 |
| This year's HBC Festival is dedicated to John Redmond, a longtime expat musician and Korea Times contributing writer. Redmond passed away on May 12. / Courtesy of HBC Festival |
Haebangchon turns up volume for HBC Fest
By Jon Dunbar
Residents, drivers and music lovers be warned: Hae Bang Chon (HBC) Festival returns this weekend.
HBC and nearby Gyeongnidan will burst at the seams as the free festival takes place at 12 venues. HBC Festival generates enough foot traffic between venues that the police usually show up to control the crowds and direct traffic.
The schedule starts Friday evening and continues on Saturday, with only a couple events scheduled for Sunday, including an open stage at Hidden Cellar.
This year features the usual mix of expat and Korean musicians, performing solo and in bands. The genres on display include rock, country, punk, jazz, funk and blues, played in 82 separate performances.
Some of the notable foreign acts include "in-law country" singer-songwriter John Patrick Starling, Jennifer Waescher and Tracy Scott, among dozens more.
The Korean acts include all-girl hardcore band Hybrid Drop Bomber, punk band NovaCaine and funk fusion band A-Fuzz.
And of course there are bands that blend Koreans and foreigners, such as lo-fi noise band GoryMurgy, jazzy Pentasonic and hard rock band Decader.
 |
| A woman joins the police line to direct traffic at HBC Festival in 2014. / Courtesy of HBC Festival |
One sadly notable absence this time is John Redmond, who passed away on May 12. Organizers said he has had a hand in every single previous HBC Festival since the first in 2006, and he performed at many of them.
This time the festival is being dedicated to his memory. "Rock In Peace, Johnny Red," the festival website says.
Camarata Music will host an auction of Redmond's instruments to cover funeral expenses.
Some venues are proper concert spaces, while others are restaurants not normally suited to live music. Hair of the Dog, Linus BBQ, Phillies Balcony, The Cave, The Workshop, Hidden Cellar and Pet Sounds will serve as venues for acoustic music. Meanwhile, the area's concert halls and basement spaces are prepared to turn up the volume, hosting bands at Camarata Music, Bedrock, Phillies Basement, Bucket Beach and Boogie Woogie.
HBC Festival is held twice a year, in May and October. It is operated by an association of participating and supporting local business owners. The head organizer is Lance Reegan-Diehl, a musician and owner of Deelebob Music recording studio.
 |
| HBC Festival organizer Lance Reegan-Diehl, left / Courtesy of HBC Festival |
Next month, HBC Festival is trying something new, following the ongoing southward redeployment of the U.S. military. The festival will take place in Anjeong-ri, Pyeongtaek, on June 16. So far around half a dozen venues are on board and the lineup of participating musicians has not yet been announced. Yongsan Garrison in Seoul has been relocating to Pyeongtaek's Camp Humphreys, which has also resulted in many local businesses following after the disappearing U.S. military personnel. In front of Camp Humphreys' walk-in gate is "The Ville," a street of foreign-catering businesses resembling Itaewon's heyday.
![[INTERVIEW] Ex-NIS chief urges politicians to stop misusing spy agency](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/59da8df88faa4a50ad42945501b03bca.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[REVIEW] Musical 'Monte Cristo' returns with riveting tale of vengeance, love](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/3934be1fa6844478b619a015d610bc5b.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Meet the man behind giant rubber ducks that once took over Seoul](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/df32c60c8204448e98ccdb9841366bec.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
