Beginning way back in the mid 1990’s Freebird endures in the tumultuous Korean Indie music scene despite a number of hiccups. Sure it’s, closed and reopened and closed and reopened but like it’s namesake it rises phoenix like from the ashes of what it was to become something leaner and meaner and better. What’s clear is that Freebird has planted deep roots in the music scene. Where else in Seoul can you see neophyte musicians burning up the stage rocking out, giving it all to an expectant audience? Not many places.
Freebird isn’t concerned with the stereotypical “sounds of Korea”. You know what I mean: the sugary smack of K-pop bubblegum music made for the legion of tween-age boys and girls eager to gobble, chew and spit it out ready for the next hit. Suffice it to say the acts you hear at Freebird won’t be plastered on billboards or seen in TV commercials hawking Shin Ramyun or Adidas track shoes. No, these bands sweat blood and tears for their music, playing gigs deep into the night sometimes for packed houses and other times for a few die hard fans desperate for a sound that’s different from the typical K-pop white noise.
In it’s previous incarnation Freebird proved to be a small and intimate space where bands could perform up and personal with the audience. You could literally reach out and wipe the sweat from a drummers brow or pass a bottle of water to a thirsty singer. The booze was cheap and the dance floor open for you to thrash about and mosh until the sun came up. Now, in it’s new location, Freebird enjoys a roomier more open space. Here the high ceiling looms far overhead. There’s a second floor where you can you view the action with a bird’s eye view. With new territory comes new experiences. Freebird has opened it’s arm to a more variety of musical acts. Now not only rock and rollers jam on stage. On any given night you can hear hip hop artists, electronic music DJ’s spinning tracks, or even rookies trying out their craft for the first time in front of a live audience.
What’s important is that Freebird is a space for music and music lovers no matter who they are or where they come from. Why not go and see and hear for yourself?
Address: 19-22 Wausan-ro 17-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02-335-4576
Subway: Sangsu Station(Line 6), exit 2.
Opening hours: 9pm–1am
Price: Shots from 3,000 won, beer from 4,000 won
The more genres the merrier I say!
This seems like a venue I can get behind! I love me a divey ambiance and freebird seems to deliver on that front just fine. It’s really great the venue has been around for such a long time and survived its many reiterations. I’d love to check it out next time I’m in Seoul! Thanks for letting us all in on this place 🙂
It’s definitely worth a visit especially with a long line up of bands.
ahhh… reminds me of university days. Sangsu is a great place to stroll around and I did blog about the area because I am in love with it. And the best part? it’s near Sangam-dong where I live. So yes, another place my husband and I could check!
The area is great for a weekend afternoon. I like to just people watch and get brunch.
Big fan of live music, sadly it doesn’t present itself too much here in Daejeon. Also, why does it have to be a the crazy night hours?! how about a nice jam session at 5pm so we can all go home at a reasonable hour and get your beauty rest…:)
These days that’s way more my speed. In fact live music in the park around noon would be just fine too!
That’s interesting! Sometimes it’s tiring to listen to the same Kpop songs while shopping around Myeongdong or Hongdae. It’s a breathe of fresh air to listen to other genres of Korean music.