise organized by bluesman Cooky (from Cooky and Friends) at Asicom International. This is a charity event, with the proceeds being used to help the people of Orchid Island recover from Typhoon Tembin in late August.

Tembin flattened the supermarket on the island Aug. 28, destroyed six houses and damaged about 40-50 others when it slammed ashore.

The storm kicked up six-meter high waves that sank boats seeking shelter in Kaiyuan Harbor. Electricity was knocked out islandwide during the typhoon but had since been restored in most areas, according to the Taitung county government. The island's only gas station was also destroyed.

The Ministry of the Interior said it had transported 2,000 kg of food and 1,500 kg of other relief supplies to Orchid Island a day earlier. from Focus Taiwan

 If you heard about the Blues Cruise Maiden Voyage in July but were not able to attend, here's your chance to experience a blues extravaganza on the Tamsui River's only steamboat-esque party boat, the Ying Fong.

As far as I know, the only Blues Queen who will be performing is Japan's own Nacomi, who along with her amazing band, regularly makes the pilgrimage to Taipei to perform at the Blues Bash. Also appearing is Shun Kikuta, a Japanese blues guitar sensation who came to Taiwan via Chicago, where he was in Koko Taylor's band.

The Ramblers, the only band without a Japanese member to perform at this event, will be playing twice, once on the dock alongside the Ying Fong as passengers arrive to board, and once more on the third level of the boat. That's the best place to enjoy the view along the river and the famous Tamsui sunset.


Here's a video (shot by friend of the band G. Smoke) of us making waves on the dock in Guandu at the Maiden Voyage. The Blues Queens Cruise will be starting and finishing at the ferry terminal in Tamsui. You can find a map with directions on the Blues Queens Cruise website, but the easiest way to get to the boat is to take the MRT to Tamsui, take a left when you exit the station, and walk up the waterfront (that's downstream, if you're watching the way the water flows) for about 10 minutes. You'll see the Ying Fong in all her glory, and probably a crowd of locals checking out the Ramblers as we share our southern basin sound with a northern audience.

Tickets go on sale at 3:30, we'll play our first set at 4:30, and the boat leaves the dock at 5. Admission to this event is only NT$300 per person, but if you feel like kicking in extra for the recovery efforts on Orchid Island, I'm sure your donation will be welcomed.

Looking forward to partying with you this weekend, and if you can't make it to either of these two shows, we'll see you at Blues Bash 9 on September 23 at Taipei Artist Village.