Haebangchon Festival due on May 29
By John Redmond
Contributing writer
The release of the "HBCF Live 2010" CD earlier this spring heralds the launch of the next Haebangchon Festival at multiple venues in the popular aforementioned expat neighborhood in central Seoul. The festival is considered by many as a "must do, must perform."
Comprising of an array of acts, over 50, ranging from spoken word, comedy, theater sports, rock bands to folk musicians and traditional Korean artists, the festival has over the last half a decade grown to embrace both local and expat artists.
This year also features international acts especially flown in for the event. Another feather in the cap for the local business community who, in a show of community spirit, has gone to great lengths to pool resources.
The Haebangchon Music Festival, or HBC Fest, has been held twice a year since 2006. It now attracts live performing acts spread over 10 venues.
Always expanding, the festival is a local neighborhood initiative guided by Lance Reegan-Diehl, an internationally acclaimed musician, who has been the central organizer since day one.
The festival is considered as a "gift" from the local businesses who want to thank their regular customers and also invite other people, who normally wouldn't venture down from Itaewon, to sample the delights offered in "Liberation Village."
The May fest is always a positive introduction to the hot and busy summer months and it's always been an incentive to get out and forget about the long winter, and this year should be no different.
With warm weather and good music going on all day, the festival has quickly become one of the most anticipated events on the summer's music calendar.
When it first started back in the summer of 2006, the festival pulled together around twenty bands in three bars, some of whom are still on the bill for this May's festival.
The three bars, Phillies, Orange Tree and Ssen (now defunct), have been joined by the VFW (2007), Jakoby's, HBC Cafe (both 2009) and Pita Time (2010), the newest venue to, give patrons a great diversity of choice; even more so when you consider that Phillies now opens its basement for a late night performance that goes on long into the early hours.
The list of performers is always changing and this year is no exception. There are always new acts and new faces and this is what makes HBC Fest special.
Looking down the list of this year's performers, there are five acts that played in the first event, while a lot of others have played at least once, and many have come back to play in new or different bands, or on their own as solo musicians.
As people come and go, the festival constantly seeks to find new talent and new experiences.
The festival's influence is now spreading beyond its borders. Itaewon's bars, Rocky Mountain Tavern, Stompers and Roofers, are also taking part by hosting bands which will have played at the festival during the day. It's all part of an all day initiative to keep Seoul rocking!
This year, as an extra incentive for all those not lucky enough to get on the bill, there'll be a Guitar Hero Championship in the Orange Tree; hosted by Brian Aylward.
With a small admission fee, you have the chance of winning a beer or two, plus half the entry money.
Also, to celebrate the fine musical talents of the performers over the past four years, Lance, who also owns DEELEEBOB Music Group in Haebangchon, has arranged for a compilation CD of songs from performers through the years.
The CD will be released in the second week in May. Don't forget to pick one up, along with a HBC Fest official T-shirt, on the day.
This year's Haebangchon Music Festival will take place on May 29 and will kick off at midday.
With special BBQ's the music starts at 2 p.m. and going on until 2 a.m. For more information log on to the Web site at www.HBCFEST.com
The venues are: Phillies, Pita Time, HBC Cafe;, Jacoby's, VFW, Orange Tree, Rocky Mountain Tavern, Ole Stompers, Roofers, The Bungalow and Dolce Vita.