CIFIKA, Say Sue Me, SION and Wah Wah Wah announce debut Australian performances at Live Nation’s ONES TO WATCH in Sydney + Take over Melbourne’s 170 Russell with special guests Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers this April!
Bringing some of South Korea’s rising indie exports to Australia, the Korea Spotlight will return down under after its debut at SXSW Sydney in 2023. Landing in Sydney, electronic-pop composer CIFIKA, Busan based indie rock/pop band Say Sue Me, producer and RnB songwriter SION, and Seoul based collective Wah Wah Wah, all make their Australian debuts as part of Live Nation ONES TO WATCH on Monday 14 April at The Oxford Arts Factory with limited tickets open to the public.
Then, the Korea Spotlight will travel south to take over at Melbourne’s iconic 170 Russell on Wednesday, 16 April, with very special Australian guests, four-piece powerhouse Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, which promises to be a show not to miss. Tickets go on sale on Friday 14 March at 11am AEDT.
Ones to Watch Korea Spotlight
Monday 14 April – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
CIFIKA
SION
Say Sue Me
Wah Wah Wah
Wednesday 16 April – Korea Spotlight
170 Russell, Melbourne
CIFIKA
SION
Say Sue Me
Wah Wah Wah
+ Special Guests Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers
Tickets for 170 Russell on sale Friday 14 March at 11am AEDT here
For ticketing and more information, visit livenation.com.au or www.koreaspotlight2025.com/au
Korea Spotlight is a global music showcase series presented by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), and in 2025, it will travel to Bangkok, the UK, Germany, and Mexico. It is dedicated to bringing Korea’s most exciting emerging artists to international audiences. As the driving force behind Korea’s creative industries, KOCCA supports the growth and global reach of Korean music, gaming, animation, fashion, and more, helping innovative talent break new ground worldwide.
This year’s Korea Spotlight in Australia is produced in partnership with Live Nation, bringing a dynamic lineup of indie and electronic artists returning to Sydney and launching in Melbourne for the first time. Through collaborations like these, KOCCA continues to champion the next wave of Korean cultural exports, connecting artists with new fans across the globe.
Wenona Lok, Promoter, Live Nation Australasia: “Live Nation is excited to partner with KOCCA to bring this event to life, showcasing some of Korea’s phenomenal talent to Australian music fans. For years, Asia Pop has been a powerful undercurrent in our music scene, and now, we’re finally seeing it rise to the surface. It’s not a new phenomenon, but a long-overdue recognition of a vibrant genre. After more than a decade in this industry, and two years specifically focusing on Asia Pop at Live Nation, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible surge.”
Don’t miss your chance to discover your new favourite South Korean artists CIFIKA, Say Sue Me, SION, and Wah Wah Wah when they perform in Melbourne for one night only alongside one of Australia’s most dynamic and accomplished live acts Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers before they hit the road in the USA.
CIFIKA
CIFIKA’s work has always existed beyond boundaries. Born and raised in South Korea, she attended high school and college (an art major) in Oregon and California. Her multicultural experience led to a heightened awareness of language, which she brings to her lyrics in both languages. Fluent in sonic and visual expression, CIFIKA creates vivid music realms anchored by her ethereal electronic-pop compositions. Having emerged with her 2016 breakout EP ‘INTELLIGENTSIA’ the Seoul-based artist, singer, and producer filters humanism through the natural, celestial, and futuristic. On her 2020 debut album ‘HANA’, CIFIKA captured nostalgia through earthly elements and spiritual cycles. Her new full-length album, Bonfire, reveals a more organic side of her artistry, embracing warmth and intimacy in ways that differ from her previous electro-avant work. This new chapter showcases her continual evolution as an artist, offering a deeply personal glimpse into her musical journey.
SAY SUE ME
Hailing from Busan, South Korea, indie pop rockers Say Sue Me features the musical talents of Byungkyu Kim on lead guitar, Sumi Choi on vocals and rhythm guitar, Jaeyoung Kim on Bass and Sungwan Lim on Drums. Their unique blend of indie pop, surf rock, shoegaze, and rock ‘n’ roll has seen them receive widespread acclaim, including features on BBC Radio and Bandcamp’s Best Albums of 2018, plus praise from the likes of Stereogum, Billboard, NPR, and MTV. Their most recent album, The Last Thing Left, was released in 2022 as the band celebrated their 10th anniversary since forming with a special EP of cover songs titled 10, receiving nominations at the 2023 Korean Music Awards for Best New Album (Rock) and Best New Song (Rock). Outside of Korea, Say Sue Me’s career has taken them across Europe, Japan, and North America, showcasing at the likes of SXSW, The Great Escape, Reeperbahn and more.
SION
A self-taught singer, songwriter & producer born in Germany and living in South Korea, SION’s journey is a tale of self-taught mastery and undeniable talent. Breaking into the music scene with a standout performance on ‘The Voice of Germany, Sion’s artistry has blossomed, capturing hearts globally, and SION has proven his unique talent in the K-pop industry as a songwriter, receiving recognition from various artists, including Mark from NCT and V from BTS. His sound—a hybrid of jazz, glitch hop, indie rock, and pop—carves a unique niche in R&B and pop, with influences from Frank Ocean to Porter Robinson. Kicking off 2024 with a sold-out solo concert at Rolling Hall, SION continued with successful shows in Taipei and South Korea and will be performing at the Reperbahn Festival Berlin, followed by a European tour this October.
WAH WAH WAH
A 4 piece psychedelic rock band formed by former DTSQ leader Kim Soo-hyun, Choi Woong-hee, a member of Silica Gel, Wah Wah Wah are currently one of the most notable rock bands in Korea, former DTSQ bassist Joonseop, and Dead Buttons drummer Seo Won-seok. Their music combines the raw energy and tone of garage rock with progressive rock’s intricate and refined elements. While their sound may remind listeners of bands like King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, it also carries an intuitive and youthful energy that makes it uniquely powerful, with all music distributed via their independent record label, Goodboy Records. During their live shows, they incorporate animations inspired by the liquid light shows that swept through New York clubs during the 1960s psychedelic era, creating an immersive experience that is rarely seen in Korea.
TEEN JESUS AND THE JEAN TEASERS
Having capped off a massive 2023, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers supported the Foo Fighters stadium show in Melbourne before embarking on their I Love You Too deluxe album tour in 2024 and joined Pearl Jam on their Australian tour, hitting stadium stages in Queensland, Sydney, and Melbourne. If this wasn’t enough, they also won the AIR Award for Best Independent Rock Album or EP. They made history as the first non-male band to win an ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artistand on top of this they were recognised as Spotify’s RADAR and Ones To Watch Artist, and single ‘I Used To Be Fun’ gained international attention after being featured on Netflix’s Heartstopper, cementing their rising global influence is undeniable.
About ONES TO WATCH
ONES TO WATCH series has made a solid impact within the Australian music community. In Australia since 2021, the series has been serving industry and fans exclusive opportunities to see some of the country’s best talent perform in intimate environments across Melbourne, Sydney, Darwin and Brisbane, highlighting the talent of the current wave of Australian talent primed to make their impact in other markets.
Since its establishment in North America, the ONES TO WATCH series has been able to support and promote artists such as Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo and Halsey early in their careers. So far in Australia, ONES TO WATCH has platformed artists including Salty, Lotte Gallagher, Fletcher Kent, Chanel Loren, J-MILLA, Georgia Lines, Ishan, Adrian Dzvuke, Phebe Starr, J.Tajor, Yung Milla, Juran, Blake Rose, Sophisticated Dingo, STUMPS, Forest Claudette, Teenage Joans, Carla Wehbe, ZPLUTO, WIIGZ, Hoodzy, East AV3, Colourblind and Saint Lane at events around the country.
About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market Sponsorship. For additional information, visit livenationentertainment.com.