The first-ever SNU Rock Festival, held on April 1 to 2 at the Poongsan Outdoor Theater was a vibrant display of the lively music culture of SNU's band clubs. With support from the SNU Institute for Culture and Arts, seventeen student bands took the stage to perform a variety of rock genres.
The organizing committee of the first-ever SNU Rock Festival
The idea for the event began with the simple thought of wanting to perform outdoors, proposed by Lee Sang-hoo, the head of the organizing committee and a member of the band Dither Plan. Determined to bring this vision to life, Lee reached out to students from different bands to form the organizing committee for the festival.
Because it was SNU’s first rock festival, securing the budget and gaining publicity were two of the biggest challenges. Planning started from scratch and involved considerable efforts to raise funds for stage setups and event operations. The team was worried about publicity as hosting a rock-focused event was a new venture at SNU. Fortunately, support from organizations such as the Student Council’s Cultural Autonomy Committee, SNU Institute for Culture and Arts, and local businesses like Gangseo Himsan Hospital and Tsingtao aided the event's successful execution. In the end, the event attracted a remarkable turnout of 2,500 to 3,000 attendees over the two days. "It's still hard to believe that a casual conversation evolved into such a large event," Lee reflected.
Band members performing on stage
The event showcased live performances from a diverse lineup of bands, featuring both original compositions and unique interpretations of songs. A total of seventeen bands participated – Dither Plan, BandArch_Blueprint, AmPlifier, Pamoon, Zebra, Eniac, JAME, Meari, Zither, Pitch Shifter, Brave Cookie, MESIK, Comikoto, LAB, Crazy Light Egg, Maegimsori, and Danfung – all with distinct identities. Each band brought its unique sound and energy to the stage, adding to the event’s dynamic atmosphere.
A highlight of the festival was the performance by ‘Broccoli, you too?,’ an 18-year-old band loved for their fresh lyrics and melancholic sound. Students in the audience mentioned that seeing the band live was an incredible experience, with many expressing surprise that they performed at SNU. Some shared how they had been fans for years and watching the band in person felt like a dream come true.
Broccoli, you too? performing at the Rock Festival
Students enjoying the festival
Apart from the live performances, booths and events were also hosted near the Poongsan Outdoor Theater. The merchandise booth in particular offered limited edition products such as T-shirts, tattoo stickers, and guitar picks. Participants could also leave notes about their favorite bands in a fun activity titled “Find My Favorite Band, Find My Bandmate,” and connect with others who shared similar tastes. Other activities included creating personalized band bracelets and playing mini-games like drumstick ring toss. Food and refreshments were also provided from booths run by student organizations, such as the cooking club CookN and the cocktail and beverage club Hurim.
Students participating in booth activities
Students in Hurim making spicy mocktails
"I hope that this event can serve as a reference for larger-scale music such as a joint rock festival among universities in Seoul, and even a nationwide university rock festival," Lee answered when asked about his vision for this festival in years to come. The goal for now though is to establish it as an annual tradition, fostering exchange among SNU's band clubs and promoting the spread of rock music and festival culture.
Written by Jeemin Suh, SNU English Editor, jiminasuh@snu.ac.kr