Global Jamathon Show

BUSAN, South Korea -- Busan is blessed with a wide range of musicians from all over the world and this weekend is a great opportunity to take in the talent as a wide array of artists come together to perform world music from around the globe.

On Saturday, April 23rd, Vinyl Underground will host its first World Music Night. The event is billed as a "Global Jamathon right here in Busan," where a collection of local musicians will be exploring folk and contemporary music from locations as diverse as Cuba, South Africa, Ireland, Venezuela, Haiti, Nigeria, Brazil, and of course, Korea.

"Music is global in nature anyway and knows no national borders, so perhaps the term 'World Music' is a bit of a misnomer," says organizer Gino Brann. "But basically, we wanted to focus on styles that aren't exactly a part of the general mainstream, Western paradigm. We'll see how everything comes together. Either way, it's gonna be a fun night, so bring your dancing shoes and your bobbing heads."

Busan has been enjoying a wave of themed live music nights in recent months, with Vinyl hosting a Blues Jam and a Jazz Night, HQ's Mardi Gras blowout, Starface's hip-hop night, and a performance from the Rice Paddies at OL’ 55 on St. Paddy's Day. Hopefully, it's a trend that continues.

There will be contributions from members of several local bands, including Klickitat, Poko Lambro, One Drop East, The Headaches, Hemoglobins, and more. However, the event will be less of a band showcase and more of a family affair, with the players sharing the stage in small rotating ensembles.

"It's a celebration of both the music and the musical community," says Brann.

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World Music Night will kick off at 10pm. There is no cover, but a 5000 won donation is suggested at the door, with all proceeds going to aid relief efforts in New Zealand and Japan.