With a mouth-watering line-up packed with boundary-pushing showcases and remarkable collaborations, this year’s iteration of the K-Music Festival shines the light on some of Korea’s most exciting musicians, while reflecting the immense impact of that nation’s culture across the globe during the last decade and more.

Opening proceedings, at the Barbican on October 3, are the National Changgeuk Company, returning to the UK with a sure-to-be scintillating production of Edward Bond’s ingenious Shakespeare redux, Lear, while some of Korea’s best female artists are represented at the fest in the form of acclaimed jazz singer Youn Sun Nah, presenting her tribute to artists such as Nina Simone, Roberta Flack and Björk with French pianist Bojan Z at Islington’s Union Chapel on October 6, and exceptional soprano Hera Hyesang Park, making her K-Music debut with her evocative treatments of traditional Korean tuneage at St John’s Smith Square on October 26.

Former Songlines Music Awards winners, eminent ensemble Black String, are set to reveal both new material and back catalogue classics at Kings Place on October 30, before two extraordinary groups close the programme: No-Noise, a combustible quintet led by Lee II-woo and Sung Si Young of post-rock sensations Jambinai, perform alongside the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra (SMTO) at Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room on November 15, before OBANGSINGWA, led by visionary SsingSsing vocalist Heemoon Lee, makes a welcome return to the Purcell on November 23, following his successful showing there in 2018, to present his latest album, SPANGLE, a psychedelic neo-minyō masterpiece.

For full details and ticket information visit www.kccuk.org.uk