LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: ATEEZ AT BST HYDE PARK (+ TAEMIN, FLO, BAZZI)

Summer in London reached a fever pitch as BST Hyde Park second day welcomed K-Pop royalty and an eclectic lineup of support acts. Anchored by a monumental headlining set from ATEEZ, the lineup delivered a mix of high-octane pop and R&B, leaving an unforgettable mark on London.

Kicking off the day with ‘Ghost of Us’, the four-piece group Midnight Til Morning proudly repped the UK in English football and Union Jack shirts. Stepping onto a festival stage for the very first time, they delivered an engaging mix of soaring ballads, high-energy tracks, and even a surprise cover of Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘drivers license’.

"First time playing a festival, thanks for coming down early, we love you," they told the early crowd.

Proving they are incredibly down-to-earth, they encouraged fans to come say hello later in the day when they joined the crowd themselves, wrapping up an impressive debut set with ‘Bye’.

Taking up the stage next in front of an already very excited crowd and opening up with ‘Sexy In The Air’, the "Idol's Idol" Taemin delivered a flawless, charismatic performance that proved exactly why he is a legendary figure in K-Pop.

Greeting the massive crowd with an enthusiastic "What’s up London!", he expressed how happy and honoured he was to be invited to BST Hyde Park festival, like many renowned artists before him.

Taemin definitely deserved his place on the Great Oak Stage though. His status as "K-pop royalty" isn’t just a hyperbole used by fans. This title is backed by nearly two decades of industry-defining success, artistic evolution, and the universal respect of his peers.

Debuting in 2008 at just 14 years old as the youngest member of the iconic second-generation group SHINee, Taemin has grown up entirely in the public eye. Over his career, he has transformed from a teenage main dancer into one of the most influential solo artists in the history of the genre, earning the ultimate industry title of "The Idol’s Idol."

After playfully teasing the audience with "Are you ready to have some fun?! I can't hear you!", he launched into a sultry performance of ‘Criminal’, shortly followed by ‘MOVE’ and ‘Guilty’.

Ever the considerate performer, he reminded fans to stay hydrated in the London heat, threw on sleek sunglasses after ‘IDEA’, and even blessed the crowd with a beautiful unreleased song, ‘Let Me Be The One’.

Accompanied by a crew of nine flawless backing dancers, he treated London to an intricate journey through different eras, genres, and emotional landscapes.

Before closing out with hands swaying side-to-side across the park, he took a group photo with the audience and teased his future plans, promising: "I'll be back soon." And we can’t wait.

Bringing effortless vocal harmonies and unmatched R&B style to the Great Oak Stage, Grammy-nominated trio FLO perfectly captured the seasonal vibe.

The London outfit, comprised of Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma, and Renée Downer, unwrapped a flawless setlist of polished, modern-day R&B.

The trio kept the energy breezy and vibrant, with their opening track ‘Walk Like This’ serving as an early highlight.

Radiating effortless charm as the audience cheered them on, they tapped into the festival atmosphere beautifully, asking the roaring park, "Are you guys enjoying the summertime?"

Marking his first time on stage in a year and a half, Bazzi pushed through a self-admitted rough patch, mentioning to the audience that he was feeling a little poorly and dealing with a throat ache.

The 28 year-old is no stranger to the K-Pop world. While he is now widely recognized for his own solo hits like ‘Mine’ and ‘Beautiful,’ he played a significant, behind-the-scenes role in shaping the modern sound of K-pop.

Long before his solo work went viral, Bazzi established a powerhouse partnership with SM Entertainment, one of South Korea's largest music agencies. His signature blend of smooth R&B melodies, crisp trap beats, and pop sensibilities translated perfectly into the intricate, vocal-heavy landscape of K-pop.

Despite the vocal strain, his determination and beloved catalog of hits kept the crowd fully invested and cheering him on, perfectly warming up the fans for what was to come.

When ATEEZ took the stage power-dressed in all white and kicked off the night with ‘BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)’, the atmosphere across the Royal Park reached a fever pitch. In front of larger-than-life screens, the eight-piece outfit (Hongjoong, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, Seonghwa, Jongho, Yeosang, Yunho) immediately commanded the crowd, shouting "Everybody make some noise" before exploding into ‘Say My Name’ amidst bursts of pyrotechnics.

A few songs in, the members took turns introducing themselves, each bringing their distinct flavor to the London stage: "So good to see you here in Hyde Park, thank you. Let’s have some fun tonight!" said leader Hoongjoong. Seonghwa greeted the fans to "What’s up, it’s good to be back in London." San addressed the crowd asking for noise, ‘‘one more time make some noise, I’m San, let’s make a great night!" whilst Mingi commanded the crowd with barking noises, which the fans immediately responded to.

The octet moved effortlessly across the stage and down the long runway, getting incredibly close to the barrier during an explosive performance of ‘Lemon Drop.’

The middle of the set highlighted the hard-hitting beats of their discography, including ‘NASA,’ ‘Ice on My Teeth,’ and ‘Man On Fire.’

What made the headline set so special was the group's undeniable connection with the crowd. Acknowledging the vast diversity of the tens of thousands in attendance, Seonghwa noted, "Seeing so many people come together through our music is so special." Vocalist Jongho also paused to take in the incredible sea of lightsticks, admitting, "It feels surreal to be here."

Keeping the speeches brief to pivot into "less talk and more party," they surprised London with the first-ever live festival performance of ‘BAD,’ dropped just two days prior, as part of the GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5 new EP.

The absolute peak of the night arrived with ‘Adrenaline’ though, a burst of pure energy that saw the members storming the runway and side of stage to get up close and personal with fans in true K-Pop fashion.

Keeping the momentum at a fever pitch, they then launched straight into the relentless, fan-favourite anthem ‘Guerilla’ without letting the crowd catch their breath.

Closing out a historic night under a fading London sunset, Hongjoong asked the crowd, "Are you ready to carry this moment forever?" Judging by the deafening roar that echoed out of Hyde Park, the answer was a resounding yes.

ATEEZ proved that their boundary-pushing sound belongs on the world’s biggest stages. With this monumental performance, their names are firmly etched alongside other K-pop icons (BLACKPINK in 2023 and Stray Kids in 2024,) who have taken the crown as headliners of the historic London festival. As the final notes hit across the Royal Park, it was clear that this set was a defining statement, cementing ATEEZ as true global music royalty.

Words and photos by Florelle Servageon

ATEEZ photos by @siennalorrainegray and @bonmk1