Tucked in the mountains two hours south of Seoul was the three day music festival of Jisan Valley featuring popular Western and Korean musicians. The line up included Basement Jaxx, Patti Smith, JET, Oasis, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, and Weezer. My favorite Korean groups were Windy City, Deli Spice, Lee Houn Choul and the Run Run Runaways, and a Korean-American female vocalist Priscilla Ahn. After the main acts finished at midnight the electronic session began and continued on til 4AM.
The venue in situated in in a valley of Korean mountains and forest. The winter ski resort was perfect for the festival with its large space and natural setting. The green grass held the dancing and mashing to the chilled out spectators in the rear. The woods to the side was filled with the tents of the campers. It was great to get a break from the lights and cars of Anyang, and sleep in the woods. Our tent did however tent collapsed on us the first night and the second night I slept curled around a tree trunk. Malcolm and John made a manly quest up the mountain Sunday morning, to sleep at the peak and nearly “perish” in the heat
The energy of the festival goers was impressive and the variety of music kept things exciting. Basement Jaxx put on a performance that had everyone in such high energy. Brandon and I found ourselves in this circle of dancers that repetitively formed a large circle and then all rushed the center to jump around and dance to the techno tunes. After their performance I spent the night in a circle of Koreans with three guitars and a set of bongos and improv tunes. Wonderwall was a hit, everyone was in anticipation for Oasis on Sunday night. It started with me and two Koreans, as the night went on the group got bigger, the number of instruments got greater, and the communal drinks the center followed the same trend.
The late night scene in the electric tent suited my craving for a East London night dancing at 333. The dance moves weren't as wicked but the DJ's did a great job and everyone was into the music and dancing the night. The people at Jisan were there to have a good time and enjoy the moment; camaraderie with the people next to you made for great memories and good times.
On Sunday Patti Smith rocked out on the stage like it was the 70's. The Koreans were confused if she was man or woman, but regardless they loved the Woodstock like performance. She ended her set with a quest for world peace and plucking off her guitar strings in the heat of the moment. JET took the stage and rocked out with great music and good looks, most people hadn't heard of them but it didn't spot the dancing and enthusiasm. By the time Oasis took the stage the entire space was filled. Everyone sang along to every song, ams raised and legs swaying.
Malcolm's article about the concert can be read here on the Seoul Times website.
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