Sienna Lorraine Gray
There is always a question when a K-pop group headlines a festival, Can they win over a crowd that is bigger and more mixed than their own concert audience? ATEEZ answered that question within minutes of stepping onto the Great Oak Stage at BST Hyde Park.
The day itself already felt like a celebration of K-pop. TAEMIN got things moving in the afternoon with an eight-song set that reminded everyone why he’s one of the industry’s greatest performers. Opening with ‘Sexy in The Air’, he immediately had the crowd’s attention. Dressed in a black blazer with no shirt underneath, backed by an incredible team of dancers, every move looked effortless. Even after almost two decades in the industry, he still performs with the hunger of someone who’s only just debuted. His vocals during ‘Let Me Be the One’ were stunning, and by the time he closed his set, it was hard not to appreciate just how much experience he brings to every stage.
Over on the Rainbow Stage presented by British Airways, boy group dearALICE continued their steady rise. Every time they perform they seem more confident than the last, making their BST Hyde Park debut feel completely deserved. FLO and Bazzi kept the atmosphere going on the Great Oak Stage. FLO delivered hit after hit with effortless vocals, while Bazzi slowed things down in the best way possible. His moment where he asked everyone to take a deep breath together somehow worked perfectly before the evening’s chaos arrived. And then… it was finally ATEEZ time!
Walking on stage dressed entirely in white, they wasted absolutely no time. ‘BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)’ was the perfect opener, immediately turning Hyde Park into one giant party. ‘Say My Name’ and ‘WORK’ followed, with the crowd singing just about every word back to them. Seeing ATEEZ perform outdoors somehow adds another layer to their show. As the sun started to set behind the stage, everything looked even bigger. The choreography felt sharper, the visuals looked incredible and the live band gave every song a little bit more power.
One of the biggest surprises of the night was how well the setlist suited a summer festival. ‘Shaboom’ looked brilliant with its stage production, while ‘NASA’, ‘Ice On My Teeth’ and especially ‘In Your Fantasy’ kept the energy high without ever feeling repetitive. ‘In Your Fantasy’ ended up being one of a personal favourite of the night — the vocals were fantastic and you could tell the members were enjoying every second.
The newest addition to the setlist, ‘BAD’, which only came out two days before the festival, already felt like it belonged. It has that carefree summer feeling that’s perfect for an outdoor show, and somehow made Hyde Park feel a little less like London for a few minutes. What really stood out throughout the show wasn’t just the choreography or the production — although both were excellent — but how much every member brings something different. Hongjoong and Mingi own the stage whenever they rap, Jongho makes the difficult vocals sound easy, while San, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang and Wooyoung constantly find ways to connect with the audience. Nobody fades into the background.
As soon as ‘Wave’ started, hundreds of lightsticks filled the air. The members spread across the stage to wave at every corner of the crowd, and it quickly became one of those festival moments that everyone will probably remember. That feeling continued through ‘Choose’, ‘Enough’ and ‘Now This House Ain’t a Home’, with the sunset creating the perfect backdrop.
Of course, ATEEZ weren’t going to end the night quietly. ‘Adrenaline’ cranked everything back up before ‘Fireworks (I’m The One)’ and ‘GUERILLA’ completely blew the roof off Hyde Park, or at least they would have if there had been one. Hearing thousands of people scream “Break the Wall” together was easily one of the loudest moments of the day.
And somehow, they still had enough energy left for ‘The Real’, closing the show with huge smiles and the same intensity they started with. Whether you came to Hyde Park as an ATINY or simply out of curiosity, ATEEZ gave everyone a reason to stay until the very last song. With a set full of standout performances, incredible live vocals and infectious energy, they proved they belong on festival stages just as much as they do in sold-out arenas.
Highlights: WORK, Shaboom, In Your Fantasy, BAD, Adrenaline, GUERILLA.