What is "Green Groove"? Now, the pollution of the earth became a serious problem in the world wide and efforts to save it have been continued. Green Groove Festival is also one of those efforts. CP Reporter visited Daecheion. Chungnam, where the Festival was held and enjoyed it.
<The Meaning of Green Groove>
Green Groove Festival started with concerns about environmental pollution, climate change, the net effect energy problems which have emerged as international hot-button issues. As a means of alerting people to the danger of environmental problems, Green Groove Festival is aimed at informing the public of the preciousness of the earth. Over the past few months, organizers of the festival have handled several small campaigns for environmental preservation with the Green Movement. On the festival site, ceaseless video images promote the green movement and a myriad of events were held that conveyed the theme, ‘’Green is fun”.
<Green is Fun>
As the theme of this festival was the conservation of the earth, numerous events for green movement were in progress. A solar lounge operated under Hanwha Chemical, an affiliate company of the Hanwha corporation, served ice cream made by solar energy. Also, everyone at the festival could use a cell phone recharging powered by solar energy. The Green Movement and Hanwha ran a 'Green Zone' where many people were exposed to eco-friendly products and various ways to go about preserving the earth. Eco-friendly T-shirts, (decorated with phrases about the environment and endangered animals), got people’s attention.
In addition, three more attractions were prepared. In a fashion magazine booth, FAST, gave out cosmetic products to the winner of a rock-paper-scissors contest and drew pictures on people's arm using henna. Also, Designrace (T-shirt design corporation) booth held a contest picking the best T-shirts design people drew. Meanwhile Diamond Tears, the latest headphone technology company, the manager let the people try headphone.
<Stages>
- Main stage
Green Groove Festival aroused eager anticipation of the crowd publicizing an impressive line-up of singers and artists. Delispice, House Rules, 10 cm, Mighty Mouth, Geeks and Kingston Rudieska were invited to the festival. In addition, news that the international star AKON and Infected Mushroom would also perform made fans' hearts flutter. Then, soon 2nd line-up list was announced and Wonder Girls, Verbal Jint, Son Dambi and After School performed. Furthermore, collaboration stage of Wonder Girls and AKON/ Verbal Jint and 10cm performed.
On Saturday July 21st, Haha and Skull started the main stage with lively reggae music. Dusk was falling when a crowd was enjoying the songs of Verbal Jint and festive mood of the stage ripened. A gentle voice of Verbal Jint resounded throughout the whole stage and it deeply touched the audience. Every girl sang along with him. He sang his hit song, 'Beautiful Enough' and 'You Look Good' and finished his stage with 'Good Morning' (feat.10 cm). Next, the du “10 cm” stepped onto a stage and they sang their famous songs, 'Americano', and 'Give Me a Hug'. They captivated the audience with the honest lyrics and a jaunty tune getting people's head and shoulders move.
Finally AKON and Wonder Girls came. However, we had to wait too long for their stage after 10 cm. Many people complained about the wait. After a one hour, the performances began again, and Wonder Girls made a dazzling appearance on the stage. They sang their latest song, 'Like This' and a medley of their hits. Just after the performance, firecrackers popped loudly for about ten minutes. The audience danced to the beat of music. At the end, AKON sent the crowd into a frenzy. He performed on the stage for the longest time among all singers and sang over 10 songs. I was unaware of the passage of time listening to his music. With powerful performance and refined stage manner, he enthused people. The crowds put their hands up and sang along with his music.
Side Stage, Culture Zone
Timetable for side stage was filled with indie groups who applied for Green Busker managed by Green Movement. Everyone who wanted to showcase their musical talents could apply and could be selected by judges. After this process, indie groups like Geeks, Angry bears, Mogavi were chosen and they adorned the side stage with their songs. Though it was not nearly as much as main stage, people could enjoy the music. We could listen to the songs and watch the singers nearby. The group named AWD even handed out their albums to audience by hand after their performance. Comfortable and fresh stage of busking artists stands out on this side stage, Culture Zone.
Association with Boryeong Mud Festival
This year's festival was held in association with Boryeong Mud Festival, now in its 15th year, which has become an international summer event. It made people enjoy both mud festival and rock festival. Because the venue of the festival was very next to the site of mud festival, countless crowd over 4 million converged on the festival venue and the festival was a great success.
<Review>
A variety of interesting attractions, especially mud festival, were so special and fruitful and also, courteous employees of festival were quite impressive. Because it had a good purpose of 'Green campaign', it could be more meaningful time. But one thing I would change is the length of time for singers to perform. I hope it will be improved next year!
Look at Other Rock Festivala
ㆍJisan Valley Rock Festivals
Time : 2012.07.27-07.29
Place : Jisan Forest Resorts, Icheon, Gyeonggi
Line-up : Radio Head, Black Skirts, Kim chang-wan Band, Lee Jeok , PPTN, Busker Busker, Monkeys, Nell etc.
ㆍPentaport Rock Festivals
Time : 2012.08.10-08.12
Place : Jeongseojin, Seogu, Incheon
Line-up : Mt. Baeckdoo, Song hong-seop, Kim do-kyun, Shin dae-cheol, You young-seok, Kim kyeong-ho, Top band, Windy City, Sweet Sorrow, Hyeongdon and Daejune etc..
By Kim Su-ji CP Cub-Reporter
ex112358@cnu.ac.kr