Jon Dunbar is a copy editor at The Korea Times, as well as editor of the Foreign Community page and curator of the Korea Times Archive. If you have suggestions for possible articles, or wish to contribute articles yourself, contact jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr.
Indie music festival prepares to debase Busan
A banner image promoting Debaser Festival in Busan June 6 and 7 / Courtesy of Jamie Finn
By Jon Dunbar
Seoul's Block Party announces September 2025 dates
Local music promoter Jamie Finn has been saying for years that he was going to stop doing Block Party, his signature festival in central Seoul's Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan neighborhoods. Now that he's pretty well established in Busan, he's focusing his creative efforts on Debaser Festival, a new festival to be held in various participating venues there.
Debaser Festival features over 30 acts performing over two days on June 6 and 7 at four venues revealed so far — Ol' 55, Ovantgarde, Moment and Dengue Fever.
Fat Hamster and Kang New perform for Block Party at The Studio HBC in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 22, 2024. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
"It’s basically like the first Block Party which was only five venues and focused on music," Finn told The Korea Times. "The venues here in Busan have been so supportive and excited about the idea. They’re really up for trying new things and getting the music scene going. They really approached my suggestions with a 'fuck yeah' attitude. I am very grateful for that. Hopefully, it can grow just like Block Party did. Let’s see."
Jamie Finn DJs at The Studio HBC during Block Party in central Seoul's Haebangchon, Sept. 22, 2024. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
The acts he has lined up are pretty impressive, and many of them will have to make the trip down from Seoul, including alternative pop band Leenalchi, Kim Oki Luv Luv and electronic music producer Lionclad. There are local acts as well, including Busan post-hardcore band Soumbalgwang, indie-pop band Erotic Worms Exhibition and rock band Daisy Gun. Also not coming from far are Ulsan band Zero Zero and Daegu's Sindosi. And, of course, much more.
One of the most surprising names on the poster is Pop Ents, which folded last year when bassist John moved away. But they're reuniting for the festival, one of the many miracles that can be expected when Finn is in charge.
Pop Ents members and supporters get a little undressed during the band's official final show for Block Party at The Studio HBC in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 21, 2024. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Finn moved to Busan in 2023, and despite coming up to Seoul frequently, he's got his heart set on holding his main festival down in Busan.
"I think something like this really fits down here as well, and there aren’t really too many similar events here," he said. "There’s a great community of bands and venues here in Busan. We wanna find a way to mix them with the best stuff from Seoul and try and get some people out, having fun, drinking and all that."
The Seoul-Busan-based post-punk band Bandits performs for Block Party at Pet Sounds in central Seoul's Gyeongnidan neighborhood, Sept. 21, 2024. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
He hopes the new festival will have the same energy that the three Block Party festivals achieved.
"We are really trying to bring that exact energy down to Busan," said Finn, who is originally from Liverpool, England. "The thing people seem to love the most about Block Party is the atmosphere, which I think is different to a lot of festivals here. It feels more communal and more friendly. I think part of that is because we have so many artists performing, meaning a lot of the people we have at Block Party are working in different creative communities, mixing, planning, etc. There’s an energy that comes from having them all together at one event."
The Seoul-Busan-based synth-pop band Cloud Underground performs for Block Party at Pet Sounds in central Seoul's Gyeongnidan neighborhood, Sept. 22, 2024. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Along with the new festival, Finn also launched a new publication, Debaser Magazine, rising from the ashes of his previous project, Platform Magazine. "A new lick of paint and a new team can really give it a boost. I think that’s proven by how well Debaser is doing," he said.
He confirmed that the festival and the zine both get their name from the 1989 song by the Pixies.
"It was a floor filler when I started going to rock clubs when I was 17 — although it was about 15 years old by then," he said. "I also really like the meaning. To Debase something. It kinda literally means to make something like less quality, but it doesn’t feel that way when I hear it. I think of it as something less smooth, less pretty, less comfortable. Which fits us perfectly."
Seoul punk band 18Fevers performs for Block Party at The Studio HBC in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 21, 2024. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Finn added that Debaser Fest does not mean we've seen the last of Block Party. On May 26, he announced the dates for this year's Block Party, set for Sept. 20 and 21. He also began sales on blind tickets for anyone wanting to snap up a ticket at a heavily discounted price before the full details are announced. Artist applications are now open as well.
Follow @debaserfest on Instagram, and read more at debasermagazine.com.