Renowned Taiwanese rock band Wu Bai & China Blue will perform at the fifth Pentaport Rock Festival in Incheon, South Korea July 24, the Government Information Office announced.
“The government is determined to promote Taiwanese music on the international stage,” GIO Minister Johnny Chi-chen Chiang said at a news conference July 21, referring to the Action Plan for Development of the Popular Music Industry.
The GIO initiative has made it possible for Wu Bai & China Blue to be the first Taiwanese band to appear at South Korea’s biggest rock music event.
“This is only our first step. We hope more Taiwanese bands can be invited to international music events, such as the Modern Sky Festival in Beijing this October and the SXSW Music Festival in Texas next year,” the minister added.
“As this will be our first performance in South Korea, we hope to impress the Korean audience with our cool music and style,” said Wu Bai, lead singer of the band.
“We find Korean rock music more influenced by Western styles, while Taiwanese rock has more local flavor and dynamics,” he added.
The Pentaport Rock Festival, which debuted in 2006, has been held annually since then in late July, becoming one of Asia’s largest music festivals. Over 100,000 visitors are expected over three days.
This year’s event will take place from July 23 to 25 at Dream Park, Incheon, offering a lineup of over 50 rock bands from South Korea and abroad, including Hoobastank from the U.S., Stereophonics from the U.K. and Dir En Grey from Japan. (THN)