Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ closing in London after 12 years

LONDON (AFP) ― The Queen musical “We Will Rock You” is to close in its London home after 12 straight years, producers said Tuesday.The show, which has played to more than 6.5 million people at the Dominion Theatre, will close on May 31 after what will be more than 4,600 performances.The musical, set in a future where music is computer-generated and instruments banned, sees a group of rebels bringing rock back to life, inspired by surviving fragments of songs ― chiefly Queen’s masterpiece “Bohemi

PerformanceMarch 12, 2014

South By Southwest overstuffed with music goodies

South By Southwest and the surrounding unaffiliated hoopla have slipped into hyperdrive as the music portion of the annual conference and festival opens this week. Kanye West and Jay Z have announced they’re headed to Austin, Texas, the cherry on top of a gloriously all-over-the-place gathering that also will feature Lady Gaga as a keynote speaker, Lil Wayne as an interview subject and 2,000 other acts vying for attention in the midst of the frenzy. And there are still more surprises to come. Tr

PerformanceMarch 12, 2014

Gypsy jazz band La Vie est Belle to perform in March

Up-and-coming gypsy jazz band La Vie est Belle is scheduled to perform live at Olympus Hall in Samseong-dong, Seoul on March 21.Titled “Gypsy World,” the concert will feature a variety of songs ranging from upbeat, groovy compositions to gypsy-influenced tunes from the band’s recently released album “Gypsy Mood.”The gypsy band La Vie est Belle ― a French phrase for “life is beautiful” ― was formed under the influence of jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli by five acc

PerformanceMarch 12, 2014

It’s hats off, and everything else, as nudist resort marks 50 years

ORLANDO, Florida ― Hans Stein is 86 years old and ― except for tennis shoes ― naked as the day he was born.Fit and looking much younger than his years, he has a simple explanation: “It’s the nudist lifestyle!”Stein and his wife, 81-year old Lisa, are part of a cadre of longtime members at Cypress Cove, a nudist resort near Kissimmee, Florida, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.Like the Steins ― who are German-born Canadians ― a number of members are foreign-born, and they use words such

CultureMarch 12, 2014

‘Hola, Salsa’: Disputed origins of Latin music’s most popular genre

Latin music as we know it comes from a harmonious marriage of African drums and Spanish guitar, and salsa, perhaps the most popular and complex of all Latin musical genres, is no exception. However, the origin of salsa remains a hot topic of debate.Yet the exotic allure of its exciting sound is immensely popular all over the world, including right here in South Korea.The sizzling Afro-Cuban rhythms of son montuno, guaguanco, mambo, cha-cha-cha, guaracha and rumba, together with plena and charang

CultureMarch 12, 2014

Does Disney‘s ‘Frozen’ promote homosexuality?

Disney’s animated film “Frozen” is trying to “indoctrinate” children into being gay, and treating “homosexuality and bestiality in a light sort of way,” American Pastor Kevin Swanson said in a radio broadcast. 　The sensational film has reportedly grossed over $1 billion worldwide and won two Oscars, but it has been blasted for being “too gay-friendly.” 　Swanson, however, did not cite specific scenes that he viewed as advocating homosexuality.　Blogger Kathryn Skaggs also penned a lengthy post las

FilmMarch 12, 2014

Expat designer promotes sustainability maxim

An expat designer has teamed up with local firm Ssamzie for a collection of bags, wallets and other items made with recycled leather as part of his push to help fuel Korea’s sustainable design trend.Sven Schelwach created his design company Taomina several years ago to design high-end sustainable furniture. But when he began lecturing at Hongdae University in Seoul, it led to an unexpected opportunity. When his students saw his wallet designs, they suggested he approach the firm, as they had a s

Expat LivingMarch 11, 2014

St. Paddy’s to return to Seoul

The St. Patrick’s Day Festival will return to Seoul’s D Cube City on Saturday for a scaled-up celebration of Ireland’s national day. The centerpiece of the event will be the open-air concert, which this year will feature the Boxty Rebellion, an Irish folk band flying in especially for the event. Other main stage events will be a performance from Korean-Irish dance troupe Tap Pung, a military band, and a “ceili” ― a traditional type of Irish folk dancing that everyone can get involved in.“The St.

Expat LivingMarch 11, 2014

Asian Film Market advisers announced

Kim Woo-taek, CEO of major Korean film production and distribution company Next Entertainment World, has been named one of the advisors and consultants for the Asian Film Market to be held in October this year.The film market, which is a comprehensive marketplace for an array of industry events at the annual Busan International Film Festival, announced the list of advisors to this year’s edition on Tuesday. The names on the list include Choi Jae-won of Withus Film, who produced this year’s box o

FilmMarch 11, 2014

Refurbished Jackson Pollock masterpiece goes on display

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― “Mural,” the brilliant Jackson Pollock painting that took 20th century American art in a new direction, has re-emerged from seclusion with a stunning face-lift that’s given it a brighter look and an even more towering presence than it had before. The oil-on-canvas masterpiece that measures more than 8 feet tall and nearly 20 feet long has been under wraps at the J. Paul Getty Museum for more than a year, undergoing an extensive restoration. Painted in 1943 for wealthy art coll

PerformanceMarch 11, 2014

Older male K-pop fans inspire artist

There have been flashy, glamorous collaborative projects between K-pop stars and artists, but few have dealt with the fans who cheer on the stars. Artist Jung Yeon-doo examines a fan craze for Korean pop idols in his latest work “Crayon Pop Special.” The group of fans in whom Jung took interest, however, was not teenage girls, but men in their late 30s and 40s. Cheers in low male voices echo across the exhibition hall. The bass sounds come from Jung’s 30-minute video showing about 50 older male

PerformanceMarch 11, 2014

Lil Boosie: Prison term of the 1,000 songs

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ― Rapper Lil Boosie says serving time in a Louisiana prison on drug charges was life changing, has made him a better person and ultimately, he hopes, a better artist. “I feel like I’ve got more stories to tell,” Lil Boosie said during a press event Monday in New Orleans. “I’ve got a lot to say about my life, about what I went through in prison and about what my family went through. “I’m a much better person. I’m much stronger. I know who my real friends are and I know who ain’t.

PerformanceMarch 11, 2014

Boyfriend stages first K-pop concert in Puerto Rico

K-pop boy group Boyfriend has become the first K-pop band to perform independently in Puerto Rico after successfully holding its first solo concert in the South American country last week, said the group’s management agency on Monday.On March 8, the six-member boy group staged its solo concert titled “Boyfriend, fan meeting en Puerto Rico” for 1,700 local fans who gathered at the Centro De Bellas Artes Luis A Ferre in San Juan, Puerto Rico. For more than two hours, fans enthusiastically sang alo

March 11, 2014