SANGJARU

SANGJARU is a three-member contemporary traditional music band that blends the raw timbres of kkwaenggwari, janggu, and ajaeng with the modern energy of guitar and bass, dissolving the boundaries between musical genres. Since receiving the KB Sori Award at the Jeonju International Sori Festival, the group has built a distinctive reputation on the global world music scene, performing across Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Their signature production, KOREAN GIPSY, portrays the image of the wandering artist who carries tradition on the road. Just as Gypsy jazz embodies freedom, SANGJARU's Korean Gipsy embraces the living improvisation, vibrant rhythms, and communal spirit found in Korean traditional performing arts.

This performance reinterprets the essence of Korean traditional performance—heung (exuberant energy), pan (a shared performance space), and direct interaction with the audience—through a contemporary musical language. Drawing inspiration from the structures of nongak, folk songs, and gut rituals, the group fuses them with modern rhythms, rock, and jazz improvisation, reviving the irresistible vitality once created by traveling entertainers who captivated entire villages.

SANGJARU answers the question, "How does tradition become the music of today?" with a simple invitation:

"Come and play with SANGJARU!"