Buffet of music genres this weekend in Seoul

Fans of electronic music can start this weekend early with local band Rollercoaster’s live concert “Listen Up!” at the LG Art Center in southern Seoul. The three-day season kicked off yesterday.
Since their debut album “Naegero-wa” in 1999, the three-member band ― Jinu on bass and programming, vocalist Cho Won-sun also on keyboards and Lee Sang-soon on guitar ― has churned out hit after hit, including “Bye-bye” from “Naegero-wa,” “Ilsangdabansa” from the 2000 album of the same title, and “Last Scene” from their 2002 album, “Ride On Live.”
The Seoul-based, award-winning musicians have a reputation for expressing the “urban sensibilities” of modern youths in Korea through their breezy danceable music, with their musical genres covering modern rock, funk, acid pop, electronica, bossa nova, disco and Brit pop. The live concert will also feature the group’s latest numbers from its fifth album, “Triangle,” released earlier this year.
Tonight’s concert starts at 8 p.m. and tomorrow’s at 7 p.m. Tickets, which cost 40,000 won ($36), 55,000 won and 70,000 won, can be purchased by calling 1544-1555 or on Web sites www.rollercoaster.co.kr, www.interpark.com and www.lgart.com.
The telltale sign that Seoul is on the map of the global party scene: London-based Hed Kandi is coming here tomorrow night to hold its “Beach House 2006” event at the swank W Seoul Hotel in eastern Seoul.
Produced by Mark Doyle, the Hed Kandi team of musical ingenues has offered its global fans of six years a truly eclectic compilation of electronic music ― from chill-out to deep house, US garage to hip hop and jazz groove to club classics. Hed Kandi’s “Beach House” series, a soundtrack to a stylish summer, has been a global phenomenon.
The famous Doyle won’t be here but the two Hed Kandi DJs, Jack McCord and Shane, will turn the Woobar into a summertime paradise, musically speaking. DJ Shane has developed her brand of tribal, electro and funky tech house out of her home in Amsterdam and toured along the beaches of Greece and Spain sharing the stage with global big names. While in Asia, she never skips super-chic destinations such as Bangkok’s Bed Supper Club and, of course, the Woobar.
DJ Jack McCord belongs to the exclusive club of international talents including Stonebridge, Tom De Neef, Andy Norman and John Jones who represent Hed Kandi. The Aussie DJ hops between Ibiza’s El Divino, London’s Pacha London, Tokyo’s Yellow, Singapore’s Club Zouk and Seoul’s Woobar to complete the list reserved for discerning clubbers.
The music by the guest DJs will be enhanced by two renowned Hed Kandi performers: the vocalist Peyton, who got discovered by the Madonna/Massive Attack producer Nellee Hopper, and Timmy, a trumpeter from Sydney whom is in high demand.
The Woobar is located on the first floor of the W Seoul Hotel in eastern Seoul. The party is from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. A ticket costs 40,000 won and includes two free drinks; presale tickets costs 35,000 won including two free drinks.
For inquiries, call Sway at (02) 544-3467 or the W Seoul hotel at (02) 465-2222.

by Ines Cho