[PHOTOS] Block Party Music & Art Festival survives 5th year

The Block Party Music & Art Festival returned to central Seoul for its fifth year, this time co-presented with Haebang Week. Over the course of three days, the festival presented more than 100 music acts and other performing artists across ten venues in the multicultural Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan neighborhoods.

The event featured a diverse range of musical styles, from traditional Korean folk performances to contemporary genres like screamo, reggae, punk, and electronica. Local and international acts, including the Yangbans, Leenalchi, Windy City, Little Boys, Komagens, SKASUCKS, Honey Jam Sam, 18Fevers, Hard-Ons, and Lucy Valentine, took to the stages at various participating venues throughout the city.

The festival also included non-musical elements, such as street performances, art installations, and community engagement activities. For example, a masked member of the Bongcheon Nori Madang traditional dance troupe performed in the streets, while a masked reggae band member blew into a large instrument. Audience members were seen surging forward and overtaking stages, while volunteers worked to manage crowds and traffic.

Highlights included performances from the frontman of the Yangbans, Sarah Mack, an American resident, and Jun Bum Sun, the lead singer of the Yangbans. The festival also marked the debut of Australian punk band Hard-Ons in Korea, with their lead singer Ray Ahn returning to his birthplace to perform.

Despite the energy and excitement of the event, some acts faced challenges, such as the removal of traditional clay pottery from a wall in Haebangchon due to a complaint. Nevertheless, the festival provided a platform for diverse musical expressions and cultural exchange in the heart of Seoul.