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75 “Last year, it was the first time to bring bands from Japan,” Kim says. “It was the foundation for making an international ska show. It was quite successful. Last year, we thought, now we can make an international festival.” Twelve bands will be performing at this year’s festival, including California group The Bruce Lee Band, as well as two bands from Japan, Rollings and The Autocratics. Locally, Burning Hepburn will be representing Daejeon and Ska Wakers will be coming up from Busan. Rock festival regulars No. 1 Korean and old-timers Lazy- bone will also be performing, with Pegurians playing their unique early reggae, first-wave sound. The great Skasucks, ReSka and Rudy Guns have also been added to the bill. As a particular treat for old-timers in Korea, the show is bringing the mem- bers of Beach Valley back together to add their solid reggae vibe to the event. Having not played together in over a de- cade, the group is reuniting just for this show. “Eleven years ago they were a really popular and beloved ska band in Seoul,” Kim says. “We hope it’s not the last chance to see them.” The goal of the festival is to raise awareness of ska music, and hopeful- ly establish something of a proper ska scene in Seoul and the rest of Korea. Kim says that in the future, they hope “to make a bigger festival, which people can easily approach to enjoy ska music. One day we hope to have a big ska scene and everyone knows what ska music is.” A bigger scene would hopefully help organizers bring some bigger ska and ska-influenced bands to Korea, groups like The Specials, Madness and Rancid. In the meantime, Kim hopes to see a big turnout at the free fes- tival. “This is the opportunity for people to learn about ska music,” she says. MorE INFo j Website ngoskafest.com Facebook fb.com/tngoska Twitter twitter.com/tngoska ‘LAST YEAr, IT WAS THE FIrST TIME To BrING BANDS FroM JAPAN. IT WAS THE FouNDATIoN For MAKING AN INTErNATIoNAL SKA SHoW.’ KIM JI-WoN