Meeting someone who shares the same interests is always thrilling. However, in a world with such a variety of preferences, it takes work to casually meet and spend time with similar people. Therefore, The Glow Festival 2024, where 10,000 people gathered and glowed with their love for music, was truly precious. The Sungkyun Times (SKT) invites Kingos to the scene of the vibrant April festival.
A New Glow
The Glow 2024 is a music festival launched for the first time this year. It took place over two days, on April 13th and 14th, and featured 26 artists. The festival was held at the KINTEX Exhibition Hall 2 in Ilsanseo District, an indoor venue that recently gained attention in Korea for hosting concerts for global artists like Post Malone. The festival was organized by WanderLoch, a renowned event planning company responsible for directing the performance of the Japanese duo band YOASOBI in Korea. The organizers adopted conventional festival management styles, like those of Pentaport and Busan Rock Festival. Two stages, STAGE 37 and STAGE 126, were built to allow a larger audience to enjoy a variety of artists in a comfortable environment. Furthermore, they featured a unique design by collaborating with the design studio Okens for art direction. In addition, there were photo zones, food and beverage (F&B) booths, experience booths, and resting areas for a diverse experience. The festival was filled with 600 minutes of live performances and received high praise with its lineup, including Silica Gel, winner of Best Modern Rock at the 2023 Korean Music Awards, Thornapple, which recently hinted at new moves with a change of band members, and Jannabi, a representative group sound of Korea with charming melodies and a solid fanbase.
The Party Begins Now
-Exploring the Stage
➊ Headliners, the Best of the Best
The headliners for the two days of The Glow Festival were Lee Seungyoon, Zion.T, 10cm, and Jannabi. A notably impressive performance was by group sound Jannabi, who delivered a remarkable emotional impact on the audience. The excitement of the artists and the audience enlivened the festival since this was Jannabi’s first offline performance after almost a year. Jannabi’s performance was expertly crafted based on their extensive experience and professionalism, with their stage presentation delicately designed to flow with the music and engage the audience. Their song Hong Kong, depicting the youth trying to escape from life’s strangeness, transported the audience to a foreign street filled with unreadable signs. The band’s frontman, Choi Jung-hoon, turned into Tarzan for the song Jungle, taking the audience on an adventure through the forest. Their performance transformed the KINTEX Exhibition Hall into an Amazon jungle, leading up to the show’s climax. Their finale, Come Back Home, featured guitarist Kim Dohyung approaching the audience and continuing to play the guitar even after falling off the stage, heating the venue’s atmosphere further. This stage culminated in a “slam,” a hallmark of rock performances, where the audience collided with each other, eliciting cheers and screams. Jannabi’s performance united The Glow 2024 and emphasized the true spirit of the festival.
➋ Surprising Supports
The supporting stages were an excellent opportunity for the audience to discover new artists and enrich the festival experience. On the 13th, Yoon Jiyoung performed an impressive performance on STAGE 37 by distinguishing herself from other artists with her calm tone and soft musical style. Yoon Ji-young captivated the audience with her stage presence, immersing the audience in her musical world. Her performance, where she sang cross-legged on stage, was highlighted by her song Bluebird, featuring sweet melodies and emotional lyrics that captured the audience’s heart. The stage was perfectly set with sensational visual effects and lighting, creating a harmonious blend of audio and visuals that left a deep impression on the audience.
Additionally, on the 14th, the Thai indie band H3F performed their first performance in Korea and captivated the audience with their relaxed stage presence and jazzy music. Despite most audience members hearing their music for the first time, the catchy melodies and impressive trumpet play in the song Inner Me transformed the hot, enclosed venue into a grassy lawn filled with jazz music. This interaction between H3F and the audience illustrated how the festival can serve as a beautiful gathering, connecting diverse individuals from different backgrounds.
-Front Stage Review
One aspect of The Glow 2024 that received the best response from festivalgoers was the stage setup. Unlike other festivals, The Glow was held indoors, allowing for a more intricate production of lighting and screen effects. In particular, the screens opening sideways to reveal the artists received warm reactions from the audience. Alongside the stage setup, the broad arrangement of the two stages allowed both artists and the audience to roam freely, overcoming the limitations of an enclosed indoor festival. Additionally, the F&B booths garnered many positive responses, with the Kimchi-rolled noodles being the most praised item for refreshing and comforting the weary attendees. The menu was priced at \9,000, breaking the stereotype of festival food being tasteless and expensive. Youra, an artist who performed on the 14th, also highly praised the Kimchi-rolled noodles on stage. The simple yet stylish arrangement of the photo zones and unique experience booths of The Glow 2024 also left attendees with fond memories of the festival. Notably, the experience booth displayed wristbands from previous Korean festivals and signed albums of artists’ early works, demonstrating that the organizers arranged The Glow 2024 with respect to festivals and music culture.
The Glow 2024 was more than just a place to listen to music. Music stimulates emotion, leaves a lingering impact, and allows the audience to experience deep contemplation and joy, thus making their lives glow. The Glow 2024 provided unforgettable memories to its attendees, along with the passion and talent of numerous artists.