Only 2 days left ‘2012 Gwangju World Music Fesitival’

- 9. 7. ~ 8. Openning of World Music Festival in Chonnam National University and Biennale outdoor concert hall  - World Music feast by 25 teams from 15 countries domestic and foreign for 2 days  - Various programs including domestic and foreign artists' collaborated performance, signing, and culture experience

'2012 Gwangju World Music Festival', where 25 teams from 25 countries will be performing, is held in Gwangju Chonnam National University and Biennale outdoor concert hall (Yongbong green wetland) Sept 7th and 8th for 2 days.

Gwangju World Music Festival, a place for all family

 '2012 Gwangju World Music Festival,' hosted by Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism(Minister Choe Kwang-shik) Hub City of Asian Culture and supervised by Institute of Asian Cultural Development(the head, Young Chul Lee), is a representative cultural content and a part of international  music festival which can represent Gwangju, the Hub City of Asian Culture  and Asian Culture Complex. This festival was first held in 2012. Gwangju World Music Festival is held in Chonnam National University and Biennale outdoor concert hall located in northern part in this year starting from year 2012 placed in western part of Gwangju, Gwangsan-gu.

 Most unique features of 'Gwangju World Music Festival' are that it has the characteristics of each countries over the world and that those can be shared easily throughout various music festival. Also, it provides an opportunity for Korean artists and famous world artists to work together which in turn leads Gwangju to become a pathway to Asian music. Another distinctive feature is that it aims to be a festival for all family so that men and women of all ages can enjoy.

 From a survey done by visitors from 2011, it shows that 9 out of 10 people said that they would come to festival again in 2012 and about 74.6% of the people was satisfied with the performances. Age groups of festival participants were shown to be 36.1% of twenties, 24.9% of thirties, 24.6% of forties, and 14.4% of fifties. A survey asking by whom people are accompanied by shows that about 45% said that they came with their family. This again emphasizes the strength of Gwangju World Music Festival in that various classes of people visit with their family. 

  

  ※ Asian Culture Complex is a center facility of establishment of Hub City of Asian Culture. It is planned to be complete in 2014 and being constructed near Jeollanam-do. This global culture complex aims for Asian culture to be known by all over the world. It is consisted of 5 facilities, including Cultural Exchange Agency, Cultural Promotion Agency, Asian Culture Information Agency, Asian Arts Theatre, and Agency of Culture for children.

Fantasy world of World Music by World Music Artists from 15 countries

 Foreign artists participating in the festival are Danilo Perez, both a pianist and jazz composer, Ryo Kunihiko's Band, a pianist and composer, Nueva Manteca, a famous European latin jazz band, Balkan Beat Box, performing music based on the Mediterranean and Balkan traditional music, La Caravane Passe, Sousou and Maher Cissoko, and lastly Zaha Torte.

Domestic artists participating in the festival are Ingun Im and Atman doing Korean folk song based on jazz, Geomungo-Factory, an official invited team by WOMEX this year, Easternox, modernizing folk songs, and Aux, Coreyah, and Cassette Schwarzenegger.

 Collaborated performance by domestic and foreign artists includes Project Band Dal and Omar Benassila Sbitar, DJ Jun Morita and Yongha Kim and Bora Kim combining electrical sound and jazz.

  More information about Artists particiapting in the festival is in the official website of Gwangju World Music Festival (www.gjwmf.com). 

Providing a event introducing Asian culture through various cultural program

 Various events in which visitors can experience Asian culture will be held throughout the festival.

 Cultural booth experiencing event will be held in a schoolyard of the main platform of the festival, Chonnam National University.

 

Key Points of watching 2012 Gwangju World Music Festival

  Main platform in a schoolyard of Chonnam National University will be filled with world music artists performing various genres of world music such as latin jazz, rhythm of Africa and gypsy music from Balkan. Acoustic(without electrical devices) stage will be a collaborated performance done by domestic artist and foreign artist. People will have a great fun and excitement by watching our Gugak and be able to feel a diversity of culture through music.

 

  'Party stage' and 'Open stage' will be there for people's desire to feel the passion of World Music. Party stage filled with energy for a night of Gwangju and open stage with young artists showing their talents will make audiences and artists to become the one for such a great festival.

   Sousou and Maher Cissoko participating the event mentioned that there is no boundary in music. World Music acts as a communicating system which connects one person to another. Let's meet Sousou and Maher Cissoko, who are doing their music with their heart and spirits with inspiration from music all over the world, in 2012 Gwangju World Music Festival.

※ During festival, cup holder(#5000) and t-shirt(#100) will be given away to audiences in the main platform. (first come first serve)