90s rock legends set to headline Korean festivals blending Gen X nostalgia with Gen Z curiosity
essential Britpop band whose core members Noel and Liam Gallagher have remained cultural icons, will perform in Korea for the first time in 16 years on Oct. 21 at Goyang Stadium in Gyeonggi Province. Their world tour is set to kick off in Cardiff, Wales, on July 4. Reports suggest that the reunion will include former bandmates Gem Archer, Bonehead, and Andy Bell, in addition to the Gallagher brothers.
The global revival of 1990s rock is not limited to Korea. In February, UK-based ticketing platform Skiddle published an article analyzing Gen Z’s growing fascination with Britpop, calling it a “historic high” in nostalgia. India’s Deccan Chronicle ran a similar piece titled “Gen Z is reviving old-school rock ‘n’ roll,” spotlighting younger fans’ enthusiasm for legacy acts like Coldplay, Bon Jovi, and Queen.
In Korea, ticket sales reflect this trend. Buyers in their 20s and 30s made up 80.1 percent of Coldplay’s audience and an even higher 84.5 percent for Oasis’s upcoming show.
“There’s a renewed interest in bands among younger generations, especially as today’s acts often sound overly polished or uniform. In contrast, bands from the 1990s offered eclectic styles and an unfiltered spirit that continues to resonate.”
The icons of ‘90s rock, from artists like Oasis, Suede, Beck, and The Smashing Pumpkins, are experiencing a resurgence on the live music scene in Korea. While drawing in their original Gen X fanbase, these legendary bands are also attracting a new wave of younger listeners in their 20s and 30s.
A lineup of renowned acts, including Coldplay, Guns N’ Roses, Oasis, Pulp, Suede, Beck, and The Smashing Pumpkins, have taken the stage or are set to perform in Korea. With the exception of Coldplay, who rose to fame in the early 2000s, most of these bands reached the height of their popularity in the 1990s. The audience, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, consists of individuals who are the children, nieces, or nephews of the Gen Xers and Millennials who once dominated the era of ‘90s rock festivals.
Three out of the “Big Four” of Britpop, namely Oasis, Blur, Suede, and Pulp, will be making appearances in Korea within a short span. Pulp, known for hits like “Disco 2000” and “Common People,” will perform in Korea for the first time at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival. Their global fame notwithstanding, Pulp has a relatively smaller fanbase in Korea, which can be attributed to their sporadic international appearances post-2000. This upcoming show follows the band’s reunion in 2023 and their release of a new album after 24 years.
Beck, the genre-defying American artist famed for blending various musical styles, is set to headline the final day of the festival. This marks his second visit to Korea after his concert in 2016. On the other hand, Suede and The Smashing Pumpkins will be the main acts at the 2025 Busan International Rock Festival, with the latter making their third appearance in Korea following shows in 2000 and 2010.
Oasis, an iconic Britpop band synonymous with its core members Noel and Liam Gallagher, will grace the Korean stage after a 16-year hiatus. The band’s highly anticipated world tour will kick off in Wales in July, featuring former members Gem Archer, Bonehead, and Andy Bell alongside the Gallagher brothers.
The resurgence of ‘90s rock is not limited to Korea, as evidenced by a growing interest from Gen Z in Britpop and old-school rock ‘n’ roll acts like Coldplay, Bon Jovi, and Queen. In Korea, this trend is reflected in ticket sales, with the majority of buyers falling in the 20s and 30s age range. According to a local concert organizer, younger generations are increasingly drawn to the eclectic styles and raw energy of ‘90s bands, in stark contrast to the polished and homogenous sounds of contemporary acts.