By Kim Hyelin and Lee Hana
Video = Jarasum Jazz Festival Youtube Channel
With the end of the hot summer and the arrival of fall's high skies and breezy winds, many in Korea are opting to spend time outdoors. People can look forward to a unique lineup of activities and festivals this season, like those highlighting nature or going on a gastronomical journey to taste the season's delicacies.
How about spending an afternoon in the sun listening to live music played by domestic and international bands? Below are several autumn music festivals listed by genre.
If you're a jazz aficionado, there's the Jarasum Jazz Festival from Oct. 4-6, held on Jaraseom Island in Gapyeong-gun County, Gyeonggi-do Province.
Now in its 16th year, Korea's biggest jazz event uses the backdrop of the island's serene landscape to feature a lineup of bands from all parts of the world. This year, participating acts will include U.S. jazz trumpeter and film composer Terence Blanchard, funk and R&B musician Jon Cleary, and his band Absolute Monster Gentlemen from New Orleans, Louisiana. Another highlight will be a stage with four pianos played by Korean artists including pianist Kim Kwang Min.
For indie music lovers, the Zandari Festa will be held from Sept. 26-29 at several venues in Seoul's Hongdae area like the multi-purpose cultural complex KT&G Sangsangmadang Hongdae.
Now in its eighth year, the event will offer a lineup of rock, hip hop and electronica bands from Europe, Asia, and North America. Among the Koreans acts slated to appear are the well-known indie bands Idiotape, Kirara and DTSQ. The Sherlocks from the U.K., Antokha MC from Russia, Sorry Youth from Taiwan and pop band Janice Prix from Sweden will be among the international representatives.
And for K-pop fans, the inaugural Seoul Music Festival is slated for Sept. 28 to Oct. 6 at Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul. Though the final lineup will be announced on Sept. 26 on the festival's official website, artists slated to perform there include Astro, CIX, Baek Ji Young, Tiger JK, Yang Da Il and Kassy. The festival is free of charge but reservations at certain events are required.
More information on each festival can be found at the links below.
Jarasum Jazz Festival: http://www.jarasumjazz.com/the16th/home
Zandari Festa: http://zandarifesta.com/
Seoul Music Festival: www.seoulmusicfestival.com
kimhyelin211@korea.kr
