Taipei gets groovy with Chill Out Festival

北「秋 Out 音樂節」精彩登場

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Chill Out Festival returned to Taipei’s Gongguan District this weekend, bringing together local and international artists, late-night street food, and an atmosphere that has made it one of Taiwan’s most distinctive music events.

Now in its sixth year, the festival has expanded from its origins at Pipe Live House to include the neighboring Taipei Water Park and Treasure Hill, with eight stages and nearly 100 vendors. Organizers describe it as a public-private collaboration, with government resources supporting creative industries.

Festival programmer Guan Ching-kang (官靖剛), who also manages Pipe, said he personally selected every act on the lineup, drawing from Taiwan’s underground scene and established international performers. “Every artist performing, even on the smaller stages, brings something special,” Guan said.

Saturday’s main-stage headliner, Japanese musician Cornelius, delivered a 75-minute rock set blending soaring melodies, intricate percussion, and hypnotic visuals. Cornelius, led by frontman Oyamada Keigo, is often credited with pioneering the “Shibuya-kei” sound of the 1990s, a genre-bending fusion of pop, punk, and jazz. Wearing dark sunglasses and a skinny tie, Oyamada led the crowd with cool precision.

The festival’s new layout separates free community stages from fenced ticketed areas featuring marquee acts. One standout performance came from Mola Oddity, a psychedelic collective fronted by Taiwanese singer Amber Kuo (郭采潔), performing as Birdy K. The group recently won Best New Group at the 18th Freshmusic Awards and received honors at the London and Berlin Music Video Awards.

On a nearby hilltop stage overlooking the river, Taipei-based duo Mong Tong performed their blend of psychedelic, Taoist, and industrial music, delivering an entrancing groove while wearing blindfolds, a visual signature of their act.

Inside Pipe Live House, soul singer Chen Yufu (陳郁夫) drew a large audience with songs from his debut album “Heal Me Good.” A former frontman of psychedelic band Crocodelia (鱷魚迷幻), Chen showcased deep knowledge of soul music and a performance style reminiscent of Al Green.

At the festival’s heart is a year-round cluster of bars and creative spaces built from shipping containers beside Pipe. Among them is a pink-painted bar operated by American musician Stan Blewett, a founding member of avant-garde rock group Clippers (夾子電動大樂隊).

The bar features a mural by Malaysian artist Danny Lam, including a paper-cut image of a three-eyed pink rabbit that has become the bar’s mascot. Blewett’s signature offering — oversized slices of handmade pizza with toppings such as tuna and onion or layers of jalapeños — has become a local favorite.

“It takes time and good ingredients,” Blewett said, citing Danish mozzarella and cold-fermented dough. “I’d rather people appreciate the craft than ask how much it costs.” Though he admits serving drinks is easier, Blewett often stays open until sunrise.

With its eclectic lineup, creative community, and late-night energy, the Chill Out Festival has evolved into one of Taipei’s defining celebrations of independent music and art.