BackArts & Culture » Music & Art » The Masterminds of Saigon's Most Memorable Concerts Join Forces to Create a Brand-New Beach Festival

The Masterminds of Saigon's Most Memorable Concerts Join Forces to Create a Brand-New Beach Festival

The organizers of some of Saigon's most legendary recent concerts are combining forces to bring a new music festival to Ho Tram later this year.

Set for November 16-17, Coracle Music Festival is the brainchild of the teams behind Loud Minority, Cargo, The Observatory and Saigon Outcast. The event will take place on the beach at Bien Ho Campsite near Ho Tram.

Damian Kilroy, who brought acts such as Japandroids, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Wild Beasts to District 4's now-shuttered Cargo through Loud Minority, tells Saigoneer that he was looking to get back into the music scene after spending the last year setting up a bar in Vung Tau.

"I always thought it would be nice to do a festival," Kilroy shares. "We did one in Mui Ne a couple of years ago and weren't happy with the outcome. The idea was to do two stages, one curated by Loud Minority and the other by The Observatory."

Dan Bi Mong, who runs the latter, was more than happy to get involved. His popular venue is set to re-open in its third location soon, this time on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street in District 1, but he was excited to work on a larger event.

"We're going to have four international acts and maybe another four Asian acts from Taiwan or Japan, and then local Vietnamese or people who are living in Vietnam," Bi Mong shares.

It's too early to announce any confirmed acts on either stage, but Kilroy is pleased with progress on this front thus far. "I've spoken to a few agents of bands who played here before, letting them know that we're back in the game," he says. "I've got about four or five [bands] that have said they're in, but they haven't signed contracts yet."

Kilroy adds that he is pursuing Le Cat Trong Ly in hopes of having her perform.

The first artist announcement will take place on June 18. Tickets will also go on sale that day, with price points expected to start at VND1.5 million for both days and camping included, or VND1.2 million for attendees who don't want to camp.

Both Kilroy and Bi Mong, along with Outcast's Linh Nguyen, share a frustration with the difficulty of putting on shows in Saigon these days. "I've gotten a lot of emails from agents with bands that we've had on before and I kept having to say, 'Sorry, there's no way I can do a show'," Kilroy shares. "Anywhere between 300 and 1,000 people, there's just no venue."

Nguyen adds: "I'm frustrated by noise complains at Outcast, and even at Rogue and Soma we get complaints. I've wanted to open a venue similar to Cargo, but smaller, but rents are just insane."

In the end, Kilroy believes the experience that he, Nguyen and Bi Mong, along with Rod Quinton of Cargo, have will establish Coracle as a festival to watch. "There is a lot of mutual respect between the four of us and together we bring a lot to the table. I'm excited about the possibilities and creating some very special here," he says in a press release.

Keep an eye on Coracle's website for artist announcements and news regarding tickets and accommodation.

The Coracle Music Festival poster.


Related Articles:

- The Facetious Gender Politics of Go Lim, Hanoi's Feminist Post-Punk Quintet

- Introducing Nổi, a Live Music Project by Saigoneer and Digipost

- Sirens of Ha Long: Facetiousness and Vitriol on Debut EP ‘Rampant Happiness’


Related Articles

in Music & Arts

1980s German Pop Duo Modern Talking to Perform in Hanoi This March

The once-hugely successful 1980s West Berlin pop band are set to play a gig in Hanoi's National Convention Center. 

in Music & Arts

A Look Inside Manzi's New Contemporary Art Exhibition Space

Manzi, one of Hanoi’s most well-known artistic hubs and a draw for creative crowds, is expanding.

in Music & Arts

Abstract Art Exhibition Examines Rural-Urban Divide From Two Perspectives

On February 20, VICAS Art Studio opened its latest exhibition, the endearingly named ‘EM CHÀO CÁC BÁC!’ (‘HI THERE, CITY FOLKS!’) Featuring new paintings from artists Doan Xuan Tung and Nguyen Nghia C...

in Music & Arts

Affordable Art Fair 'Art For You' Returns to Hanoi Next Week

Art For You, the art fair organized by Manzi Art Space and Workroom Four aimed at art enthusiasts who can't afford to shop at high-end galleries, is returning to Hanoi next week.

in Music & Arts

Amid Contemporary Colonial Nostalgia, New Printmaking Exhibition Deconstructs Indochina's Legacy

Contemporary artist Le Giang’s latest exhibition dissects Indochina’s legacy in the public imagination via a series of prints, a sound installation and a painting.

in Music & Arts

An Introduction to Hanoi's Flourishing Independent Music Scene

From fusion bands to pianists and close-knit young collectives, Hanoi’s independent music scene is blooming.

Partner Content