Mraz, Greenplugged rock fest highlight event-packed weekend
Jason Mraz
By Baek Byung-yeul
The extended weekend that started with Buddha’s Birthday has made room for a slew of cultural events here, but it was Jason Mraz who clearly dominated the buzz.
The 35-year-old American singer-songwriter performed Friday evening at the Jamsil Sports Complex in southern Seoul, on the eve of his scheduled appearance as a guest host on the Korean version of Saturday Night Live (SNL) on cable channel tvN.
Mraz has a particularly large following in Korea, where he managed to sell more than 140,000 copies of his 2008 album, "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things,’’ which is an impressive number in a market dominated by online downloads. His songs, including "I Won’t Give Up,’’ "Geek in the Pink,’’ and "I’m Yours’’ are Korean radio favorites.
His opening acts included British pop singer Joe Brooks, Roy Kim, a star produced by the Korean television singing contest "Superstar K,’’ and guitarist Jung Sung-ha, who garnered more than 19 million hits for his YouTube cover of ``I’m Yours.’’
Indie rock fans can enjoy the annual "Greenplugged’’ live music festival, schedule for Saturday at Seoul’s Nanji Hangang Park. More than 70 bands will participate in the day-long concert, a lineup highlighted by Crying Nut, Hot Potato, Broccoli, You Too and Galaxy Express. Tickets cost 66,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit
Also on Saturday, the Benny Golson Quartet, Golden Swing Band and Paul Jackson Trio, Korean R&B singer Harrem and the band Mom Said No will perform on Jarasum Island in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province. Tickets cost 50,000 won.
For more information, call (031) 581-2814 or visit www.jarasum-rnb.com. Electronic music fans could enjoy the World DJ Festival that continues through Sunday at Gangsang Sports Park in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province. For more information, visit
On Sunday, Icelandic rock band Sigur Ros will hold a concert at Olympic Gymnastics Arena in southern Seoul. The four-man band was formed in 1994 and will unveil its latest studio album in June. Tickets cost 99,000 to 110,000 won. For more, visit
At the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul on the same day, American pianist Keith Jarrett will perform with his two musical partners, drummer Jack Dejohnette and bassist Gary Peacock, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the trio’s creation. Tickets cost 60,000 to 220,000 won. For more information, visit sejongpack.or.kr.