Yuewen Music Festival Complaints abound, but K-pop stars lift spirits

Complaints about the inaugural three-day Yuewen Music Festival held at Sentosa's Siloso Beach did not abate on its second day on Dec 29, as irate attendees continued to lash out about inconveniences related to bad weather.

- Benson Ang

On Dec 28, many left scathing reviews of the proceedings on social media and blasted the mismanagement of the event organised by Chinese entertainment company Yuewen Group.

Most grouses revolved around being made to evacuate from the event area when a lightning warning was issued with no proper shelter available, missing artistes' performances due to a long re-entry process, and sets being cut short.

The Dec 28 line-up included Taiwanese Mandopop singers Maggie Chiang and Lala Hsu, K-pop girl groups Kiss Of Life, Itzy and Red Velvet's sub-unit Irene & Seulgi, and Thai singer-actor idols Billkin Putthipong Assaratanakul and PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn.

The conditions were not ideal again on Dec 29. According to the event's Instagram page, a lightning alert was in effect at 2.40pm, which delayed the event's original start time of 3pm.

The sets by South Korean singer Kino, South Korean rapper Wooseok and Chinese rapper Gali were cancelled, amid heavy rain over two hours in the late afternoon and fears of lightning.

The joint set by Thai actors Win Metawin and Nanon was also cut short.

Polytechnic students Kamin Tan, 21, and Ong XY, 24, who attended the festival on Dec 28 and 29, said the second day was worse as they missed more acts.