Bringing the music of Taiwan to Custer

The Taiwanese band A Moving Sound is moving into Custer for the week, bringing with them their unique sound with traditional Taiwanese and contemporary influences. The band has built a global following through its joyous mix of original music and dance.
The Custer Area Arts Council partned with the Chatauqua Craftsmen and Artisans of the Black Hills and Arts Midwest to bring  the band to Custer County and the surrounding area for a series of workshops and concerts throughout the week. The concert is part of the ongoing World Fest tour, which has also brought bands such as Pamuya and LaDama to the area. The last worldfest concert coning to Custer will be in the spring of 2025.
“This partnership with the Chatauqua Artisans and Custer Area Arts Council has been awesome. We appreciate those guys in Hot Springs a lot,” said Matt Fridell of the Custer Area Arts Council.
A Moving Sound features several traditional Taiwanese intstruments like the erhu, a Tawainese fiddle and zhongruan, similar to a lute. Combined with the vocal stylings of Mia Hsieh, the band delivers a unique and compelling sound all their own. They are described as a “Tawainese whirlwind that veers between the meditative and the exhuberant with irrepressable spirit.”
The main event of the week will be a free community concert at the Custer Beacon, beginning at 7 p.m.
“We hope to have a good turnout. This is another chance to listen to some world class musicians in Custer. As we’ve seen with everyone of these (World Fest concerts), they’re just phenomenal. It sounds like were going to be treated to an incredible night of music, so come on out,” said Fridell.
On Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Custer County Library, the band will offer a vocal and dance workshop. During the week, the band also visits with students at schools in Hermosa, Custer and Hot Springs to share their music and culture.
“It’s really awesome to see the kids just get taken up with these. Every one of these World Fest musicians has their own unique ambiance they create in the room. It really clicks with some kids. Each group connects with different kids for different reasons,” said Fridell.
Since forming in 2000, the group has achieved international acclaim and recognition. The music supervisor for National Geographic, Tom Pryor, described A Moving Sound as “one of the most original outfits working in the world music arena today, an inspired marriage of Taiwanese traditional sounds and Western pop experimentation that forges an important new musical dialogue.”