The performance culture of Hongdae, a sacred place for indie musicians, can now be experienced in Gangbuk, Seoul, and northern Gyeonggi Province. This is thanks to the establishment of 'The Rock Seoul', an indie label and live performance space founded by music producers and planners residing near Banghak Station in Dobong-gu.
Located in the ultra-convenient area near Banghak Station, The Rock Seoul provides a much-needed space for amateur musicians who have been longing for a stage. This venue regularly hosts 'Open Mic' performances that break down barriers of age and genre, allowing anyone to grab the microphone and breathe new life into the stagnant local culture.
The vision of The Rock Seoul goes beyond being just a rental performance venue. It has established a 'one-stop incubating system' that supports local musicians, discovered through the Open Mic, with professional producers assisting them from music release to promotion. This is a strategic move to lay the foundation for the local music ecosystem to grow organically without external support.
In the future, The Rock Seoul is expected to function as a cultural hub encompassing Gangbuk and northern Gyeonggi Province. As a base for local artists to interact and grow, it is anticipated that the performance arts landscape in the outskirts of Seoul and the border areas of Gyeonggi, which have lacked cultural infrastructure, will undergo significant changes.
The Rock Seoul's efforts to pursue both the development of the local music industry and the securing of cultural diversity have drawn the attention of cultural industry stakeholders, as well as local music fans who have been craving a new entertainment culture.
