By Simon Wu
“Bikinis are our clothing and music is our language! No matter what the color of your skin! No matter what your race or nation! We must scream loudly in spring, OK?” It’s the beginning of April; it’s sunny and it’s Kenting. The ocean was twinkling blue, and tourists are streaming in as usual. Whether you’re a music lover or not, you can shake your body and dance with the rhythmic beats, or immerse yourself in a hearty scream to celebrate the arrival of spring! Spring Scream is the annual four-day music festival founded by Jimmy and Wade, two foreigners who once gathered some indie bands to play outdoor gigs for fun. But news soon spread around Taiwan, and many so-called “underground” bands gradually joined in the festivity. Before they knew it, the number of indie bands exploded, and outdoor concerts in April have become a celebration for hordes of groupies every year. The Eighth Spring Scream was held this year from April 5 to April 8. More than 150 bands participated, with performances lasting from noon till midnight. “We think of Spring Scream as a very grassroots event, no sponsors, and no limits!” said Wade, one of the founders. I got to experience this for myself last year. In the daytime, the area is like any other Kenting scenic spot, with the same azure sky and gentle breezes. The only extraordinary features I saw were some makeshift tents and stalls selling handmade souvenirs and concert passes. Around noon, you can enjoy some lesser-known bands playing unfamiliar and unusual music. Although the southern Taiwan sunshine burned, the crowds can’t get enough of the music. As night gradually falls, Kenting turns into a Garden of Eden for concertgoers. The sandy beach became a stage and the starlit sky the backdrop. We were shaking, stamping, screaming, dancing, and waving with the music, unaware of the sweat dripping from us! During a performance of The Fevers (a thrash band from Tokyo), while the crowd cheered, Takabe, the drummer, decided to ride his scooter on stage. As he started it up he screamed at the top of his lungs and hit the throttle. The scooter began to spin, and then all of the a sudden, as if we watching some kind of stunt show, he fishtailed off into a bramble filled ditch. The crowd really went wild. The rhythm of the music combined us into one, and everyone became friends; souls were temporally released and didn’t return until midnight. When it was time for bed, we put up tents and lay down facing the stars. As I lay there, I imagined everyone was still stuck in the moment just as I was, and that we expected it to happen again the next night. It’s a pity that I didn’t go to Spring Scream this year. My friends told me the festival was as crazy as usual, hordes of music lovers from throughout the island had lots of wanton fun. Actually, the reason why I love Spring Scream so much is the variety of music, popular or not. Discovering it is like peeling an onion – you uncover one layer only to discover more layers underneath. No matter how long you stay you never stop hearing something original. So, if you have a chance to visit Kenting during the next spring break, don’t forget to catch the Spring Scream! #Volume 6 Issue 4 a
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May 2024
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