The Spring Scream () is an outdoor music festival held in early April each year at Kenting, Pingtung County, Taiwan. The festival showcases a variety of music styles from bands both from Taiwan and overseas. Each year the festival adds the name of the current Chinese astrological animal to its name. The festival is organized by two expatriate Americans, Wade Davis and Jimi Moe, and has grown significantly since its beginnings in 1995.
The event length has been between 2 and 11 days and as many as 300 acts on 8 stages. It also features a film festival, art exhibits, DJs, stalls, food vendors and camping.
Spring Scream History
1995
Year of the Pig (豬年) 3 days, Magic Studios
Bands had their own stalls, with hand-dyed and printed shirts
1996
Year of the Rat (鼠年) 2 days, Magic Studios
Cover:$200
30 bands on 2 stages
Stalls improved, with hand-dyed and printed shirts, and artists-submitted designs for shirts
1997
Year of the Ox (牛年) 3 days, Beach
Cover:$200
30 bands on 2 stages
1998
Year of the Tiger (虎年) 3 days, Beach
Cover:$500
70 bands on 2 stages. Broadcast on MTV Asia. Concert enjoyed widespread media coverage Organizers required all bands to have at least one original song
1999
Year of the Rabbit (兔年) 4 days, LiouFu Campground
Cover:$500
80 bands on 5 stages
Organizers required all music to be only original songs, and handed out free CDs or mp3 demo songs of bands performing This was the last year that bands cooked for other bands
2000
Year of the Dragon (龍年) 4 days, LiouFu Campground
Cover:$1,000. 120 bands. Media got free passes. Organizers again gave out free CDs of mp3 demo songs of bands performing This was the last year the volunteers had to cook and clean toilets
2001
Year of the Snake (蛇年) 4 days, LiouFu Campground
Cover:$1,000. 120 bands. Organizers gave out free CDs of mp3 demo songs plus pictures of bands performing. First year some of the stages were covered.
2002
Year of the Horse (馬年) 4 days, LiouFu Campground
Cover:$1,000. 150 bands.
2003
Year of the Goat (羊年) 4 days, LiouFu Campground
Cover:$1,500
160 bands
2004
Year of the Monkey (猴年) 11 days, LiouFu Campground
Cover:$1,500
200 bands
Organizers gave out free DVDs of mp3 demo songs and pictures from all bands who applied to play Start of the film festival contest
2005
Year of the Rooster (雞年) 4 days, LiouFu Campground
Cover:$1,500
160 Bands
Start of the poster contest and the logo contest
2006
Year of the Dog (狗年) 4 days, LiouFu Campground
Cover:$1,500
160 bands
2007
Year of the Pig (豬年) 4 days, Erluanbi and ShauKenting Rodeo
Cover:$1,500
230 bands
Added pop artists who do original compositions
2008
Year of the Rat (鼠年) 4 days, Erluanbi Lighthouse Area. Cover: $1,600 270 bands
See also
Taiwanese rock
External links
Official festival website
Taipei Times 2005 preview
Far Eastern Audio Review coverage of 2005 festival
Comme les Chinois: How-to guide for Kenting during Spring Scream (1 of 3) Kenting National Park Website