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Laufey ‘Bewitches’ Her Audience at The Observatory
With the U.S. leg of her ‘The Bewitched Tour ‘ coming to a close, fans began lining up for over four hours before doors opened at The Observatory in Santa Ana as they eagerly waited for Grammy-nominated singer Laufey to hit the stage.
BLACKSWAN Lights Up THE SOURCE OC with an Illuminating and Charismatic Performance
BLACKSWAN, the first non-Korean K-Pop group under D.R Music, is currently made up of four members: Fatou (Senegal/Belgium), NVee (United States), Gabi (Brazil), and Sriya (India). And with an ecstatic energy, they kicked off their US Debut Performance/Fan Meeting Tour in Los Angeles at The Source OC. The night was filled with excitement as LUMINA, their fans, eagerly waited up to 1.5 hours before the concert to meet their favorite K-Pop group in person.
ZHU ‘Graces’ Red Rocks With a Sonic Odyssey
The iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado hosted an unforgettable night of music on November 1 as the enigmatic artist ZHU took the stage on his GRACE Tour, all in anticipation of his new album, GRACE, set to release on January 19, 2024. This captivating performance left the audience in awe, solidifying his status as one of the most innovative and dynamic electronic music creators of our time.
The Rose - A Dawn to Dusk Symphony in Denver
Known for their soul-stirring music and captivating performances, The Rose took the stage in Denver, Colorado on October 15 for their Dawn to Dusk World Tour to promote their new album DUAL. The night was nothing short of a musical journey filled with emotion and passion.
JUNE Returns to the El Rey Theatre for ‘JUNEtober’ in LA
The El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif. came alive on October 10 with a groovy and electrifying performance from JUNE (이준상), a Korean R&B singer-songwriter, composer, and producer. JUNE began his journey as a trainee under Big Hit Entertainment, contributing to the songwriting and composing for BTS and Suran, Eventually, he moved to Planetarium Records and became a part of PLT. Now, he has taken the leap into independence.
Rina Sawayama's Unparalleled Performance at The Observatory in Santa Ana
October 2, 2023, marked another mesmerizing chapter in the book of live performances. Rina Sawayama, the renowned artist, took to the stage of The Observatory in Santa Ana, California, and delivered an unforgettable show that still resonates in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to witness it.
TRENDZ Holds Their First-Ever Virtual Fan Meeting at Yale University
On October 9, 2023, Yale University's Race and Place in British New Wave, K-Pop, and Beyond class, conducted by Professor Grace Kao, had the experience of a lifetime as they were joined by K-Pop boy group TRENDZ for a virtual fan meeting. HALSUG had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the event and experience what the group had in store for the class.
AJ Rafael Closes Out His West Coast Tour With a Bang!
After eight sold-out shows, AJ Rafael finishes the West Coast leg of his “Take Me Back” tour at The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA with another full house. AJ Rafael is a singer-songwriter and internet personality who rose to fame on YouTube in the early 2000s while posting original music and covers. Soon he became one of the first Asian creators on the platform and created a name for himself in the music industry.
Sheki's US Debut Leaves an Impressive Mark at the Legendary Whisky a Go-Go
The Whisky a Go-Go in Hollywood, CA lit up with excitement as Sheki made her much anticipated US debut. Sheki is well-known for being the general leader and lead vocalist of the famed P-Pop group MNL48, the sister group of widely known and Guinness World Record holders AKB48, home to popular artists like Le Sserafim's Miyawaki Sakura and former I*ZONE member Hitomi Honda.
Soulful Serenade: Phum Viphurit Captivates Denver at Summit
The Mile High City was treated to a mesmerizing evening of music on September 9 as Phum Viphurit made his way to Denver on his North America Tour 2023. Summit, the quintessential Denver venue, hosted an eclectic blend of indie, pop, and soulful sounds that left the audience in euphoria.
SE SO NEON’s Sold Out Toronto Show Creates an Unforgettable Night
The Opera House in Toronto was sold out on September 6 for SE SO NEON’s second North American tour. SE SO NEON is an indie rock duo hailing from South Korea, consisting of bassist Hyun-jin and guitarist and vocalist So Yoon.
Koven Wei and Ethan Low Bring Summer to an End With ‘BAMBINO’ and ‘GEMINI’ in Toronto
On August 31, AMPM had a line out the door to commemorate Koven Wei and Ethan Low's album release party, celebrating their debut albums BAMBINO and GEMINI respectively. The low light yet intimate club served its purpose that night with a crowd formed around a small raised box of a stage tucked to the side.
Fans Say “Yes” to Six Years With The Rose
Six years after their debut, The Rose finds itself performing to thousands of fans in Chicago, Illinois at the renowned music festival Lollapalooza. They followed up their anniversary performance with a more intimate aftershow the following night at The Vic Theater. Fans of the band, referred to as ‘Black Rose,’ left Lollapalooza immediately after The Rose finished their show on the 3rd, to get in line and secure their spots for the late-night concert the following evening, August 4th.
Melanie Martinez Takes Toronto Through PORTALS
After four years, Melanie Martinez has returned to Toronto, Canada on July 14 for her highly anticipated PORTALS tour. Fans were buzzing everywhere with excitement as soon as they stepped into Meridian Hall. In coordination with Melanie’s PORTALS album concept, most were dressed in the artist’s merch or wore costume pieces, such as elf ears or mushroom hats, ready for a magical experience.
The Shops At Skyview - Moon Jong Up Recap
July 9 marked Moon Jong Up's first visit to the United States as a solo artist. He put on his first-ever performance in New York at the K-Fun Event after appearing in the acclaimed South Korean reality show Peak Time where he participated in the 24:00 team, ranking first in the global individual vote and third in the team group category.
Rolling Quartz Brings Rock ‘N’ Roll Paradise to Los Angeles
On Saturday, May 13, Korean rock band Rolling Quartz took the stage by storm at their sold-out show at Catch One in Los Angeles, California.
SHAUN ‘On The Road’ To LA
On Friday, April 14, South Korean singer-songwriter and record producer SHAUN performed at 1720 in Los Angeles to kick off his first North American tour, On The Road. SHAUN debuted in the indie-rock band, The Koxx, in 2010 and pursued a solo career later in 2016. You may have heard his viral hit single “Way Back Home,” which became a breakthrough moment in his solo career, topping the music charts in South Korea and reaching new fans overseas. Furthermore, he’s worked with big-name artists such as BTS and EXO.
GEMINI Had LA Trippin’ On His Love
On Wednesday, March 22, South Korean R&B artist (rapper and producer) GEMINI performed at 1720 in Los Angeles for his 6th stop on the Still Blue Tour. GEMINI has been on his 10-city North American tour performing in cities like Atlanta and New York which HALSUG had the opportunity to cover.
GEMINI Leaves Fans With a “Rollercoaster” of Emotions in Atlanta
Atlanta was finally able to welcome South Korean rapper and producer GEMINI, who began the night with “Love is Banned.” As always, fans did not disappoint as they cheered on while GEMINI made his way around the stage with interactions throughout the night.
NYC Wants “More & More” of GEMINI
On Friday, March 18th, South Korean artist GEMINI took the stage at (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York City. This is the second tour stop on the Still Blue Tour, the artist’s first in North America.