Concerts Reviews
Stray Kids Electrify BST Hyde Park with Groundbreaking Performance – Live Review
On July 14th, over 50,000 fans were swept into the vibrant ‘Megaverse’ of Stray Kids at the British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park Festival. The long-awaited comeback of the eight-member K-pop sensation marked their debut headline performance in Europe, making them the first K-pop male group to headline a European festival. This historic event was a testament to their meteoric rise across the globe, as they headlined their sold-out festival.
The 8 members – Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N – lit up Hyde Park, turning a thunderous week into a bright, sunny celebration on Sunday Thousands of fans, known as ‘Stays,’ gathered from all corners of the world, eager to witness the group that has been at the top their playlists for years, some even for the first time. The 350-acre park buzzed with excitement, offering a plethora of mouth-watering snacks and finger foods, alongside ten stellar opening acts to entertain the crowd before the main event.
The festival’s lineup included captivating performances by Taiwanese singer KIRE, who enthralled the audience with his sensual stage presence, and the South Korean girl group NMIXX, who energized the crowd with their schoolgirl-themed outfits and dynamic mix of rap and R&B. Other notable acts included Alec Benjamin, Dhruv, The Cuban Brothers, Maisie Peters, Alien Blaze, Bellah Mae, The Live Carnival, Elijah Woods, Ben Ellis, and Tyler Lewis.
As the sun set and anticipation peaked, Stray Kids took to the stage around 9 PM with their track “S-CLASS,” which won the Top 20 Songs of the Year in 2023 at the Asian Pop Music Awards, setting the tone for a stellar night of jams. The Great Oak Stage was adorned with a bold red tapestry, which dramatically unveiled the eight members against a backdrop of Marvel-themed visuals that showcased their unique style and music videos. Fans chanted “Stray Kids all over the world” in unison, their excitement echoing through the park.
The group’s performance was a sensory overload, with dazzling choreography, powerful vocals, and high-energy interactions that left the crowd in awe. From tracks titled, “THUNDEROUS,” “SUPER BOWL” and “MANIAC”. A perfect blend of high pitch notes by I.N, sick rap lines by HAN and Felix‘s deep baritone voice captivated every ‘Stay.’ The group repeatedly went around and engaged the audience, keeping them bumping till the very end. Their carefree and bubbly personality kept supporters laughing and entertained, matching the group’s high energy performance. Bang Chan, the main speaker of the group, teased fans that the show was over mid way into the show, asking them “if they had a bedtime” and that “it was time to finalize the show.” Leading the crowd to applaud even louder and not take no for an answer, they chanted one more song until the group played more songs to close off. By the end of their 20-song set, which spanned their various albums, the crowd was left breathless and wanting more. Exactly like the lyrics in their chart-topping song “LALALALA” that reached 44.7 million streams and ranked #10 on the Billboard Global 200 stated, “Rock and roll, we dance ’til we fall” the crowd did exactly that.
Stray Kids‘ performance was not just about the music; it was an experience. Fire blazing hot fumes filled the air heating up the pumped atmosphere in Hyde Park, these stars skyrocketed London’s music culture with a tasteful blend of k-pop lighting up the night sky with dazzling fireworks during their “MIROH” song.
Submerged in Stray Kids universe of sick moves and vocals, many are anticipating when they will come back to London, and are hyped for their world tour called DominATE which kicks off in Seoul this fall with additional dates to be announced for Latin America, Europe, and North America. After their stellar performance, to keep the momentum going, they made sure to leave ‘Stays’ with a new album to keep the fun pumping and announced the release of their new album, set to drop on July 19th, featuring eight new tracks. This group will not fail to disappoint the world with their greatness, and will continue to dominate the music industry.
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Benee Brings Her ‘Particule Tour’ to the Hollywood Theatre in Vancouver
The Hollywood Theatre, Vancouver | March 4, 2026
BAYLI
Opening for BENEE was singer, songwriter, and rapper Bayli! Formerly part of “The Skins,” Bayli has been touring as a solo act since 2019, reaping acclaim for songs like “Passenger Princess” and “SUGARCOAT.” The first thing we thought when dipping our toe through her back catalog this week was how much she encapsulated Robyn’s recent line that “The purpose of [her] life is to stay horny.” That’s very much Bayli’s vibe; her songs are sexy, bordering on erotic. Her brand of EDM-pop is rooted in “explicit queerness” and while she has rejected any one label, her music is for and relatable to everyone. Also, again, very, very, horny.
If You Only Listen by One Song by Bayli:
“Sushi For Breakfast” (Stories from New York, 2020)
Here are a few photos of Bayli that we hope you enjoy!
BENEE
On Wednesday, March 4, BENEE returned to Vancouver to support her 2026 headlining Particles Tour which began earlier this month. A mind-blowing five years after the release of her debut album, BENEE is once again on the road and hitting 23 cities in North America. We were lucky enough to shoot her June 2022 show at The Vogue, and we’ve been patiently waiting for another chance to see her live ever since! We waited through COVID for that show to be rescheduled, we waited 5 years to see her again and, hand to heart, we’ll happily wait until she returns again!
Must Hear Songs by BENEE (In Our Respectful Opinion):
Wishful Thinking (Fire on Marzz, 2019)
Soaked (Fire on Marzz, 2019)
One of BENEE’s more endearing traits is her comfortability and overall contentment on the stage. Still rocking oversized boots and long sleeves, she seemed at home in front of the crowd, dancing through the shadows the minimal lighting provided. And smiling! Always smiling. Whether it was thanking her fans for taking the time to make an adorable sign or – and I’m not saying I understand how we got here – speaking about Canada and leading the entire venue through an impromptu round of “Oh Canada” she cleared enjoyed her time in Vancouver.
BENEE’s latest album continues to experiment with genres, mixing upbeat pop with lighter, more experimental melodies. Perhaps unsurprisingly, her shows are never one-note as she moves back and forth between these sounds, creating a “what’s next” situation where it’s beyond difficult to get bored or into anything resembling a sleepy rhythm. Her show is visually dark, and moody, and there is smoke! But there is a lot coming at you, and a lot to love.
Benee Setlist:
Sad Boiii
Cinnamon
Vegas
Beach Boy
Wishful Thinking
Soaked
Doomsday
Demons
Prey4U
Animal
Heaven
Make You Sick (Snippet)
Glitter
Princess
Underwater
Afterthought (Joji cover)
Supalonely
Off The Rails
Play Video
Green Honda
Once again, we had an incredible night at The Hollywood Theatre and loved every moment of the show. Thank you, BENEE! Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: A Sold-Out Night of Performance Art With Sudan Archives
Words by Kali Moreno
Photos by Kelli Rothwell
A sold-out night at The Pearl set the tone for a show that felt half concert, half art installation. Sudan Archives brought her genre-blurring world to Vancouver following the release of The BPM in 2025, with support from Cain Culto.
Cain Culto confidently navigated an energetic, multi-media set backed by Indigenous, Latin American, and Bluegrass influences – what he calls Kentucky Latin Art-Pop. As he gradually shed layers of clothing, he added homemade props to deliver his song’s messages of empowerment and resistance in both Spanish and English. His musical skills as a vocalist and violinist, paired with his artistic expression as a visual artist, created a riveting piece of performance art.
Dressed in a skin-tight, full body suit and wearing otherworldly grey contact lenses, Sudan Archives commanded a sold-out stage for her one-woman set at The Pearl. The deeply human themes of her songs, which sit in genre around house, techno, and R&B, were shared with the rowdy audience alongside recurring mechanical sounds and choreographed robotic movements. This examination of technology and humanity reminded that her artistry and expression transcend her talents as a singer, violinist, and beat-maker. Sudan Archives performed three encore songs, jumping off the stage to dance with the screaming crowd before leaving Vancouver with the parting words: “y’all are fucking lit.”
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
02-18 San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom
02-19 San Diego, CA – Music Box
02-20 Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
More info on Sudan Archives’ website.
SUDAN ARCHIVES
CAIN CULTO
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell