Starting to feel hot and sticky? Though the weather may make you cringe, the arrival of South Korea’s hot and humid summer signals the coming of the much-anticipated music festival season, with some big names scheduled to hit Korea next month.

It may be difficult to decide which music festival to attend this year, as several world-renowned artists will perform at five different venues throughout August.

So, check out which artists will come to which events, and see how much you’re willing to stretch your wallet for some exciting music this summer.


Hyundai Card Citybreak 2014

This year’s edition of two-day rock festival Hyundai Card Citybreak will be headlined by internationally-famous artists including pop-rock band Maroon 5, heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, international K-pop star Psy and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora.

Notable foreign acts such as the alternative-metal band Deftones, punk band New Found Glory, alternative-rock band Hoobastank, and American rapper Lupe Fiasco will be performing as well.

American a cappella quintet Pentatonix, known for its unique covers and medleys of pop hits, will also join the festival. Japanese rock band Locofrank, U.S. indie rock band The Neighbourhood and local acts Nell and Lee Juk, among others, are included on the festival’s lineup as well.

Hyundai Card Citybreak 2014 will take place on Aug. 9-10 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Ticket prices range from 165,000 won to 255,000 won. Hyundai Card members receive a 20 percent discount.

For more information, visit citybreak.superseries.kr or call (02) 3141-3488.


AIA Real Life Now Festival 2014

Global superstar Lady Gaga will join some of YG Entertainment’s biggest acts including Psy, Big Bang and 2NE1 at the inaugural AIA Real Life Now Festival.

Lady Gaga will headline on Aug. 16, which will also feature Swedish DJ duo Cazzzette, Korean rock band Glen Check and quirky K-pop girl group Crayon Pop. Gaga recently selected Crayon Pop as the opening act for the U.S. leg of her worldwide concert tour “artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball.”

The first day will see popular artists from YG Entertainment, including Big Bang, 2NE1, Psy, Epik High, Akdong Musician and rookie group Winner.

AIA Real Life Now Festival will take place on Aug. 15-16 at the Olympic Stadium at Jamsil Sports Complex. Ticket prices range from 126,000 won to 220,000 won.

For more information, visit www.interpark.com or call (02) 6925-1818.


Super Sonic 2014

Super Sonic 2014 music festival will be headlined by Brian May and Roger Taylor of the iconic English rock band Queen, known for its classic hits “We Are the Champions,” “We Will Rock You” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” American Idol Season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert will sing as the band’s honorary lead vocalist.

Grammy-winning French alternative-rock band Phoenix, known for its distinctive sound that combines hard rock with synth pop, will also make its way to perform at the festival.

Other acclaimed foreign acts included in the lineup are English rock band The 1975 and American singer-songwriter duo A Great Big World. Local bands No Brain, Crying Nut, Sultan of the Disco and Gateflowers are scheduled to take the stage as well.

Super Sonic 2014 will be held on Aug. 14 at the Auxiliary Stadium at Jamsil Sports Complex in Seoul. Ticket prices range from 165,000 won to 240,000 won; a 20 percent discount is available until July 22 on Interpark and YES24. A total of 11,000 general tickets are available for 99,000 won on SKT Membership Chocolate, available only to SKT members online.

For more information, visit www.supersonickorea.com or call (02) 332-3277.


Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival 2014

This year’s Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival will bring in English psychedelic-rock band Kasabian, Scottish alt-rock band Travis, American rock band Boys Like Girls, and English rock band Starsailor.

Japanese heavy metal band Crossfaith and English indie band The Horrors will perform during the three-day festival as well.

The festival will also include performances by a wide range of local acts including electronic trio IDIOTAPE, Urban Zakapa as well as rock bands Daybreak, Dear Cloud, PIA and Romantic Punch.

Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival will take place on Aug. 1-3 at Songdo Moonlight Park (Penta Park) in Incheon. Ticket prices range from 104,500 won to 250,000 won. Camping passes, priced at 15,000 won per person for any number of days, are available as well.

For more information, visit pentaportrock.com, or call (02) 3141-3488.


SuperX Summer Festival 2014

International fashion icon and notorious socialite Paris Hilton, as well as rapper Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas, will DJ at the SuperX Summer Festival next month.

The festival is the first all-day poolside party to be launched in South Korea and will be held for two days. Only those aged over 19 (born before Aug. 15, 1995) can enter the festival.

More than 60 other EDM acts will perform. Among them are Japanese DJ Daishi Dance, and artists from the IBIZA Amnesia World Tour and the Matinee Summer Festival, including Oliver Schmitz, Joan Reyes, Mind Sylenth, Mark C, DJ Heren and Lenz Garcia.

SuperX Summer Festival 2014 will take place on Aug. 15-16 at the Walkerhill River Park, located by the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill hotel in Seoul. Ticket prices are listed at 160,000 won for a one-day pass (including three free drink coupons) and 300,000 won for a two-day pass (including six free drink coupons). Early bird discounts are available on Interpark.

For more information, visit www.interpark.com or call (02) 6959-9585.

By Sohn Ji-young (jiyoung.sohn@heraldcorp.com)