Captain Rock leads 70 indie artists in biggest Kyungrockjeol ever

Han Kyung-rok performs during Kyungrockjeol in 2020. (Captain Rock Co.)

One of South Korea’s largest annual indie rock music festivals, Kyugrockjeol, on Tuesday kicks off 2024 Rock and Roll Paradise, in its largest iteration ever.

Kyungrockjeol, considered one of the top three festivities in Seoul's indie enclave of Hongdae, along with Christmas Eve and Halloween, started in 2005 as a birthday party for Han Kyung-rok, the bassist of punk band Crying Nut. The event became one of the biggest festivals for South Korean indie musicians and took place at the largest concert hall in the Hongdae area until 2020.

When the pandemic hit, the festival moved online for two years, offering musicians a much-needed chance to perform and audiences a welcome treat in the dark days of lockdowns and quarantines. In recognition of its contribution to the music scene, the festival received a special award at the Korean Music Awards in March 2022.

Last year, the show expanded its scope, including lectures and exhibitions from professors of art, literature, science and architecture, as well as musicians' performances in Mapo Renaissance.

Things are even bigger this year, with some 70 indie singers and bands participating in the festival. Held at Paradise City Plaza on Incheon's Yeongjongdo from 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 2024 Kyungrockjeol Paradise Calling marks the beginning of this year's celebrations. The event features Crying Nut, The Vane, Shin Yu-mi, Ubare and Richmian and Groove Nice, among others.

From 7 p.m. Tuesday, bands such as Crying Nut, No Brain and Crack Shot will perform at the Live Music Lounge Bar Rubik at Paradise City Hotel. The show is free, and all performances will be recorded and broadcast via Crying Nut's official YouTube channel on Feb. 11 and 12.

Also on Feb. 11 and 12, about 50 artists and groups will participate in online performances, marking the fourth year Kyungrockjeol is going online. "It is an opportunity to introduce talented indie musicians and bands beyond the limit of time and space," said the Captain Rock Co., Han Kyung-rok's agency.

On Feb. 13, Kyungrockjeol will return to its home base of Hongdae, to celebrate the first anniversary of the Musina Garage concert hall, which opened at last year's Kyungrockjeol. A networking party for artists and music industry officials will take place in the same venue on Feb. 14, the last day of the festivities.

The concert will feature the 2024 Kyungrockjeol signature beer in collaboration with domestic craft beer breweries. In keeping with the tradition of free-flowing beer at Kyungrockjeol, all adult concertgoers will receive free microbeer.

Detailed information on performances can be found on Captain Rock Co.'s official social media.

Han Kyung-rok, bassist of Crying Nut (Captain Rock Co.)