Before the concert, curators of the East Coast Land Arts Festival introduced six resident artists: Lin Shu-Lin, Lin Gieh-Wen, Tapiwulan Kulele, Iyo Kacaw, Ruby Swana, and Chien-Wei Bali, who shared insights into their creative processes this year as part of the residency program. Sangpuy, the endorser of this year's festival, led guests and the audience in a traditional Beinan blessing ritual. A promotional video followed, marking the official start of the concert.
The live-streamed concert began at 6:50 PM, just as the moon slowly rose above sea level. The golden moonlight glittered on the sea’s surface, creating a mesmerizing scene. The onsite audience eagerly took out their cameras and cellphones to capture this magical moment. Renowned YouTuber and lead dancer of the Bulareyaung Dance Company, Ponay, hosted the concert, opening with a joyful cover infused with his signature indigenous humor.
Next, Suming, founder of the Dulan Tribe Amis Music Festival, performed a series of brand-new singles featuring traditional indigenous music inspired by his daily observations during the pandemic. Both onsite and online audiences were pleasantly surprised by the debut. The final performer of the night was Golden Melody Award-winning artist Sangpuy. His unique voice, emblematic of an ancient soul, resonated through beautiful melodies. He also performed Embrace, a song nominated for this year's Golden Melody Award for Song of the Year, as a prayer for the world affected by the pandemic, encouraging people to support one another through hardships.
Although the concert only allowed an onsite audience of 300 people, the atmosphere remained incredible. Despite being held on a workday, dedicated fans gathered from all across Taiwan. Over 1,000 viewers watched the live stream remotely, with total online views surpassing 16,000.
The Moonlit Sea Concert has concluded, but a series of events under the East Coast Land Arts Festival is still ongoing, and merchandise remains available for purchase. Participation and purchases are welcome. For more information, visit the official website at www.teclandart.tw. For real-time updates on event details, follow the East Coast Land Arts Festival Facebook page.