Bernie Cho of DFSB Kollective (@DFSB_Kollective) presented a 50-minute programme for BBC World Service Radio this weekend highlighting some of the freshest indie sounds from Korea. Bernie interviews all the musicians and we get a few videos as well on the BBC website. The playlist is as follows: Goonam: Jangdan, from their 2011 album Woojung … [Read More]
Music (page 53)
Gangnam Style remembered on Strictly
Thanks to would-be Labour finance minister Ed Balls for brightening up our dull Autumn on the BBC’s celebrity talent show Strictly Come Dancing. Consistently at the bottom of the scoreboard, he is saved by the popular vote. In the most recent episode he had the guts to do a Gangnam Style inspired Salsa, choreographed (with … [Read More]
Gig Review: Kyungso Park and Andy Sheppard in the Albert Hall’s Elgar Room
Recent collaborations between British and Korean musicians have not always been successful. A planned experiment between jazz trumpeter Guy Barker and Samulnori founder Kim Duk-soo never happened because the latter went awol when Barker came to visit. Instead, having already been booked for the 2008 Dano Festival in Trafalgar Square, Barker appeared briefly on stage … [Read More]
Choigate, censorship and the arts
At any other time the presence of a demonstrator outside the KCC – and outside the opening screening of the London Korean Film Festival – protesting about artistic censorship that is said to have taken place during the current KCC director’s stint at the National Gugak Centre would have been prominent news. But choreographer Jung … [Read More]
Event news: Sunwook Kim plays Mozart, Schubert & Beethoven at the Wigmore
Notice of an upcoming Wigmore recital. Fresh from a tour of Asia, Sunwook Kim performed Tchaikovsky 1 three times with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra last week in their tour of South and West England, and returns to the capital to give a recital of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. His recent album of works by Brahms … [Read More]
Jambinai at the Oslo Hackney – a second-hand mini-review
We didn’t manage to get to Jambinai at the Oslo Hackney as this year. Nor it seems did the Guardian or Resonate, who have been diligent reviewers of the other K-Music gigs. Jambinai were certainly one of the highlights of last year’s festival – and I would have loved to have got to see them … [Read More]
Gig review: Patients + Idiotape @ Rich Mix
Sometimes you enjoy an event but don’t know what to say about it. Rock music is not one of my own core competencies. I know when a band enthuses me, but if asked to describe the style or genre, or to compare the musicians with other, possibly Western, reference points I’m usually at a loss. … [Read More]
Gig review: Youn Sun Nah + Ulf Wakenius @ Union Chapel
It’s been too long since Youn Sun Nah performed in London: five long years. Last time was a small, intimate venue – Pizza Express in Soho – and the time before was the Queen Elizabeth Hall – more generous in terms of space but one that made the performers work hard to create the atmosphere. … [Read More]
Event news: DGC K-pop dance show #10
DGC Dance run weekly K-pop dance classes at Fitness First venues in the City and put on a big show every 6 months or so. Coming up this Sunday, their 10th such show. Looks fun. DATE: Sunday 9th October 2016, 2pm – 5.30pm Doors open 2pm. Show starts 2.30pm VENUE: Stratford Circus Arts Centre (C1 … [Read More]
Event news: Okkyung Lee and Bill Orcutt at Cafe Oto
I found out too late. But for the record, this was on at Cafe Oto this evening: Okkyung Lee / Bill Orcutt (Duo) + Pat Thomas / Bill Orcutt / Paul Abbott (Trio) Cafe Oto, 28 Sept 2016, 8pm £12 TICKETS AT THE DOOR Okkyung Lee and Bill Orcutt return to OTO following their phenomenal … [Read More]
Event news: KCC House Concert with the Rogeri String Trio
Notice of an upcoming concert at the KCC: Rogeri String Trio Tuesday 4 October 2016, 7pm Korean Cultural Centre The Korean Cultural Centre invites you to ‘THE KCC HOUSE CONCERT’ to hear an exciting programme featuring 3 Principal members of the Korean Chamber Orchestra, the Rogeri String Trio. Programme Haydn String Trio in G Major … [Read More]
Concert notes: Jeong Ga Ak Hoe at the British Museum
Although the official opening concert of K-Music 2016 is Nah Youn-sun with Ulf Wakenius on 20 September, the British Museum’s Chuseok celebrations in collaboration with the KCC have given us several performances by the contemporary gugak group Jeong Ga Ak Hoe. They presented a programme of traditional music in the Korean Gallery on the morning … [Read More]
Fringe visit: Tago – Korean Drum II
On paper, one hour of Korean drumming doesn’t sound appealing, but this type of show is consistently popular with fringe-goers. There is enough variety to keep the audience interested, from Buddhist temple percussion to Samulnori, and the energy and enthusiasm of the performers is infectious. There is also some very non-traditional percussion: a trolley which … [Read More]
Songlines reviews some Korean releases
As if to warm us up for this year’s K-music Festival, Songlines July issue reviews three recent Korean CDs: The one of most interest to past attendees of the festival will be a review of Jambinai’s latest release, A Hermitage. Songlines were strangely lukewarm about it. Not so Consequence of Sound: “Experimental outfit blends traditional Korean … [Read More]
Event news: K-music 2016 — Danpyunsun and The Sailors + Asian Chairshot, 21 Oct
The second of K-music’s gigs at the Rich Mix bring Danpyunsun & The Sailors and Asian Chairshotback to the UK for a double bill. Danpyunsun and The Sailors + Asian Chairshot Friday 21 October | 7.30pm Rich Mix | 35-47 Bethnal Green Road | London E1 6LA £12.00 + Booking fee | Book here One … [Read More]
Event news: K-music 2016 — National Gugak Centre, 12 Oct
No festival of Korean music would be complete without some sanjo, and it’s good to welcome back the experts. National Gugak Centre Wed 12th Oct 7.30pm Kings Place, Kings Cross Tickets £8.50 | Book here Piri Sanjo – Haegeum Sanjo – Daegeum Sanjo Interval Stravinsky: Soldier’s Tale – Devienne: Sonata No. 2 – Bartók: Contrasts … [Read More]