Country Gongbang
CoCountrey
Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival has long honored the roots of bluegrass. In 2026, we begin a new tradition, highlighting exceptional international artists who carry this music beyond its Appalachian origins.
Our inaugural Beyond Borders International Band is Korea’s own Country GongBang.
Korean bluegrass ensemble Country GongBang is part of a growing global movement carrying Appalachian music far beyond its birthplace. In 2023, the group received the International Bluegrass Music Association’s International Band Performance Grant, recognizing their role in expanding bluegrass internationally.
The band’s name, rendered in Korean as 컨트리공방, loosely translates to “Country Studio Performance”. It draws inspiration from a popular Korean phenomenon in which students livestream themselves studying or practicing. That spirit of focused craft and shared experience reflects the band’s approach to music: disciplined, intentional, and rooted in tradition while open to new expression.
Country GongBang performs contemporary bluegrass sung in both English and Korean, blending cultures without losing the drive, harmony, and acoustic foundation that define the genre. Their work has found an international audience through YouTube and festival appearances, including France’s La Roche Bluegrass Festival and Japan’s Takarazuka Bluegrass Festival.
As bluegrass continues to evolve worldwide, Country GongBang stands at the forefront of its global reach.
“Their Korean-influenced repertoire epitomizes the talent, passion, and creativity growing in bluegrass music around the world!” Bluegrass Today