Rising up almost as a mirage in the desert, Pentaport Rock Festival appears in the middle of nowhere outside Incheon. Still, many flocked there over the weekend.
Albeit smaller than other festivals this summer, Pentaport held its own. A vast expanse of concrete, asphalt and gravel, the rock festival drew many fans despite the logistical nightmare of getting to the venue. Unless you have a car, the only way to get to and leave from Pentaport is the festival-provided shuttle bus to Geoman Station on the Airport Express train line.
The festival was small but mighty. The bands played hard and the festival-goers rocked hard. The small crowds and short lines were a breath of fresh air for those who had spent the summer in crowded, hot and sweaty venues. And although there was no tree in sight to offer respite from the blistering sun, the cool breeze made up for it.
Snow Patrol vocalist Gary Lightbody sings to the crowd at Pentaport Rock Festival in Incheon on Saturday (top). T-Bone Ska from Thailand entertains the crowd at the Rockers Stage after-hours at Pentaport Rock Festival. (Dennis KH Kim)
The festival brought out a harder side of rock with local heavy metal bands like PIA and Crash playing throughout Saturday. Foreign bands FACT, a post-hardcore band from Japan, and Ash, from Northern Ireland, drew in crowds as well. And the bands, especially Ash, seemed happy to be performing.
But the magic really started when Northern Irish band Snow Patrol took to the stage Saturday night. Playing many songs from their 2006 album, “Eyes Open,” the fivesome captured the crowd and held on to their attention, even drawing tears from some as frontman Gary Lightbody dedicated the first song in the encore to his father.
The magic continued even after the headliners were done as the remaining festival-goers flocked to the reggae corner, put on by Wadada, a local reggae community. Bands and DJs took to the small stage and kept the party going until late into the night.
The group sent out positive vibes throughout the entire festival, but they thrived as people jumped and danced around to the reggae beat on the sandy corner where the group set up.
There appeared to be more vendors than festival-goers, which worked out well for those who didn’t want to wait in line for food or drinks. And those who wanted to hear both stages at once could sit in the middle of the festival field.
Though almost perpetually stuck in the shadow of younger brother Jisan Valley Rock festival, Pentaport held its own this year, giving visitors the rock festival experience without the crowds and lines.
By Emma Kalka (
ekalka@heraldcorp.com)
