Gone are the days when the Edinburgh Festival Fringe website had a search engine where you could simply type “Korea” and it would return all the events with Korean performers. So here’s a listing developed with hard graft and elbow grease. The Dream of Sancho Performers: Creative VaQi Date: 8th-14th August 2010 Time: 21:50 (1hr) … [Read More]
Music (page 84)
BoA in long-awaited comeback
I can’t believe it’s five years since “Girls on Top”. BoA will soon release her 6th Korean album, entitled Hurricane Venus. http://bit.ly/bIWVeT #. This is a comeback worthy of the name. [Read More]
Mot’s eAeon does trailer for Kim Young-ha novel
Missing the sound of MOT(못)? Wishing Kim Young-ha would write another book? Check out @eaeon‘s trailer for Kim Young-ha’s new novel (Nobody knows) what happened (무슨 일이 일어났는지는 아무도) # (via @indiefulrok, who has the full story here) [Read More]
This summer’s soundtrack
In response to the question “So what's the soundtrack to the Korean summer? What's everyone listening to on Haeundae beach or wherever?” #, Indieful RoK responds: “Haven’t really kept up, but right now I would go for Ukulele Picnic:” Check it out. [Read More]
JYP’s new girl band
Do we need another manufactured girl band from JYP? What the heck, why not? Just hope they get original songwriters. Above: “Miss A” – slightly less cute than the current wave of k-pop girl bands. http://bit.ly/9GTF9h # [Read More]
New Korean prizewinning work performed in competition
Just like last year, the competitors in the Queen Elisabeth Music comp in Brussels play work by a prize-winning Korean. Jeon Min-je won the Grand Prize for composition in the 2009 competition. All 12 finalists in this year’s piano event performed Jeon’s work for piano and orchestra, “Target.” http://bit.ly/aH9U5o # [Read More]
Lee Hyori caught with plagiarised songs. Again.
Not again! Isn't it about time Lee Hyori hired some composers who compose rather than copy? http://bit.ly/bXynR8 # [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #16: A meeting with Hwang Byungki
Tuesday 4 May 2010. Hwang Byungki is probably Korea’s best known performer and composer for the kayageum. When I submitted my proposal to the Korean Culture and Information Service for the stories I wanted to investigate during my visit – of which the main one was the preservation and reinvention of Korean traditional culture – … [Read More]
Girl bands to be used as psychological warfare?
I love the idea: girl band pop videos to be used in psychological warfare against the North? "The revealing outfits worn by the performers and their provocative dances could have significant impact on North Korean Soldiers" the Chosun Ilbo speculates. http://bit.ly/dbiVx4 # [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #12: A Meeting with Sorea
Monday 3 May 2010. In an unprepossessing building in a small backstreet in trendy Gangnam is a compact office which manages a gugak fusion band which briefly caught the spirit of a nation. At the height of the Korea, Sparkling promotional campaign, when the Korean Tourism Organisation was promoting Korea as a place with ancient … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #9: MISO at the Chongdong Theatre
Sunday 2 May 2010. Korea is known for its high-energy stage shows. They have a huge international appeal. Shows like Nanta and Jump perform to enthusiastic audiences everywhere, combining acrobatics, humour, music and maybe some traditional culture – though dressed-up in an accessible way. A feature of the shows is that they are largely non-verbal … [Read More]
The Wire features 10 and other Korean experimental bands
UK's intelligent music mag The Wire features the experimental / improv scene in Seoul, including 10 / itta / maqido http://bit.ly/bgjQ5l # [Read More]
Soprano Kim Tae-yeon performs in Hampstead CANCELLED
News of a song recital this coming Friday organised by the Rotary Club of Hampstead. Date : Friday 4th June 2010 Time : 19:30 PM Venue : Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, Pilgrim’s Place, London, NW3 1NG Ticket Prices : £10 (concession £8) Ticket Info : http://www.rotaryinlondon.org/clubs/hampsted/ Ticket Office : 020 7433 3267 About the Concert … [Read More]
Tablo interviewed by CNN
by Saharial The dark jumper and checked shirt might not be the average wear by hip hop artistes, but then Tablo of the group Epik High is not your average hip hop star. Well spoken, Stanford educated, he was interviewed on a number of topics by CNN earlier this week including the censorship of his … [Read More]
Susanna Kim piano recital in Stow-on-the-Wold
News of an upcoming piano recital in the picturesque Cotswolds this weekend: Susanna Kim from South Korea (presently studying at the Berlin University of Arts) Saturday 24th April at 7.00pm in St. Edward’s Church Stow-on-the-Wold In a varied programme of music by Bach & Schumann Tickets in advance £8.00 (under 18s £5.00) from “Go Stow” … [Read More]
Concert review: The Rock and Jazz sides of Younee
LKL reports from Younee’s two recent London gigs: The Rock Side of Younee a the 100 Club, 7 April; and Younee with Alex Hutton at the Steinway Piano Festival at Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho, 17 April 2010. Younee is in London to show off the many sides to her musicianship. As a classically … [Read More]