Jisan's don't miss

Following it s a selection of some of the don't miss acts set to perform at the Jisan Rock Valley Music Festival. 

Friday, July 27

Radiohead

Every noraebang book in Korea has “Creep.” This is the first time Radiohead’s come to Korea and it’s going to be a major event. It would be hard to find a band more emulated in young music styles here. Since the release of “Pablo Honey” in 1993, the band has steadily grown into one of the biggest bands in the world. They’ve released eight regular albums, the last being “The King of Limbs.” They are arguably the most sought-after live performers for Korean fans. This is going to be a big deal.

James Iha

Playing guitar with the Smashing Pumpkins from 1987 to 2000, James Iha released his first solo album, “Let It Come Down” in 1998. The record was not just warm and powerful and completely different, but also confirmed Iha’s talent as a songwriter. Since then he’s been involved with many other projects, including A Perfect Circle and Tinted Windows.

Elvis Costello and the Imposters

Elvis Costello is a chameleon and a shape-shifter. He can absorb any pop-song style and give it his own spin. Usually articulate. Often insightful. Always fun. The London-born “pop encyclopedia” has been making music since the ‘70s and isn’t slowing down. He’s in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and one of the greatest musicians of the modern era.

Lowdown 30

Heavy on the alternative rock Lowdown 30 is a three-member rock band that formed in 2000. A little like the Black Keys with a bass player, they focus on blues. With the successful release of the debut album “Jaira” in 2008 and follow-up EP in 2010, they receive plenty of praise from both critics and fans

Black Dog

Black Bag was founded in 2008 and made their name in the live clubs around Hongdae. They then released a self-produced EP and performed at various music festivals. Black Bag released an official EP on Jan. 11, 2012, and also passed the second round of KBS’s “Top Band.”

Achime

Through their first full-length album “Hunch,” released in 2010, Achime not only showed potential, but also started building a solid fan base. After taking some time to organize the internal side, the band released the EP “Hyperactivity” in May 2011. They’re melodic and joyful. Should be a lot of fun.

M. Ward

When Portland, Oregon’s Matt Ward isn’t playing with Zooey Deschanel as the him in “She and Him,” he’s writing his own folk songs. M. Ward likes to rock. He’s been on the “Monsters of Folk” tour with Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes and Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and his live shows get pretty fun.

The Black Skirts

The Black Skirts is a one-man band made up of singer-songwriter Holiday Cho. Since the release of his second album, “Don’t You Worry Baby (I’m Only Swimming)” in July 2011, the band has been on the up-and-up. Heavily influenced by veteran punk bands Crying Nut and No Brain, the Black Skirts will bring the rock. The punk rock, that is. 

Saturday, July 28

Apollo 18

Award-winning Korean post-rock and post-hardcore act Apollo 18 formed in the summer of 2008 in the suburbs of Seoul. The trio released their debut EP “Red” in February 2009. One of Korea’s top underground acts, Apollo 18’s dynamic hybrid of post-rock and post-hardcore has allowed the Seoul trio to impress fans throughout their native country and abroad. Apollo 18 won the “Rookie of the Year” award at the 2010 Korean Music Awards.

Underwears Band

Maybe the best post-rock band in Korea. Underwears Band formed as a project group in 2000. The band got its start playing in Hongdae and then its songs spread on the Internet. It is significant in that it actually opened a new door for the Korean indie scene by being experimental, a rare thing from Korean indie bands. 

The Strikers

The Strikers are a three-member punk band which aim to play happy punk rock but sometimes get sad. They sold the first 500 copies of their demo single without a problem, and were offered album contracts from Korean and Japanese agencies. After a successful start to their career both in Japan and Korea, they recently released their second album in five years.

eAeon

eAeon has received awards for “Best Korean Pop Rookie,” “Best Modern Rock Album” and “100 best-selling albums.” After a five-year hiatus, eAeon returned with his first solo project album, “Guilt-Free,” which has reached the top of the Korean indie album chart.vWScreamo hardcore band Hollow Jan excited both fans and critics as soon as they released their debut album “Rough Draft in Progress” in December 2006. Nominated for five Korean Music Awards in 2008, the band settled for the best album award. With a combination of lyricism and heaviness, it expresses well both sides of our intense lives. They get a lot of attention for their live shows.

Sunday, July 29

The Stone Roses

The Stones Roses, a rock band from Manchester, United Kingdom, is loved and supported by fans all over the world. The first step, their debut album in 1989, was a success. They embody the “Manchester Sound,” which is described as rock music people can dance to. In 2011, 15 years after they broke up, The Stone Roses reunited and headlined many festivals. The band has successfully remade itself once again.

Beady Eye

Beady Eye is an English rock band, made up of some members from Oasis, including Liam Gallagher. Since the forming of the band, they have released one album “Different Gear, Still Speeding” in 2011 with a second expected to follow in summer of 2012. They’ve been known to play Oasis songs at concerts.

Nell

Korean indie rock band Nell formed in 1999. While performing at live clubs in Hongdae, they were discovered by Seo Taiji. The band played at both the 2006 and 2007 Pentaport Rock Festival. After a four-year hiatus, they released a new studio album titled “Slip Away.” 

Los Lonely Boys

A brother band from Texas which plays Latin groove urban blues-rock. Their first single, “Heaven,” topped the Billboard adult contemporary chart in 2004. Their first album “Los Lonely Boys” sold 4 million copies in the U.S., and they won the Best Pop Group at the 47th Grammy Awards.

Monni

“Monni” means “mean and greedy” in Korean, and they named themselves this because all the members have a great thirst for music. This band began in 2004, and they pursued sophisticated modern rock. They compose, write lyrics, play the musical instruments, produce and record all their music by themselves.

Hanumpa

With their recent second album release, Hanumpa gained lots of attention from critics and music fans with their deep sound and wide musical spectrum. After a six-year hiatus they joined together as a band and continued their musical journey and won the special award at the “Hello Rookie Final” in 2008. They offer a new, progressive rock model with a mix of psychedelic and alternative.

Yellow Monsters

Punk rock band Yellow Monsters have become one of the best Korean live bands after successful performances and tours in America, Japan and more. Their first full album “Yellow Monsters” and second album “Riot!” were nominated as Best Rock Album and Best Rock Artist at the Korean Music Awards.