On August 31, the inaugural Apple Rock Music Festival took place at the Tangram Mall in Flushing, New York, featuring five Taiwanese bands from New Jersey, Washington D.C., and Boston. The festival aimed to strengthen ties within the Taiwanese-American community while showcasing Taiwanese culture within New York’s dynamic multicultural environment.
Organized by the Overseas Community Affairs Council, Hello Taiwan, and various Taiwanese bands across the U.S., the festival presented an array of beloved songs, including “Walking Forward,” “Endless Sea,” and “Your Name Engraved Herein.” The lively musical performances transformed Flushing into a vibrant celebration of Mandarin music.
Lu Qiwei, a representative from the festival’s organizing team, highlighted that this was the festival’s inaugural year. He noted the rising popularity of music festivals among young people in Taiwan and expressed a desire to bring this cultural trend to the U.S., fostering connections among music lovers along the East Coast.
The lineup included notable bands such as Sound Garden and Zhen Tian Jun from New Jersey, 77 Band and the Taiwanese National Orchestra from Washington D.C., and You&Me from Boston. These bands are well-regarded in the U.S. Taiwanese music scene, having organized numerous events over the years.
Lu also mentioned that the timing of the festival, coinciding with the Labor Day weekend in the U.S., resulted in a significant turnout at the shopping center. With each band boasting dedicated followers, they estimated the audience ranged from 1,000 to 2,000 people hailing from various regions and backgrounds.
Meng Qiran, a member of the Taiwanese National Orchestra, shared insights about their band’s approach during an interview. He explained that they specialize in reinterpreting traditional Taiwanese folk songs by blending them with modern musical elements. Their goal is to evoke a sense of familiarity and nostalgia for Taiwanese immigrants in the U.S., while narrating Taiwan’s stories through their music. This year, they especially incorporated New York influences into their setlist, adapting Western rock styles to include Taiwanese songs.
Huang Chongxiao, the leader of You&Me, expressed that they carefully selected a diverse repertoire that features Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Cantonese songs, aiming to promote Taiwanese culture and Mandarin music more comprehensively. He noted that this was their first performance outside of Massachusetts, and the event provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow Taiwanese bands from different regions, fostering an enriching exchange among them.
