K-Pop Night Out at SXSW

K-Pop Night Out at SXSW

Jay Park, 2014 KPNO
Dates March (dates vary)
Frequency Annual
Location(s) Austin, Texas, U.S.
Inaugurated 2013
Next event March 19, 2015
Organized by KOCCA
Website
eng.kocca.kr

K-Pop Night Out at SXSW (KPNO), is an annual K-pop concert held in the United States, organized by Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). It started in 2013, and is a music showcase of the annual SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas.[1][2]

Background

In March 2013, f(x) was the first K-pop band invited to the SXSW music festival and conference, and performed at a music showcase, KPNO, organized by KOCCA.[1][2][3] KOCCA, along with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, followed up with the SXSW KPNO after hosting one at Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale (Midem), held in Cannes, France; with the purpose of encouraging exports of Korean music and K-pop in particular.[4]

During the five days of the SXSW music festival, bands (over 2,200 in 2013) are spread out over venues (100 in 2013) in downtown Austin's nightclubs and street stages;[5] described as an experience where fans meet musicians close-up, without special effects.[6] The first KPNO was scheduled at the Elysium nightclub,[7] where SXSW's oldest Asian showcase, "Japan Nite",[8] was also held.[9] Although this was the first year for an official K-pop concert at SXSW, South Korean bands of other musical genres had first performed at the festival, starting with YB in 2007.[10] The SXSW Seoulsonic event also schedules South Korean artists of various genres of music.[11][12] K-pop had already been a featured workshop at the SXSW conference line-up in 2012.[13][14]

History

2013

KPNO '13 was held on March 13 at Elysium in Austin, Texas.[15] Music artists that performed were f(x), Galaxy Express, The Geeks, Goonam, Guckkasten, Jung Cha-Shik, Lowdown 30, No Brain, 3rd Line Butterfly, Yi Sung Yol and Windy City.[1][16][17] SXSW released an article "K-Pop Night Out at SXSW" and included f(x) on their SXSWorld Magazine cover for the month.[2][18][19]

Hyuna, 2014 KPNO

2014

KPNO '14 was held on March 11, again at Elysium, in Austin.[20] Artists were Hyuna, Jay Park, Nell, Crying Nut, Idiotape, and Jambinai.[21] Kiha & The Faces were scheduled, but could not make it, and replaced by Hollow Jan.[22][23][12] Reporter August Brown of the Los Angeles Times described the KPNO showcase as "one of the club-circuit's hotter tickets."[24] Lady Gaga created a stir when she attended the set for Jay Park, causing media to conjecture whether she had been scouting possible opening acts for her ArtRave: The Artpop Ball tour, after she signed on Crayon Pop.[25][26]

2015

Crayon Pop, 2015 KPNO, filming on Austin streets before concert.

KPNO '15 was held on March 19, again at Elysium.[27]The line-up included Crayon Pop, Epik High, Asian Chairshot, EE, Eastern sidekick, Hitchhiker, The Barberettes.[28][29][30]

Prior to the concert, Crayon Pop filmed on Austin's streets,[31] and Epik High's Tablo told Billboard K-Town journalists they were excited for their first U.S. tour since 2009.[32] Composer and DJ Hitchhiker made a surprise appearance, in his shiny astronaut like costume, at the tradeshow's NASA booth.[31][33]

This year's line-up was noted for a wider variety of genres, unique costumes and visual effects.[34][35][36][37] And the audience, which appeared to have grown by about twenty percent over 2014,[38] shouted out fan chants "bar, bar, bar" before the Crayon Pop hit song, in unison, and during Epik High's stage, called out Hangul lyrics, along with the English refrains.[34] A reviewer commenting on the typical cynicism SXSW attendees sometimes feel about "buzz-bands", like Epik High, noted the awed reactions of "those new and unfamiliar to Korean popular music".[39][40]In SXSW Twitter results, Tablo was one of the top five most mentioned artists, and Epik High was one of the top ten hashtags and trends.[41][33]

Reception

In 2013, The Japan Times said, "K-Pop Night Out — an event featuring only one act one could describe as “pop” — reveled in being Korean."[9]

New York City's Fuse TV staff listed f(x) as one of the "30 Must-See Acts at SXSW 2013".[42]

In 2014, Korea.net said "Famous U.S. pop singer Lady Gaga surprised the audience by showing up to enjoy the live concert, reflecting her strong interest in K-pop."[43]

Of Hyuna's set in 2014, the Los Angeles Times said, "...the very polyglot crowd at her short but packed-out showcase implied that K-pop has crossed the finish line into an established genre in America."[24]

In 2015, the Barberettes were placed on four "best" lists, NPR's All Songs Considered,[44] and two women's magazines, Marie Claire,[45] and Bitch,[46]and a newspaper, the San Jose Mercury News.[47]

MTV Iggy said in 2015 that KPNO "now felt like part of SXSW’s DNA" and had become a "newly-minted staple" for Korean music at SXSW.[48]

Locations and dates

Dates Location Artist Line-up
March 13, 2013 Elysium f(x), Galaxy Express, The Geeks, Goonam, Guckkasten, Jung Cha-Shik, Lowdown 30, No Brain, 3rd Line Butterfly, Yi Sung Yol, Windy City
March 11, 2014 Elysium Hyuna, Jay Park, Nell, Crying Nut, Idiotape, Jambinai
March 19, 2015 Elysium Crayon Pop, Epik High, Asian Chairshot, EE, Eastern sidekick, Hitchhiker, The Barberettes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Oak, Jessica (March 26, 2013). "f(x) Talks About Performing as First K-Pop Act at SXSW". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Minor, James (February 26, 2013). "K-Pop Night Out at SXSW". SXSW. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  3. ↑ Billboard Staff, Austin (March 14, 2013). "SXSW Shorts: Charli XCX, Shoes, Nik Bartsch, White Lung and K-Pop's f(x)". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  4. ↑ Bae, Soo-min (March 5, 2013). "Korean music festival at 2013 SXSW". The Korea Herald. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  5. ↑ "SXSW Music 2013 Quotes" (PDF). SXSW. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  6. ↑ Pareles, Jon (March 13, 2013). "SXSW Music: Korean Pop With Its Own Special f(x)". The New York Times ArtsBeat. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Elysium Nightclub". AustinTexas.org. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Japan Nite US Tour 2015". Japan Nite. February 14, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 St. Michel, Patrick (March 21, 2013). "Japan needs to rebrand for SXSW". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  10. ↑ "About Yoon Do Hyun Band". MTV. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  11. ↑ Zimmer, Cindy (March 20, 2014). "Review: Seoulsonic 2014 at SXSW". ATK Magazine. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Kim, Ji-soo (March 6, 2014). "'K-pop Night Out' due in Texas". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  13. ↑ Hampp, Andrew (March 16, 2012). "Secrets Behind K-Pop's Global Success Explored at SXSW Panel". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  14. ↑ Joonni (March 18, 2012). "Billboard.biz Reports on K-Pop Panel at SXSW". Soompi. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ Lee, Jung-hyuk (March 13, 2013). K-POP, 美 텍사스 밤을 뜨겁게 달궈. SXSW 쇼케이스 열려 (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  16. ↑ "K-POP NIGHT OUT at SXSW". Billboard. March 26, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  17. ↑ "f(x) Representan al K-Pop en SXSW en Texas, EE.UU. Fotos Teaser" (in Spanish). Spanish KPopStarz. March 13, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  18. ↑ "SXSWorld Magazine - f(x) K-Pop Sensation Opens SXSW Music". SXSW SXSWorld® Magazine. March 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  19. ↑ "f(x) graces the cover of SXSWORLD magazine". Allkpop. March 15, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  20. ↑ 박재범 美 K팝 공연장 '레이디가가 처음부터 끝까지 관람' (in Korean). The Star. March 13, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  21. ↑ Winkie, Luke (March 7, 2014). "SXSW Tuesday Showcases". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  22. ↑ Oak, Jessica (February 24, 2014). "'K-Pop Night Out' Returns for SXSW 2014 With HyunA, Jay Park & More". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  23. ↑ Zimmer, Cindy (March 15, 2014). "Review: K-pop Night Out at SXSW". ATK Magazine. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Brown, August (March 12, 2014). "SXSW 2014: A late night of K-pop, pure noise, 50 Cent and Lady Gaga". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  25. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (March 21, 2014). "Jay Park on Lady Gaga Watching His K-Pop Set: "I'm Honored, But It's Weird"". Fuse TV. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  26. ↑ "How Crayon Pop Came to Open for Lady Gaga". The Chosun Ilbo. March 26, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  27. ↑ Music Special - K-POP NIGHT OUT 2015 (in Korean). Naver Music. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  28. ↑ Minor, James (January 7, 2015). "K-Pop Night Out Showcase Returns for Third Year at SXSW". SXSW. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  29. ↑ Minor, James (March 5, 2014). "Don't Miss South Korean Showcases at SXSW!". SXSW. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  30. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (January 14, 2015). "Epik High, Crayon Pop Headline SXSW 2015's K-Pop Night Out". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Kwon, Suk-Chung (March 23, 2015). 권석정의 SXSW리포트, 바버렛츠부터 숨까지 열광…넥스트 잠비나이는 누구? (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  32. ↑ Jeff Benjamin, Jessica Oak (March 17, 2015). "Watch Epik High Preview SXSW 2015 Show, U.S. Tour". Billboard (magazine). Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Oak, Jessica (April 6, 2015). "K-Pop Night Out Marks Biggest Success Yeat at SXSW 2015". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Lim, Hee-Yun (March 23, 2015). 美 SXSW 뮤직 페스티벌 달군 케이팝 관객과 하나된 ‘용광로 무대’ (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  35. ↑ Whittaker, Richard (March 20, 2015). "SXSW Live Shot: K-Pop Night". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  36. ↑ Billboard Staff (March 20, 2015). "SXSW 2015: K-Pop Night Out Featuring Crayon Pop, The Barberettes & More!". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  37. ↑ "KPop Night Out - 2015 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival". Getty Images. March 19, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  38. ↑ 에픽하이, 바버렛츠, 크레용팝 'SXSW 케이팝' 열기 채워 (in Korean). User News. March 22, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  39. ↑ Sherman, Maria (March 20, 2015). "K-Pop Night Out Delights and Surprises at SXSW 2015". Fuse TV. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  40. ↑ Kim, Dong-Joo (March 22, 2015). "Epik High present a spectacle performance at 'SXSW'". Yahoo! News Singapore/Star N News. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  41. ↑ Diep, Eric (March 22, 2015). "Here's What Music Fans on Twitter Are Talking About During SXSW". Complex Magazine. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  42. ↑ Fuse staff (February 28, 2013). "30 Must-See Acts at SXSW 2013". Fuse TV. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  43. ↑ Yoon, Sojung (March 17, 2014). "K-music sweeps SXSW". Korea.net. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  44. ↑ NPR Music Staff (March 18, 2015). "NPR Music At SXSW 2015: Tuesday". NPR All Songs Considered. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  45. ↑ Valenti, Lauren (March 19, 2015). "The 30 Best Songs We Heard at SXSW". Marie Claire. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  46. ↑ Presley, Katie (March 18, 2015). "15 Female-Fronted Bands to Love at SXSW". Bitch. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  47. ↑ Dufrene, Mark (March 25, 2015). "Photos: SXSW bands which totally killed it in Austin and are coming to the Bay area this year". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  48. ↑ St. Michel, Patrick (March 23, 2015). "K-Pop Night Out Shines Through at SXSW 2015". MTV Iggy. Retrieved March 24, 2015.

External links

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