TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Pingtung County Government, located in Taiwan's southernmost region, unveiled plans on Friday (July 18) for an ambitious new music festival called "SSR Hengchun Heat," scheduled to run from August 1 to 3 at the scenic Dawan Recreation Area (墾丁大灣遊憩區) along Taiwan's popular southern coastline. The three-day musical extravaganza will showcase performances from 32 diverse artists spanning multiple Asian countries, headlined by prominent Taiwanese pop singer Nick Chou (周湯豪), alongside international acts including the rising South Korean K-pop boy band DKB and the newly debuted South Korean girl group YOUNG POSSE.
Fenglan Yin (鄞鳳蘭), who serves as the Pingtung County Government's Director of Communications and International Affairs, explained that the festival's name "SSR" represents "South Sound Rock," reflecting both the event's geographic location and musical focus. Yin noted that county officials have designed the festival specifically to elevate the international profile of the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島), a picturesque coastal region known for its beaches and natural landscapes. The cross-cultural musical gathering will feature a diverse roster of performers and DJs representing five Asian nations — Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia — and will encompass multiple musical styles ranging from mainstream pop and hip-hop to rock and electronic dance music.
Many of the international performers scheduled to appear at the festival have recently experienced significant career momentum in the Asian music market. The South Korean boy band DKB comes to Taiwan fresh from completing their successful sold-out world tour earlier in 2024, while their compatriots YOUNG POSSE have quickly established themselves as rising stars after their debut single attracted more than 30 million views across streaming platforms. The festival lineup also includes Thai R&B sensation MEYOU, who has earned recognition as one of the 100 most popular musical artists in Asia and has generated an impressive tally of over 4 billion views for his music content worldwide.
The inaugural "SSR Hengchun Heat" will serve as the Taiwan debut performance venue for Japanese musical group TOKYO HONEY TRAP and Malaysian digital content creator and musician Zed.X, adding to the event's international appeal. Domestic musical talent will feature prominently as well, with performances scheduled from several of Taiwan's emerging artists, including the popular group Nine One One (玖壹壹), hip-hop artist Trout Fresh (呂士軒), and indie favorites PAPUN BAND (怕胖團). Beyond the musical performances, festival organizers have planned a vibrant marketplace comprising more than 50 vendor stalls showcasing local artisanal products and regional cuisine, complemented by a competitive beer tasting event celebrating craft brewing. ◼