With beach plans thwarted again, punk fest returns indoors as NOT A FEST!

People mosh during Full Garage's set at IT'S A FEST! 2024 in western Seoul's Baby Doll, June 15, 2024. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

The return of punk festival IT'S A FEST! (IAF) to the beach has been thwarted for the second year in a row. Instead of taking place at Hanagae Beach on Incheon's Muui Island, this year's festival is being moved indoors in Seoul.

"Unfortunately, the problems between Hanagae and their local government are still ongoing," Jeff Moses, co-organizer of festival operator World Domination, Inc. (WDI), told The Korea Times. "These problems have nothing to do with us, but because of them, Hanagae hasn’t been able to host IAF! for the last two years."

For this year, the organizers decided to name the event NOT A FEST! and hold it at Binary Studios, a basement recording studio in western Seoul's Mangwon-dong run by Moses.

"We didn’t want to do nothing, but we also didn’t have the heart to put all the work into what would essentially be a big club show. So we decided to just book some great bands and have a small, less stressful weekend at Binary Studios," Moses said.

Last year, the cancellation of IAF! came as more of a shock, and the organizers moved the entire festival lineup indoors at the last minute to the newly opened live music venue Baby Doll and Beer O'clock pub in western Seoul's Sinchon.

...Whatever That Means performs in western Seoul's Stimpunk, May 10. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

This year's event features 13 punk and hardcore bands across two days, including Moses' band, ...Whatever That Means, ska-punk band Monkey Gang War and garage rock band Peach Truck Hijackers, as well as Beacon, Sweet Gasoline, Pogo Attack and Low High Low.

Bands are coming from all across Korea, including BettyAss from Gwangju, Smoking Goose from Daejeon and 4Bottles from Busan.

There is also a good selection of hardcore bands, including Fail Fast, All I Have from Busan and Sink to Rise from Cheongju, North Gyeongsang Province.

"It’s always fun booking some of our best friends to play, but I’m really excited about the new faces," Moses said. "The last year or two has had so many great new bands pop up that we can’t wait to work with. I’m so stoked to have Peach Truck Hijackers playing. They were actually the first band we asked to play — even before I messaged my own band about dates."

Monkey Gang War performs at Binary Studios in western Seoul, April 4. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

In order to shrink down an entire beach festival and fit it into the studio, tickets for NOT A FEST! are available through presale only. Moses said there are 25 two-day tickets, and another 25 one-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday each. That means a maximum of 50 ticketholders per day, although, counting all the band members and their guests, it's going to be crowded.

"It’s gonna be packed, but we’ve had similar-sized shows before," Moses said. "Once those tickets are gone, that’s it. We aren’t saving any extra tickets to sell at the door. So if you don’t reserve one before they are sold out, you’re out of luck unfortunately."

After NOT A FEST! ends, Moses said he hopes to hold more regular affordable shows at Binary Studios in the future.

He also said he's mixing new singles and EPs for ...Whatever That Means, Monkey Gang War, Sweet Gasoline and Singaporean punk band Iman’s League, all due to be released through WDI in the fall. And he added that Fail Fast is joining WDI, which plans to support them with upcoming releases, more bookings around Korea and their first overseas tour.

A father carries his son on his shoulders while Crying Nut plays onstage during IT'S A FEST! 2023 at Hanagae Beach on Incheon's Muui Island, June 18, 2023. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

For next year, Moses said he would like for IAF! to return to Hanagae, but they are also considering new locations.

"We are actively looking for somewhere new to move the fest in the future. We love Hanagae. It’s a great location with a lot of sentimental value to us. But we also love working with all the bands and supporting our scene, so unfortunately, we really need to find a more stable, permanent location to call home," he said.

"IAF! will come back in some form. We are determined to give Korea a long-term outdoor punk rock festival."

A poster for NOT A FEST! Courtesy of World Domination, Inc.

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