Music
From an afternoon on the grass to a stage under the stars. Elders, young people, mother-tongue songwriters and Golden Melody Award artists share one stage. This year the concert is hosted in both Mandarin and English.
14 – 15 November 2026 Hualien, Taiwan
2026 Gbiyuk
Music & Arts Festival
Essentials
Festival at a glance
14 NovSat
13:00 – 21:00
Afternoon on the grass, then the night stage
15 NovSun
13:00 – 21:00
Music, land art, craft, GAYA and the market
Venue
Tongmen Tribal Ceremonial Ground
Right bank of the Mugua River, Tongmen Village, Xiulin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan
Google Plus Code: XF8W+26M
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new window)
Right bank of the Mugua River, Tongmen Village, Xiulin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan
Google Plus Code: XF8W+26M
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new window)
Entry
Free entry, no ticket required.
Craft workshops and GAYA experiences require paid online registration; dates to be announced.
Craft workshops and GAYA experiences require paid online registration; dates to be announced.
Language
The concert is hosted in both Mandarin and English. Songs are performed in Indigenous languages, Mandarin and English.
Updates
Registration dates, the full line-up and shuttle details are announced on the festival’s social channels.
Facebook page(opens in a new window) Facebook event(opens in a new window)
Facebook page(opens in a new window) Facebook event(opens in a new window)
About
rmdax
rmdax means daybreak in the Truku language.
Light does not arrive in an instant. It wakes slowly, from deep within time.
For two days in November the valley of Tongmen opens to music, land art, craft and the everyday knowledge the Truku people call GAYA. Some come for the music, some stop for the art, some walk into the community and into the mountains, and some come to know this land again through a single conversation.
Light rising from the valley
The identity is built on deep earth tones with cold blue light and the gold of dawn, holding the moment between night and morning.
Sound waves and weaving
Concentric sound waves meet Truku weaving patterns, standing for music, craft and knowledge passing between generations.
Valley and memory
The contours of the valley, the fault lines of the land and the form of a hunting knife carry the memory of these mountains.
Five ways into the valley
Music Landscape Art Workshops
Experiences Market
Landscape Art
Built around the idea of “a large hand guiding a small hand”, artists, elders and young people create together across generations. Each work carries its own story, waiting on the grass to be found.
Workshops
Hands-on craft sessions where you make something of your own and take a piece of this land home with you. Paid online registration; details to be announced.
Experiences
GAYA is the traditional code of the Truku people. Walk with community members through hunting ethics, river knowledge and everyday craft, in small groups. Paid online registration; details to be announced.
Market
Food and drink from the community, alongside handmade craft and design. Pick something up and take the mood of the valley home.
Line-up
Artists
Afternoon Grass Stage
13:00 – 17:00National Dong Hwa University Ptasan Student Association
Formed by students of the tattooed-face peoples, presenting music and cultural exchange as an expression of cross-tribal cooperation and identity.
Madal Arik
Amis songwriter devoted to collecting traditional melodies and writing in his mother tongue. His debut album won Gold at the 2026 LIT Music Awards and Bronze at the Global Music Awards.
Xiulin Southern District Cultural Health Stations
Elders from five community health stations perform together, carrying cultural memory through song and dance across generations.
Tulbus Mangququ 馬詠恩
Bunun singer-songwriter blending traditional melodies with contemporary music. Twice nominated for Best Indigenous Language Album at the Golden Melody Awards, and nominated for Best Indigenous Language Singer.
Sapud and Parod Family
Sapud Kacaw and his family carry on the life of the community through song. Their debut album Parod was nominated for Best Folk Album at the 16th Golden Indie Music Awards.
Night Valley Stage
19:00 – 21:10Makav 真愛
Bunun singer-songwriter working across R&B, hip hop and her mother tongue. Her album Treasure won Best New Artist and Best Indigenous Language Album at the 35th Golden Melody Awards.
R.fu
Rapper and songwriter writing in his mother tongue. His track Zaljum won Best Electronic Single at the 12th Golden Indie Music Awards.
HengJones 大亨
Amis hip hop artist combining trap and pop with Amis-language lyrics. Released his first Indigenous-language album Beautiful People in 2025.
Sauljaljui 戴曉君
Paiwan singer-songwriter with a long commitment to Indigenous-language music. VAIVAIK won Best Indigenous Language Album at the 36th Golden Melody Awards and Gold in the World Music category of the 2025 Global Music Awards.
Kumu Basaw 姑慕・巴紹
Her album Qrasun won Best Indigenous Language Singer at the 36th Golden Melody Awards, with five nominations including Album of the Year.
Matzka
Paiwan singer-songwriter mixing reggae, pop and Indigenous-language songwriting. Winner of Best Band at the 22nd and Best Indigenous Language Album at the 34th Golden Melody Awards, and a leading figure in contemporary Indigenous music.
The line-up and running order are subject to confirmation by the organiser.
Programme
Running order
Afternoon Grass Stage
13:00Opening remarks and elders’ blessing
13:30–14:00National Dong Hwa University Ptasan Student Association
14:00–14:30Market and DIY open time
14:30–15:00Madal Arik
15:00–15:30Xiulin Southern District Cultural Health Stations
15:30–16:00Land art guided tour
16:00–16:30Tulbus Mangququ
16:30–17:00Sapud and Parod Family
Night Valley Stage
17:00–18:00Pre-ordered meal pick-up
19:00–19:20Opening remarks and performance by community women
19:30–19:50Makav & R.fu
19:50–20:10HengJones
20:10–20:30Sauljaljui
20:30–20:50Kumu Basaw
20:50–21:10Matzka
Times are planned and subject to confirmation by the organiser.
Workshops, GAYA experiences and the art market run on their own schedules, announced when registration opens.
Getting there
Access
Public transport
Train to Hualien, then bus and a short walk. The festival promotes bus routes 1139 / 1139C; a combined timetable will be published on the festival’s social channels.
Ride sharing
In partnership with Huadong Ride Share, with flexible booking and a subsidy during the festival (see below).
Driving and parking
The main car park holds 150 cars and 120 scooters; overflow parking opens nearby when it fills.
The site sits on the right bank of the Mugua River. Please drive slowly on mountain roads.
Registered participants13 – 16 Nov
NT$200 off each trip.
- Complete online registration and pay, indicating your ride-share needs
- The organiser confirms your registration and emails a discount code
- Add the Huadong Ride Share LINE official account (ID: @dauding)
- Book a trip during the festival and enter the code
Automatic at the venue14 – 15 Nov
NT$100 off each trip, when the venue is the start or end point.
- Add the Huadong Ride Share LINE official account and book a trip
- Select the festival pick-up zone as your start or end point
- The discount applies automatically during the festival
- Travel at your booked time; valid in both directions
SubsidyCoverage
Up to 50% of the fare, with an estimated 500+ trips supported, subject to the approved project budget.
Transport and subsidy details are planned arrangements; timetables, pick-up zones and discounts are confirmed by the organiser and by Huadong Ride Share.
Coordinates 23°57'54.3"N 121°29'44.0"E Google Plus Code: XF8W+26M