K-POP COMES TO QATAR

Fans of the Korean Wave are in for a major treat as the country gets ready to host its first ever K-Pop festival this month.

Taking place at Lusail Multipurpose Hall on May 19 and 20, the K.ONE Festa will feature a host of the genre’s most popular stars, with opportunities for red-carpet meet-and-greets and the chance to experience Korean culture first-hand.

Appearing on May 19 are iKon, SF9, Everglow, xikers and Sunmi. The six-piece boy band iKon consists of Jay, Song, Bobby, DK, Ju-ne and Chan. Their debut studio album Welcome Back (2015) debuted atop the South Korean Gaon Album Chart and they have since gone on to massive success with singles such as Love Scenario and the most recent EP Flashback which set a new record for one-day and one-week sales.

SF9 is a hugely successful, singing, dancing and rapping troupe. Several members are currently undertaking military service but that hasn’t stopped them putting out new music including EP The Piece OF9, released in January this year. And xikers is a 10-piece boy bad who only launched in March this year with the debut mini-album House Of Tricky : Doorbell Ringing.

Representing the girls are six piece Everglow who, in July 2022, performed at the Saranghae KSA K-Pop Festival in Jeddah, becoming the first girl group in history to perform in Saudi Arabia, and Sunmi, a solo artist who first hit the music scene in 2007 with the Wonder Girls. She’s known for hit singles such as Heroine and Siren.

Taking to the stage on May 20 are Bam Bam, Ateez, Oh My Girl, P1Harmony and Drippin. Bam Bam is a Thai singer, rapper and TV presenter who’s also branched out into fashion and is known for his support of various good causes as well as his music.

Eight-member Ateez have sold more than four million physical albums worldwide. Their accolades include Worldwide Fans’ Choice at the 2019 and 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards and they’ve served as official global ambassadors for Korean culture and tourism.

Oh My Girl – also known as OMG – debuted in 2015 and have been nominated for and won multiple music industry awards, including the Gaon Chart Music Award 2021 Song of the Year – April for Nonstop.

Consisting of Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul and Jongseob, P1Harmony was introduced through a film P1H: The Beginning of a New World starring all members in August 2020. They’re currently on an international tour, including the US where tickets sold out within 30 minutes.

And Drippin are currently performing as a six-piece who released their first studio album Villain: The End last November. ✤

Tickets are available through tickets.virginmegastore.me and events.q-tickets.com

GO: VISIT @K.ONFESTA FOR MORE INFORMATION.