K-pop stars hit stages in US, UK, France

Members of K-pop girl group Mamamoo attend a press conference in central Seoul Tuesday, along with other Korean entertainers participating in overseas music festivals. / Yonhap

By Park Jin-hai

Thirteen headlining names in K-pop and rock music, including Zion.T and Mamamoo, will excite global music fans at K-Pop Night Out events this year at three major international music events held in the U.S, France, and the U.K.

Starting with the K-Pop Night Out event at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, on March 16, the second day of the music festival, the musicians will then perform at the Great Escape (TGE) festival in the U.K. in May and France’s MIDEM in June, the Korean Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) said on Tuesday.

Announcing the full lineups, the government-sponsored agency that has been actively supporting K-pop’s expansion to overseas markets since 2013 said this year’s event is more rounded out with the inclusion of the TGE.

“We have been providing a springboard for those talented musicians to reach overseas music markets. It is needless to say that great music has power. With these wonderful musicians and their great music, we will charm the global music fans, expand K-pop’s territory,” said Kim Young-chul, vice president of KOCCA.

Entering its fourth year, K-Pop Night Out will return to SXSW, with a strong lineup featuring Zion.T with the Session, Mamamoo and solo vocalist DEAN.

The highly acclaimed four-member girl group Mamamoo will deliver their unique brand of K-pop, while R&B sensation Zion.T and the Session will cap off the night.

Korean R&B singer-songwriter Dean, who made his mark by writing EXO’s explosive hit “Growl,” will also perform during the night, following his performance at Spotify House on March 15, a major event at the global music festival and a first for an Asian singer.

Other musicians joining the K-Pop Night Out at SXSW include electronic dance artist Haihm, rock quartet Bye Bye Badman, glam metal group Victim Mentality, and electronic duo Love x Stereo.

“K-Pop Night Out is my first performance outside Korea. I will do music as I have always done here, but I will try to create more synergy with the audiences,” Zion.T said during the press conference.

Mamamoo member Solar said she wants to make the group’s performance fun and free.

“Most K-pop idol groups have earned fame with their synchronized and powerful dance moves. We wanted to show that K-pop girl bands can really know how to make the stage fun and free, interacting with music fans there,” she said. “Chloe Moretz, an American actress who recently visited Korea, said she is a big fan of our song ‘Pride of 1 cm.’ We will give an exciting performance with the this song at SXSW.”

They will be joined by two bands showing the other side of Korean music ― all-girl retro doo-wop trio The Barberettes and folk-rock band Danpyunsun and the Sailors _ will also appear at the TGE. At MIDEM, which will be held in Cannes, France in June, four bands including psychedelic rockers Guckkasten, Korean electronic trio Idiotape and hip-hop duo Eluphant will hit the stage.

Kebee of Eluphant said, “As the only hip-hop band included in the event, we will deliver the uniqueness of Korean hip-hop, focusing on the fun of the sounds that the Korean language has. Our music is not a Korean version of West-born hip-hop music, but going on our way. With our performance, we want to make audiences around the world intrigued further into the whole K-pop genre.”