K-Music Festival 2018, Southbank Centre

Six years ago, the world was awakened to the global phenomenon that is K-pop, or Korean pop music, with PSY’s 'Gangnam Style'. The Korean Wave has really taken off in the last decade, with a growing international fan base for South Korean television dramas, fashion and pop idol groups like Big Bang and Girls’ Generation.

The lesser-known side of Korean music, however, is equally special and worthy of attention. Fortunately, Londoners now have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Korea’s rich musical culture. For the fifth year running, the K-Music festival is returning this autumn to some of the city's most famous venues with a diverse mixture of performances, showcasing artists from across the musical spectrum.

We’re particularly excited about SsingSsing, a contemporary group that fuses glam rock and funk with Korean shamanistic folk music. Lead singer Heemoon Lee will be exploring – and transcending – sexual and gender identities, and this promises to be unlike anything the Southbank Centre's Purcell Room has seen before. For another genre-blurring act, be sure to catch The Near East Quartet which draws its influence from both jazz and traditional techniques.

If you’re looking to discover more about Korea’s musical heritage, then Ahn Sook-sun’s concert is the performance for you. Specialising in pansori, a profound form of storytelling with a simple vocal-drum combo, it's sure to captivate audiences.