Compass Festival returns to Taichung, but shh ... not too loud
From noise complaints to obtaining sponsors, festival organizers face increasing difficulties hosting outdoor music events
By John Evans / Contributing reporter
Two years ago, the music came to an abrupt halt at one of Taiwan’s largest independent music festivals. The problem: a single noise complaint. The DJ’s high-energy tunes had exceeded the allowed sound limit. As per regulation, the performance took a several-minute pause and then continued, this time at a slightly lower decibel.
And then last year, the same event, Compass Taichung International Food and Music Festival, was unexpectedly canceled due to sponsorship issues.
Such are the woes of trying to organize outdoor music festivals these days.
Taichung’s Compass Festival, held in one of the city’s most popular parks, often attracts noise complaints from nearby residents.
Photo courtesy of Compass Magazine
“It makes it so much harder to put on a festival,” said Courtney Donovan Smith, co-publisher of Compass Magazine, which organizes the annual two-day bash. (Smith is also a columnist for the Taipei Times.)
Undaunted, organizers are trying again as the festival is back this weekend with nearly 20 bands set to take the stage, along with an array of food and beverage vendors. The party kicks off at noon on Saturday and Sunday at Civic Square (市民廣場), the city’s premier outdoor music venue.
“We were really determined to have it this year,” said Douglas Habecker, co-publisher of Compass Magazine. It’s an important event, not just for the musicians and vendors, but also for the people of Taichung, he said. The festival typically attracts upwards of 20,000 people over the course of the weekend.
Nearly 20 bands are set to take the stage at this weekend’s festival organized by Compass Magazine.
Photo courtesy of Compass Magazine
But with rising costs and more government regulations, organizing these kinds of outdoor festivals has become more burdensome than ever before, Habecker said.
By law, the city’s Environmental Protection Bureau must respond to any noise complaint reported, even if the same person keeps calling. And after 7pm if the decibel level is above 58 as measured from the nearest street, then the music stops, and fines may be levied.
Taichung’s noise regulations are among the strictest in the nation and have become even stricter in recent years, causing frustration not only for organizers and musicians but also for festivalgoers.
“It’s terrible for Taichung and a huge downer for everyone,” Habecker said. “We’re not blasting music irresponsibly.”
While large government-sponsored festivals, such as the Taichung Jazz Festival, are flourishing, the city’s once-thriving music scene, which included numerous small, independent festivals, has all but dried up, Smith and Habecker said.
“It’s become a real headache. It’s like waiting for the Sword of Damocles to drop,” said Habecker, referring to the uncertainty of when officials might appear following a noise complaint.
For some independent festivals, the solution has been to move farther away from residential areas. Tainan May Jam, for example, used a public beach for many years before moving to a scenic area about 20 minutes from downtown.
“There are no noise complaints in the mountains,” said organizer Axel Schuun, whose festival, typically featuring indigenous bands and musicians from Southeast Asia, has attracted thousands of music lovers for the past 25 years.
Sean Scanlan, who organizes multiple music events each year, is sympathetic with those taking on such projects, saying there are “fewer and fewer” independent music festivals in recent years. In addition, he said festivals these days just seem to be attracting fewer people.
“It’s tough out there,” Scanlan said of organizing festivals. “All the red tape sucks.”
Scanlan’s next festival, one that he feels especially close to, will be the Daniel Pearl World Music Day in Taipei early next month.
Back in Taichung, in an effort to help better manage the sound at this year’s Compass Festival, DJs will take over after the live music ends at 7pm each evening.
An additional burden, organizers said, is obtaining enough sponsors to cover the ever rising costs of hosting a festival. Everything from tent and stage rentals to musician fees to insurance and cleanup costs need to be paid for. Between 60 percent to 70 percent of revenue, Habecker estimated, comes from sponsorships.
In past years, Compass Festival relied in part on the financial support of well-known beer brands, including AB InBev, which makes Corona and Budweiser, to help cover the costs. But when Taiwan imposed tariffs of up to 52 percent on imported beer from China, these companies dropped their sponsorship.
Picking up the slack and making this year’s festival financially possible are smaller sponsors, including two local soccer clubs and a luxury hotel, with the addition of long-term supporters, World Gym and Corning Taiwan. Taiwan Beer, Kingfisher and Hellow Brewery have also pledged support.
“In the future, I hope we can find even more sponsors to help keep things going,” Habecker said.
Organizing a festival is tiring and stressful, Smith and Habecker said, but they consider it sort of a public service to the city and residents of Taichung.
“Nothing feels better than when people tell us what a great time they had,” Habecker said. “It energizes us.”
Compass Festival is set to take place rain or shine on Saturday from noon to 9pm and Sunday from noon to 8pm. For the latest updates, check the newly-launched Compass Magazine Line app or the Compass Food and Music Fest 2026 Facebook page.
For your information
Festival Notes
What: The Compass International Food & Music Festival Where: Civic Square (市民廣場) in Taichung When: Saturday from noon to 9pm and Sunday from noon to 8pm Details: Admission is free On the NET: Compass Food & Music Fest 2026 Facebook event page
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