PROJECT 1004

Tag: kpop concert

  • WAY BETTER Announces North American Dates and Cities for their “Global Warming” Tour

    WAY BETTER Announces North American Dates and Cities for their “Global Warming” Tour

    ANKR Entertainment, WAY BETTER, and Red Crown recently announced the upcoming cities and dates for the North American tour “Global Warming“. The tour will feature artists from20, HELLO GLOOM, and KANG YUCHAN from WAY BETTER. WAY BETTER is an all-male music label that was created by artists from20 and HELLO GLOOM. They both originally debuted as K-pop idols from the bands BIGSTAR and IMFACT. After they left their previous company, they started the label WAY BETTER. Since starting their own label, they have released many catchy songs like “MAMACITA”, “Blue”, “Chemical”, and “WEOL”. They have been working hard on creating their own music and producing other artists. Many fans are thankful to WAY BETTER as they have been signing other Kpop idols like KANG YUCHAN from A.C.E and LIM SEJUN from VICTON.

    Outside from their promotions in Korea, WAY BETTER came to the US last year for KCON LA 2025. KANG YUCHAN and LIM SEJUN was scheduled to attend and perform. But, due to health-related reasons, KANG YUCHAN and LIM SEJUN had to pull out of the festival. Even though WAY BETTER lost half of their performers, the audience could still feel and see how much talent and fun the artists were having. By the end of the festival, the WAY BETTER artists had large crowds following them from the X Stage to the Busking Stage. Fans can be seen dancing and singing along to their songs throughout their performances. from20 and HELLO GLOOM also performed at the M Countdown Pre-Show Stage on Day 2 of KCON LA 2025.

    Since their KCON performance, from20 has released the song “Social”. This features a more sexy and mature feel. KANG YUCHAN has released his first EP ‘REBEL’ featuring his title track, “Close to You”. And LIM SEJUN just released his digital single, “Pray For God” this week.

    We are excited to be seeing WAY BETTER performing in the US again. The “Global Warming” tour will will begin in Houston, Texas and end in Los Angeles, California. There will be 12 stops to the tour and it will run from April 27th until May 15th.

  • KCON Announces LA Dates for 2026

    KCON Announces LA Dates for 2026

    KCON has officially announced the LA dates for 2026. This year, KCON LA will be taking place on August 14th– 16th. KCON is one of the most exciting K-pop events of the year. The three-day festival allows US fans to see the music program M Countdown live, interact with their favorite artists, and introduce K-pop fans to Korean brands. KCON usually brings some of the hottest artists in town so fans are always excited to see whom will be attending and performing each year. Artists for KCON LA 2026 have yet to be announced.

    KCON Japan will be taking place on May 8th-10th. Some of the hottest and up and coming artists like &TEAM, CORTIS, Heart2Heart, and TWS will be performing. This year, ZEROBASEONE, JO1, and INI will be the headliners for KCON Japan 2026.

  • Big Ocean Announces their 2nd US Tour <THE GREATEST BATTLE>

    Big Ocean Announces their 2nd US Tour <THE GREATEST BATTLE>

    This morning, Big Ocean (빅오션) and KORUS Entertainment announced Big Ocean’s upcoming U.S. Tour on Instagram. Big Ocean is the first K-pop band where all members are hard of hearing. They recently completed their first U.S. Tour last year and will be releasing a new mini-album, <THE GREATEST BATTLE>, on March 3rd. Check out the teaser for their new song below.

    The tour is set to begin on April 10 in Chicago, Illinois with the possibility of additional concerts dates added in the future. Minnesota will be the 3rd stop on the tour. Venues for the tour will be announced at a later date.

    Many fans have already expressed their excitement for this upcoming album and tour by posting comments and sharing the instagram posts.

    Are you guys excited in seeing Big Ocean in Minnesota again?

    Check out our other articles of their other US activities below:

    Big Ocean Kicks Off Their First US Tour with a Cafe Fan Event at Niko Niko Boba Cafe
    When Music Speaks in Every Language: Big Ocean’s Inspiring U.S. Debut
    Inside the 2025 Atlanta Korean Festival: K-Pop, Culture, and Culinary Delights

  • 1VERSE Postpones Their Concert in Minnesota

    1VERSE Postpones Their Concert in Minnesota

    1VERSE has announced that they will be postponing their upcoming concert in Minnesota due to safety concerns for artists and fans. 1VERSE is a five-member boyband that was created by Singing Beetle Entertainment. They debuted in July of 2025 and just recently release their song “WABIF (‘Wide Awake before I Fall’)”.

    The band consists of five members—Hyeok, Seok, Nathan, Kenny, and Aito. Member Hyeok is currently on a personal and health hiatus right now and will not be participating in the tour.

    1VERSE was scheduled to perform at Granada Theater in Minneapolis tomorrow night. However, the concert has been postponed due to the political unrest happening in Minneapolis. Tomorrow will mark 1 week since the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and today will be second General Strike in Minnesota.

    The concert has been postponed to March 25th, 2026.

    Read the full announcement of the postponement below.

  • Hannah Bahng Warms Hearts on a Cold Winter Night in Minneapolis

    Hannah Bahng Warms Hearts on a Cold Winter Night in Minneapolis

    Minneapolis, MN

    The chilly weather and first snowfall of the season didn’t stop fans from lining up outside the Varsity Theater on Sunday night to see Hannah Bahng perform at her long-awaited Minneapolis concert. Even passersby could feel the fans’ dedication — many had been waiting outside for hours before doors opened, despite not being dressed for the cold.

    Fans shivered in the freezing air, chatting to keep their spirits up. Some tucked their faces into their sweaters or pulled their shirts over their legs in an attempt to stay warm. But as soon as the venue doors opened and everyone stepped into the cozy theater, the cold was quickly forgotten. The warm, intimate atmosphere set the perfect tone for an evening of laughter, heartfelt stories, and soul-soothing music.

    Who is Hannah Bahng?

    Hannah Bahng is a rising Korean-Australian artist known for her relatability, genre-blending music, and engaging TikTok presence. This show marked her first-ever visit and performance in Minnesota. Many fans outside mentioned discovering her through TikTok or through her brother, Bang Chan, the leader of the K-pop group Stray Kids.

    Concert Experience

    Tickets were sold in three tiers:

    • VIP 1: Meet and greet, photo with Hannah, sound check access, and a lanyard
    • VIP 2: Sound check access and a lanyard
    • General Admission: Entry to the main concert

    During the sound check session, Hannah created a personal, lighthearted atmosphere with her VIP fans — answering questions, cracking jokes, and even attempting a Minnesota accent. When one brave fan asked her to marry her, Hannah playfully responded by asking the fan’s age. Upon hearing “13,” she laughed and said, “For legal reasons, I cannot marry you,” earning laughter from the crowd.

    Hannah also shared her latest obsession: gumball machines. She had one on stage and invited a fan up to turn the handle to choose that night’s sound check song. The lucky pick was Sabrina Carpenter’s “Good Luck, Babe!”, which Hannah performed beautifully, turning the moment into a spontaneous duet with the fan.

    After sound check, general admission ticket holders entered the venue. While waiting for Hannah’s main set, excited whispers spread through the crowd — fans had spotted her parents in the audience. Later, Hannah confirmed it was indeed their first time attending one of her shows. She thanked a couple who gave up their seats for them, gifting them a signed setlist as a token of appreciation.

    Opening Act: RealestK

    The night began with a soulful performance by RealestK, a Canadian R&B artist known for his smooth vocals and introspective songwriting. His emotional delivery and heartfelt storytelling won over many new fans in the audience. He closed his set with an inspiring message: “Chase your dreams.”

    Hannah’s Set

    When Hannah finally took the stage, the crowd erupted. She effortlessly commanded the room — performing her songs, connecting with fans, and sharing stories behind her lyrics. Her authenticity and warmth made the night feel deeply personal.

    The Misunderstood World Tour includes 27 stops across North America, and Minneapolis marked the halfway point. From here, Hannah will head west and into Canada before wrapping up her tour in Dallas, Texas.

  • Inside the 2025 Atlanta Korean Festival: K-Pop, Culture, and Culinary Delights

    Inside the 2025 Atlanta Korean Festival: K-Pop, Culture, and Culinary Delights

    From chewy tteokbokki to show-stopping K-pop performances, the 2025 Korean Festival in Atlanta was one massive celebration of Korean culture. Held on October 4th and 5th in the back parking lot of Sugarloaf Mills, this two-day celebration-hosted by the Korean Festival Foundation – brought together everything from sizzling street food and cultural performances to full-blown K-pop concerts.

    Rain or shine, event goers showed up ready to vibe, dance, and eat.

    Headliners that Rocked the Festival

    Kim Hye Yeon (김혜연) – Bringing Fun and Energy to the stage

    Kim Hye-yeon lit up the stage with her signature trot-style performances, bringing a wave of nostalgia and joy to the crowd. A beloved singer with numerous hits from the 1990s and early 2000s, she especially resonated with the older generation—many of whom sang along to every lyric and had their phones out to capture the moment.

    Energetic and full of charm, Kim Hye-yeon quickly became a fan favorite, breaking all age barriers and turning her set into one big party. She laughed and danced with the audience, even inviting audience members on stage to join her in the fun. At one point, she stepped off stage to dance among the crowd, creating an unforgettable moment of connection that perfectly embodied the festival’s inclusive and joyful spirit.

    Kevin Woo – Opening the Honmoon

    One of the standout moments of the festival was Kevin Woo’s performance. Having moved to Korea and debuting as a young teenager, Kevin has built an impressive career that spans over a decade in the K-pop industry. From his early days in XING and U-KISS to his solo ventures and musical theater work, Kevin’s dedication to his craft continues to shine.

    Recently, he’s stepped back into the spotlight as the singing voice of Mystery Saja in the hit animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” Fans—many of whom came out as longtime U-KISS supporters or new fans from the movie—braved the pouring rain just to see him perform live. Kevin treated the crowd to a dynamic setlist of his solo songs and even surprised everyone with a special “K-Pop Demon Hunters” collaboration stage with Big Ocean.

    After his performance, 200 lucky fans had the opportunity to purchase a fan sign session where they could meet Kevin Woo up close, share a few words, and leave with a cherished autograph. It was a moment full of smiles, gratitude, and memories. Kevin Woo will be having a solo concert on November 25th in West Hollywood, California.

    Big Ocean – Making Waves Everywhere

    The main headliner of the 2025 Korean Festival in Atlanta was Big Ocean, a innovative three-member boy band under Parastar Entertainment. Since their debut in 2024, members Chanyeon, PJ, and Jiseok has been making waves in the K-pop industry as the first boyband where all of the members are hard of hearing. Trained as global idols, they have learned multiple spoken and sign languages to connect with their fans. They recently wrapped up a successful US tour in August 2025. Many fans were ecstatic when they heard that Big Ocean was coming back to the US. Fans from across the country flew or drove to Georgia to show support for Big Ocean.

    Despite some technical issues and the rain, Big Ocean rocked the stage. They performed fan favorite songs like, “Flow,”  “Attention,” and “Bucket hat”. Each song brought thunderous cheers from the crowd, who sang, signed, and danced along in unison with the boys. Big Ocean also performed fun and new stages like “Troublemaker,” originally by HyunA and Jang Hyun Seung.

    Outside of their performance, many fans had the opportunity to interact and meet the members on both days of the festival. Fans had the opportunity to join Big Ocean for their Food Tour, purchase opportunities to do high-touch, fan signs, group photos, solo photos, buy merchandise from the members, or attend the fan café event. The fans said they really appreciated the opportunities for many fan engagements.

    Food, Fun, and Culture Galore

    Of course, no Korean Festival is complete without the feast. The air was filled with the scent of fish cake soup, tteokbokki, and sweet hotteok. But this year’s biggest food buzz came from a very special guest—Chef Jisun Jung, star of the Netflix hit Black and White Chef: Culinary Class Wars. Fans lined up to get a taste of her dishes and snap a quick selfie.

    Beyond food, the festival’s cultural zones gave everyone a chance to experience Korea hands-on:

    • Taekwondo demonstrations that got the crowd cheering
    • Hanbok-wearing photo ops
    • Traditional Korean games
    • Masked Singer singing contest and K-Pop cover dance performances that had local talent shining bright

    And, of course, endless rows of vendors selling everything from handmade crafts and skincare goodies to trendy K-pop merch. You couldn’t walk away empty-handed (or hungry).

    ** A special thank you to KORUS Entertainment and Parastar Entertainment for having me as the photographer for the event!

  • KCON LA 2025 Recap: A Celebration of K-Culture in the Heart of LA

    KCON LA 2025 Recap: A Celebration of K-Culture in the Heart of LA

    Hundreds of fans lined up early Friday morning outside the LA Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena, eagerly waiting for wristbands to access GA or to enter the convention for Day 1 of KCON LA. Held every year in early August, KCON is the largest Korean convention in the U.S. Starting as a small 1 day event, KCON has grown to become a three day convention that brings thousands of fans to downtown LA. This year, the city of LA even officially declared August 1st as KCON Day.

    From morning until evening, fans immerse themselves in Korean culture. In the day time, fans can attend panels, visit booths, attend fan meetings, or watch performances at the LA Convention Center. In the evening, fans head over to the Crypto.com Arena to see the M Countdown concert.

    Way Better artists from20 and HELLO GLOOM performing at X Stage.
    NEWBEAT holding a fan event on the Busking Stage.

    This year, KCON LA featured three stages for fans to enjoy throughout the convention: the X Stage, Busking Stage, and Artist Stage. The X Stage and Busking Stage showcased smaller, up-and-coming artists, giving them a platform to connect with new audiences. Strategically located in the main hall and by the food trucks, these stages were designed to maximize exposure and draw in crowds, helping rising artists gain the attention of passing by fans.

    The Artist stage was placed in a different hall. Bigger or more senior artists like Hwasa, Zerobaseone (Zb1), IZNA, and Lee Young Ji performed at this stage. The Artist stage was like a short concert. Fans could watch their favorite artists perform their biggest hits in 45 minute sets. Fans can purchase different tiered tickets to get better views. Those with 1Day Plus tickets were allowed to go to the front area to see the artists perform up close.

    One of the panels this year featured renowned dancers Brian Puspos, Keone Madrid, and Aaliyah Flournoy. Brian is a famous choreographer and dancer who has choreographed dances for BTS, Justin Bieber, and Chris Brown. Keone Madrid has choreographed for Jungkook, Justin Bieber, BTS, NCT, SHINee, Enhypen, etc. Aaliyah has danced and performed with Jennie, TXT, Stray Kids, and Jungkook. They talked about choreographing for K-pop artists, fun stories with K-Pop idols, and their dance journey. After their performances finished, Keone introduced Full Circle Boys and they performed on stage. After their performance, Full Circle Boys spent time with fans by taking photos with them.

    Aespa performs on the M Countdown Stage for KCON LA 2025 – Day 2.

    After the convention completed, fans walked to the building next door to watch the M Countdown stage. This year, Crypto.com Arena had a strict bag policy. Any bags bigger than 5″ x 9″ x 1″ was not allowed in the arena. Fans must pay to store their bags outside or go back to their hotel/car to store their items.

    KCON LA opened up M Countdown this year with a special guest appearance from popular actor Lee Byung-hun. Lee Byung-hun was recently in popular Netflix series, “Squid Game”. He also played the voice of Gwi-Ma (the demon king) in “KPop Demon Hunters”. Fans screamed in excitement from his surprise appearance.

    Ricky and Hanbin from Zerobaseone (ZB1) emceeing for the night.

    Hanbin from Zerobaseone continued as the main emcee for M Countdown. M Countdown is a music program in South Korea. It allows the top popular artists in Korea to perform their songs live on stage and broadcast throughout the nation. Hanbin has been the emcee for the show since 2023.

    Each night, M Countdown ended with a special stage. This special stage allowed fans to dance on stage with the headliner of the day. The headliners for each night differ each night. This year NCT 127 headlined Day 1, Monsta X headlined Day 2, and Hoshi and Woozi (HxW) of Seventeen headlined Day 3.

    Other artists that performed at M Countdown include JO1, NEWBEAT, 82 Major, Way Better artists from20 and HELLO GLOOM, IVE, Aespa, IZNA, NMIXX, Baby DONT Cry, MEOVV, Jackson Wang, KEY, Roy Kim, Zerobaseone, Hwasa, and Lee Youngji. A full list of artists who attended and performed at KCON LA can be found on the official KCON site.

  • Loossemble Brings Fans to Uptown Theater for Their 2024 Up_Link US Tour

    Loossemble Brings Fans to Uptown Theater for Their 2024 Up_Link US Tour

    Hundreds of fans lined up at Uptown Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to see K-pop girl group Loossemble (루셈블) perform for their Up_Link Station Tour. The band consists of members Hyunjin, ViVi, Go Won, Hyeju, and Yeojin. Yeojin is currently on a health hiatus and did not attend the US Tour. They debuted in 2023 with the song, “Sensitive”. The members are former members of girl group LOONA. After leaving their previous agency, they signed with CTDENM to form Loossemble. “Loossemble” stands for “LOONA Assemble.” Throughout the concert, you could hear long time fans cheering “LOONA” in the crowd.

    Last month, Loossemble released their 3rd mini album “TTYL” (short for “Talk to You Later”). It features their title song “TTYL”. This is one of their most popular songs as many fans have performed dance covers/dance challenges to this song. Throughout the tour, the girls could be seen making short videos and performing the songs at local landmarks. In Minnesota, Loossemble member Hyeju filmed a dance challenge for “TTYL” at the Spoonbridge and Cherry. Hyeju also taught the choreography to concert goers and filmed a short video for their social media pages.


    Some other popular songs that the girls performed include fan favorite “Cotton Candy” and “Confessions”. The girls ended the concert with a high wave event / group photos with VIP, VVIP, and VVIP Wonder ticket holders.

    October 25Th, 2024