The 10th annual Asia Song Festival is getting ready to kick off its music-filled festivities with a night of energetic K-pop performances as well as a sprinkling of international flavor by a number of popular trending acts from other parts of Asia.

This year’s Asia Song Festival, to be held at the Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium on Oct. 9, will partner with the annual global music conference MU:CON to highlight a number of international acts including Japanese pop singer Aoyama Thelma; girl group 7icons of Indonesia; acoustic band M.Y.M.P from the Philippines; and Hong Kong solo artist G.E.M.

The full lineup of local groups comprises 2PM, Crayon Pop, Block B, EXO (K&M), Girl’s Day, Dynamic Duo, DJ KOO, Idiotape, Nobrain, ZE:A, Juny Showchestra and Shu I.

Amidst the group’s “What Time Is It?” Asia concert tour, which concluded in Seoul at the end of June, the idol group 2PM also released its third studio album “Grown,” featuring popular lead tracks “Comeback When You Hear This Song” and “A.D.T.O.Y.” Aside from their local promotions, the members of 2PM have also dedicated a lot of time this year promoting themselves in Japan, releasing the band’s latest J-pop EP “Give Me Love” in July. 

The trending ladies of Crayon Pop are trying to recreate the magic that rocketed the group to the international level with the release of the group’s second EP album “The Streets Go Disco” featuring tracks “Dancing Queen 2.0” and “Bar Bar Bar 2.0.” Following the surprising late surge in popularity of Crayon Pop’s “Bar Bar Bar” and the song’s comical “Straight-Five Engine Dance” choreography, the five schoolgirl-styled ladies strapped on their signature helmets and sporty outfits once again for the revamped versions of their past singles.

The seven members of popular hip-hop idol group Block B, who will also be taking the stage, have recently made their comeback to the music scene with the release of the group’s latest five-track EP “Very Good,” which features the album’s lead single of the same title. The album marks the first release from the relatively new group that had been swept up in an ongoing legal battle with the group’s former talent representative Stardom Entertainment earlier in the year. However, the group, under the leadership of rap star Zico, has now signed with its new agency Seven Seasons and will resume its promotional activities.

Tickets to the show can be purchased online at interpark.com.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)