Summer + Live Music = Fun!
Warm weather begs people to head outside and is there a better place to head than one with live music? Check out this list with the top music festivals to get your toes tapping this summer season. Grab some friends, grab some blankets and grab some shades and head outside for some blasting good fun at a music festival near you.
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1. Greenplugged
May 31, 2014 & June 1, 2014
Don’t be confused. This festival was originally slated to be held on May 3rd and 4th but was postponed to the new dates seen above. Held at Nanji Park on the Hangang River, this festival started in 2010 aiming to provide music while also promoting environmental awareness.
Saturday look forward to the likes of: One Punch, Broken Valentine, Yellow Monsters, Go Go Boys, Pia, Deli Spice, Club 505, Human Race, Casker, Nell & more.
The Sunday line-up includes: Galaxy Express, Every Single Day, Newton, Nemesis, Go Go Star, Dick Punks, Mintgray, Vanilla Acoustic & more.
Where: Nanji Park, Seoul, Korea
Tickets: Door Price: 1 day tickets are W77,000
2. Rainbow Island Music Festival
May 31, 2014 & June 1, 2014
Started in 2011, this festival is everything you could want in a summer festival from live music to camping on a beautiful island. Taking a trip to Nami Island during normal times is a must, but if you have the opportunity to head there while the festival is taking place, even better.
This year, the line-up includes: Kim Changwan Band, Peppertones, Rose Motel, Besweet, Standing Egg, Beenzino, Kumka, Like Likes, Rainbow 99, The Barberettes and Tatles.
Where: Nami Island, Chuncheon, Gangwon Province
Tickets: Two Day Tickets: W66,000 + a Camping Pass to stay the night
Camping Pass: W11,000/ 2-3 People: W66,000/ 4-6 People: W88,000
3. UMF Festival
June 13, 2014 & June 14, 2014
UMF doesn’t need much of an introduction. This festival takes place in venues all over the world and fans in Seoul enjoy the stop. Artists this year include: M.I.A, Empire of the Sun, Beat Burger, Benjamin, Idiotape, Infected Mushroom, Blasterjaxx, Far East Movement, Brass Knuckles, Paul Van Dyke and Nervo just to name a few. Get your tickets soon as only a limited supply are available!
Where: Olympic Stadium, Seoul, Korea
Tickets: 2 Day Ticket W130,000 (Limited supply left)*
4. Exit Soundholic Festival
June 21, 2014 & June 22, 2014
If you’re looking for some good music and a good time with some of your favorite Korean indie and rock artists, this is the place for you. Artists include: Jaurim, No Brain, Day Break, Crying Nut, Clazziquai, Glen Check, Sugarbowl, Galaxy Express, Romantic Punch, Post Panic, HarryBigButton, Startline, Bascussion and plenty more.
Where: Jamsil Stadium, Seoul, Korea
Tickets: 1 Day: W66,000; 2 Day: W110,000
5. Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival
August 1, 2014 ~ August 3, 2014
Since 2006, this festival has a been a favorite of fans of rock and electronic music. The name comes out of the combination of the five main themes of the fest: music, passion, eco-friendly, DIY and friendship. Past performers have included Fall Out Boy, Windy City, Skid Row, Story Of the Year, Snow Patrol, 10cm, Simple Plan, Neon Trees and The Ting Tings. The first line-up for this year includes: Kasabian, Boys Like Girls, Crash, The Horrors, Orange Range, Suicidal Tendencies, Pia, Romantic Punch, Solutions + more
Look for more to be added to the line-up as the festival approaches.
Where: Incheon Dreampark, Incheon, Korea
Tickets: Until May 31, 2014 tickets for the three day pass cost W149,600. Prices will rise until the festival.
By the day of festival, tickets will be: 1 day: W110,000; 2 day: W154,000; 3 day: W187,000*
6. Citybreak Festival
August 8, 2014 & August 9, 2014
Only celebrating its second year competing for the summer music fans, City Break is is building the anticipation with their first line-up which includes: Maroon 5, Psy, Richie Sambora, Nell, Lee Juck, The Neighborhood. Last year more than 75,000 fans rocked out to Metallica, Muse, Iggy and The Stooges among others and this year promises just as much fun with more than 30 acts. Keep watching their site to see who else will be gracing the stage.
Where: World Cup Stadium, Seoul, Korea
Tickets: Until May 31, 2014 early bird tickets will be sold for W230,000, but if you use your Hyundai Card you’ll get a discount and be able to pay W184,000. At the door tickets will be W270,000 or W216,000 if you use your Hyundai Card.*
7. Supersonic
August 14, 2014 & August 15, 2014
This festival has only been around in Seoul since 2012, but with past musicians including The Smashing Pumpkins, Gym Class Heroes, Basement Jaxx, Two Door Cinema Club amd Hot Chelle Rae, it is sure to be another great year for music. The line-up for this fest currently includes Queen, Adam Lambert, Phoenix and A Great Big World with more to be added.
Where: Olympic Park, Seoul, Korea
Tickets: 1 Day Pass: Thursday W110,000/ Friday W121,000; 2 Day Pass: W176,000*
8. AIA Real Life: Now Festival
August 15, 2014 & August 16, 2014
If you’re looking for something a little more pop this summer, here’s a festival for you. The line up currently includes Lady Gaga, Crayon Pop, Galaxy Express, Rock’n Roll Radio, Twenty One Pilots, Cazzette and the YG Family which includes Big Bang, 2NE1, Epik High, Lee Hi, Psy and more.
Where: Seoul Olympic Stadium, Seoul, Korea
Tickets: 1 Day Pass: W126,000; 2 Day Pass: W185,000*
9. Busan Rock Festival
August 8, 2014 ~ August 10, 2014
Celebrating it’s 15th year of giving fans some awesome music, the Busan Rock Festival is a great reason to head down south in August. This festival is actually under the umbrella of the much larger Busan Sea Festival, a combo of about 30 festivals happening at the same time across Busan. The Rock Festival has gotten bigger and bigger over the years and brings together a lot of the Busan homegrown musicians, as well as other rock and metal favorites from Korea and abroad, oh and did I mention that’s it’s free?
Where: Samnak Ecological Park, Busan, Korea
10. World DJ Festival
August 29, 2014 ~ August 31, 2014
Originally set to take place at the beginning of May, this festival was postponed to the end of August which will be the first time since starting it 2007 that it will take place in the summer rather than the spring.
Where: Yangpyeong Athletic Park, Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Tickets: 1 Day: W78,000; 2 Day: W120,000*
*Many of the festivals offer early bird specials. The prices for tickets listed here are for day of purchase, but if you buy early, you can get a discount. Check their websites for more information.
