The programme for the 2024 K-Music Festival is quite possibly the best yet. For LKL, the real gems are the opening and closing events. We hear that the National Changgeuk Company‘s Lear, which opens the festival, is every bit as good as their Trojan Women, which we raved about; and for the closing event pretty … [Read More]
K-music Festival 2024
Here’s where you’ll find event notices and other articles relating to London’s 2024 K-music Festival. Sample some of the sounds on the official K-music playlist on SoundCloud or Spotify
K-music 2024: Lee Heemoon’s Obangsingwa tour in London
Heemoon Lee, the visionary vocalist of SsingSsing, takes us on a transcendental musical journey with his band OBANGSINGWA and their new album, SPANGLE. A powerhouse of Korean music, Lee injects fresh energy and new life into time-honoured Korean folk songs (minyo). Seamlessly blending minyo with a kaleidoscope of genres – including jitterbug, pop, dance, rock … [Read More]
K-music 2024: Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra x No-Noise
Find yourself in the bustling centre of a town square with No-Noise’s energetic and distinctive blend of Korean and Western sounds and instruments. Performing with the outstanding musicians of the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra (SMTO), No-Noise is a dynamic ensemble led by Lee Il-woo, the visionary behind the post-rock sensation Jambinai, and Sung Si Young, … [Read More]
K-music 2024: Black String
Extraordinary Contemporary Sounds from Ancient Instruments. The 2018 Songlines Music Awards winners Black String will premiere new music from their upcoming album set to be released this autumn, following their acclaimed albums Mask Dance (2016) and Karma (2019) on the German label ACT. ‘a spellbinding experience’ (The Guardian on Black String’s K-Music Show) ‘no boundaries … [Read More]
K-music 2024: Hera Hyesang Park with David Junghoon Kim
A Unique Blend of Korean Heritage and Vocal Mastery Soprano Hera Hyesang Park, renowned for her exceptional vocal mastery, makes her K-Music Festival debut with a fresh reinterpretation of traditional Korean songs following her appearance at the Edinburgh International Festival this summer. ‘It’s a celebration of vocal brilliance and cultural depth, promising a night of unforgettable music … [Read More]
K-music 2024: Seayool with Ligeti Quartet — Suite for Jeju Island
A master of the traditional Korean Piri, Seayool’s contemporary classical work Suite for Jeju beautifully expresses Jeju Island’s poignant narrative and beautiful scenery, reinterpreting traditional instruments’ diction while masterfully merging piri and string quartet. SEAYOOL will be joined in this special performance by the Ligeti Quartet to mark this UK premiere. Through the process of … [Read More]
K-music 2024: Youn Sun Nah with Bojan Z
Youn Sun Nah in A Tribute to Women’s Voices. Following the success of her 2022 album ‘Waking World’, Youn Sun Nah returns to the K-Music Festival with her new work ‘Elles’. To mark the 30th year of her jazz career, Yoon Sun Nah’s 12th album Elles pays tribute to women’s voices, and to some of … [Read More]
K-music 2024: National Changgeuk Company — Lear
Discover this visionary restaging of one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies into a spellbinding traditional opera from some of South Korea’s leading creatives, performers and musicians. This major new production, critically acclaimed at its premiere in 2022, retells a familiar story in the form of Changgeuk. This culturally significant and artistically rich theatrical form in Korea, blends … [Read More]