Hanoi rocks!
Wed, October 29 2008
A recent rock concert in the capital attracted 1,600 fans and, unusually, half were Vietnamese. Although headlined by Australian band Regurgitator – one of the very first international acts for Hanoi – the star appeal of some of the country’s up-and-coming rock groups was symbolic of the social change rocking the communist capital.
Ticket prices were set at just $2.30, thanks to sponsorship from Tiger Beer and the Australian Chamber of Commerce.
The presence of respected homegrown bands such as Ngu Cung and Holy Red Cross was as much, if not more, of a draw as the Australian band. Ngu Cung won Tiger Beer’s countrywide “Rock Your Passion” band competition at the beginning of this year, earning the honor of supporting U.S. rockers My Chemical Romance during their concert in Ho Chi Minh City.
The concert, coupled with a number of other large-scale events this year, such as Artport held in August, is seen by some as progress for Hanoi’s live rock scene, which has long remained an underground phenomenon in a country where pop music, techno and karaoke have ruled.
“There are a lot of activities in town now. Big companies have money for sponsorship,” said Bui Thanh Ha, the commercially-minded manager of Ngu Cung. “It’s developed a lot, the quality of bands has improved; they are sponsored by brands.”
-InterPress Service
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