By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Summer may be over, but indie music fans can still enjoy their favorite Korean punk rock, hip-hop, alternative and electronic bands at two upcoming music festivals this month.
Top Korean indie bands Crying Nut, Windy City, No Brain and Jang Ki-ha and the Faces, will rock Imjingak Pyeonghwa-nuri Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday, for the 2009 Gentra X Ssamzie Sound Festival.
The lineup also includes Pia, RUX, Lee Tzsche, Sugar Donut, Biuret, Serengeti and the Kim Chang-wan Band.
As it celebrates its 11th anniversary, organizers have decided to move the festival to Paju, where people can enjoy nature while having fun.
The Ssamzie Sound Festival started in 1999, featuring indie bands from the Hongik University area. The festival, considered one of the most creative and dynamic music events in the country, has helped foster the growth of the indie music scene.
An urban music festival will be held Oct.17, next Saturday, at the Nanji camp site of Hangang Park. The 2009 Korea Live Music Festival will feature legendary Japanese rock group X-Japan's vocalist Toshi and Korean indie rock bands No Brain and Cherry Filter as the headliners.
Around 25 musicians and bands will take the stage from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Other performers include Galaxy Express, Pia, Tacopy, Nemesis, Seoul Electric Band, Diablo, Doctor 911 and Survive.
Toshi is one of the most anticipated musicians at the event, especially since X-Japan's much-anticipated concert in Seoul was cancelled earlier this year.
The festival, organized by the Live Music Development Association, is celebrating its fourth anniversary this year. It is aims to promote the live music scene in the country.
For the Ssamzie Sound Festival, tickets are 20,000 won from Web sites www.auction.co.kr, ticket.interpark.com and yes24.com. They are 25,000 won at the venue. Visit www.ssamziesoundfestival.com.
For the Korea Live Music Festival, tickets are 10,000 won. To get to the site, get off at World Cup Stadium Station line 6 exit 1, and walk 15-25 minutes to the park. Visit www.livemusic.or.kr.