There’s just one day left until the start of Zandari Festa in Seoul, and if you haven’t bought your ticket yet, then you need to get it today!
As the largest music showcase festival in Korea, this amazing event takes place in Hongdae— the absolute mecca for the most talented indie bands in Korea. This year’s event runs from September 29th-October 1st.
Still not convinced this is the festival for you? Then read ahead to see 5 reasons why you should attend this awesome music event.
1- It’s an eclectic mix of the best of the best.
One of the best things about Zandari Festa is the amazing mixture of people who attend. From artists to journalists, music executives to fans, the festival is a thriving scene where everyone comes together to just enjoy the show. Even Sumin Jo of the band Patients says, “I love that there are so many artists from around the world, music business people, and music lovers to meet and become friends with at Zandari Festa. The festival has a really unique energy and is something that all music fans should experience. Along with playing in Patients, I also operate Club Steel Face which is one of the venues where Zandari Festa happens. So I get to experience the festival as a musician and a live venue owner. It’s a busy weekend for me for sure, but it’s also really exciting!”
2- There are 22 countries participating in Zandari Festa 2017.
Although it might be the dream of all of us to travel the world to see the shows of our favorite musicians and discover new ones to stan, most of us will never have the opportunity (or the budget!) to do so. That’s what makes Zandari Festa so incredible! Each year, more and more countries are represented in the festival as the artist lineup grows, giving fans opportunities to see all their favorites in one place. This year, bands from 22 different countries will take to Hongdae to play and sing their hearts out. With artists from Madagascar to Mongolia, Sweden to Singapore, this is a truly multi-national event.
3- There will be 140 of the best indie bands in the world!
Without a doubt, there is a huge, untapped source of music in the world. One of those sources is the variety of bands across the globe, just waiting to be discovered. Whether it’s by gaining new fans in a different country or taking to the first big stage in your own, Zandari Festa gives an amazing opportunity to more and more bands every year. The event organizers get hundreds of applications for the festival each year, and from those applications, they choose the best and brightest to grace the stage. This year, a total of 140 bands will be playing, and they’re so talented that even other artists look forward to it.
Patients’ Sunmi Jo states, “Be sure to check out other great Korean bands like DTSQ and National Pigeon Unity… and you should watch Marley BloO from South Africa. She will perform on September 29th from 8-9 p.m. at Club Steel Face. I first learned about her when Patients traveled to Barcelona earlier this year for the Primavera Sound festival. I went out in the middle of the night to buy alcohol and saw her sitting on a bench in front of the hotel playing guitar. She was amazing. We became friends and the following day she performed at Primavera Sound right before my band, so I was able to watch and enjoy her full performance. It was awesome! At Zandari Festa, she’ll actually play right before Patients again. What a coincidence! Let’s all enjoy her performance together.”
4- It’s one of the most affordable festivals in Seoul.
Tickets for all three days of the music showcase portion of the festival are only 70,000 won (approximately $60 USD). Considering all the amazing people you can watch, friends you can make, music you can hear, and things you can see, this is one of the best bangs for your buck in the Hongdae area. Where else can you see 140 bands from 22 different countries, all for less than a hundred bucks?
5- Music, Music, Music
The main draw of any festival is (of course) the music! The variety of bands that play at Zandari Festa cover a multitude of genres— acoustic, punk, jazz, R&B, reggae, metal, rap, funk, rock, and more. With so many different genres and sounds, there is truly something for everyone! No matter which artists you choose to go see, you’re bound to walk away pleased and already preparing for next year.
What The Kpop will be attending Zandari Festa 2017, and we’re happy to be able to bring our readers exclusive pictures and coverage of the event! However, if you live in Korea yourself, we encourage you to go to this cool festival and see what makes it’s so special.
Thanks to Sunmi Jo for helping us out for our special, pre-festival article for Zandari Festa 2017! To see this talented bassist and vocalist, make sure to check out Patients’ showcase at CLUB STEEL FACE on September 29th from 9-10 p.m. KST. You can also check out one of their music videos below.
For more information about Zandari Festa, click HERE to visit their official website. You can also check out the artist lineup poster below.
Media: Zandari Festa