Electronic music fest heats things up this winter

Above & Beyond, left, Crystal Castles, center, and Idiotape are just a few of the groups set to play at the upcoming Seoul Electronic Music Festival at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi, on Jan. 14. Provided by VU Entertainment

Now that it’s getting colder, it’s time to heat things up with the Seoul Electronic Music Festival.

Following this summer’s rock festival and the Global Gathering Festival in the fall, the SEMF is soon to make its appearance to even out the coldest of the seasons.

This will be the second SEMF after last year’s, which was well received. The festival will be held in a large indoor arena - a change in tempo for the average festival attendee who is likely more used to outdoor festivities.

The theme of the SEMF is to feel the heat once again.

The first official lineup has been announced and will feature various international artists and DJs as well as popular and rising Korean artists.

The headliner of the evening will be renowned electro-funk duo Crystal Castles, whose music was made popular via the British TV series “Skins.”

Their album was also listed as one of NME magazine’s 50 Greatest Albums of the Decade.

British trance music group Above & Beyond will also be making an appearance at the festival. The group is currently ranked No. 5 in the world, according to the annual Top 100 DJs poll in D.J. Magazine.

The rest of the lineup consists of popular local bands such as the famed Idiotape, which appeared at the Global Gathering two years in a row and received a great deal of positive acclaim.

Other acts include Telepathy, Mongoose, Astro Voize, Kingmck, Bagagee and Viphex13.

The rest of the lineup is to be announced on Dec. 1.

*The Seoul Electronic Music Festival is on Jan. 14 from 3 p.m. to 4 a.m. at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi. Tickets range from 88,000 won to 121,000 won.

Go to Daehwa Station, line No. 3, exit 2. For more information, call (02) 323-2838 or visit www.semf.co.kr.

By Kim Tae-rim Contributing writer [estyle@joongang.co.kr]