Music festival season officially kicked off in Korea on Friday with the two-day Greenplugged Festival at Nanji Hangang River Park.
With some of the hottest Korean bands hitting the stage, the festival was packed with rock lovers of all ages.
The sets started around noon each day with seven stages running on a staggered schedule throughout the weekend.
Friday brought reggae group Windy City, hip-hop due Supreme Team and indie band Bye Bye Badman, as well as popular rock band Pia.
Set next to the Hangang River, the festival stuck with the theme of going green by encouraging concert-goers to purchase reusable water bottles and tumblers by offering discounted drinks to those shunning the usual paper cups.
Korean band Tacopy entertains the crowds at the “Sun” stage at Greenplugged Festival. (Emma Kalka/The Korea Herald)
“It was greenly amazing,” said American Jackie Carillo. “I didn’t really mind it (the rain). It’s going to be an experience to remember and also, all of the green vendors. The shoes I got, the water bottle that was BPA-free, I really appreciate the fact that they gave us cheaper beer for using our own containers. It just made everything feel greener.”
Outside of the concept of “going green” the acts on Saturday attracted the crowds and kept them out, despite the chill that set in once the rain started. Top groups such as Super Kid and Galaxy Express kept the energy going and the audience, all decked out in rain ponchos, jumping and dancing in unison.
“Yes, they (Galaxy Express) were amazing. They created lots of energy for the crowd. I really appreciate that. I felt really alive,” said Carillo.
The festival definitely set the mood for fun and enjoyment for people of all ages with many families joining in with youngsters along with diehard festival fans. Thousands flocked to the venue.
But it was Saturday’s headliner, YB Band, that really brought out the crowds, playing favorites such as “I am a Butterfly” that the entire crowd sang along with. The band ended their set and the night with a ballad that floated across the river, leaving behind a lasting ending note to a successful festival.
By Emma Kalka (
ekalka@heraldcorp.com)