The waiting is finally over! On October 15, 2025, London was treated to an high energy performance as SF9 brought their global trek, the “LOVE DAWN, LIVE FANTASY #5” tour, to the intimate setting of the Indigo at The O2. For fans—known affectionately as FANTASY—this show felt particularly momentous, as it marked the K-pop powerhouse’s highly anticipated return to the city.
The last time SF9 graced a London stage was back on July 10, 2022, as part of the massive lineup for HallyuPopFest. For many of us who either missed that festival appearance or were left wanting more after a shorter set, this solo concert was the performance we had been eagerly counting down to. And speaking personally, having missed their last London visit, witnessing the full, dazzling spectacle of their artistry for the very first time made the atmosphere even more charged with excitement.
For those who may be new to the group, SF9—an abbreviation for “Sensational Feeling 9″—is an eight-member boy group (Youngbin, Inseong, Jaeyoon, Dawon, Zuho, Yoo Taeyang, Hwiyoung, and Chani) from FNC Entertainment, who debuted in 2016. They quickly carved out a niche with their compelling mix of dynamic, synchronized choreography and a rich, versatile discography that spans from powerful dance-pop like their breakthrough hit “Good Guy” to the sensual R&B groove of tracks like “O Sole Mio” and “Tear Drop.”
Their journey has been one of consistent growth, culminating in a string of critical successes and the release of their most recent project, the 15th mini-album, LOVE RACE (on March 2025). This album, which features the captivating title track of the same name, showcases the group’s continued evolution, blending hip-hop energy with their signature charismatic edge. The LOVE DAWN tour is not just a concert; it’s a celebration of this journey and their deep, enduring connection with their fans across the globe.
Before diving into the night, the members who currently could make to the tour were Inseong, Youngbin, Jaeyoon, Hwiyoung, and Chani. (Dawon, Zuho, and Taeyang were missed by all of us. We will look forward to seeing you next time!)
The venue was filled with love from FANTASY, who were cheering for the group to start performing. After a short intro video, SF9 walked onto the stage and they kicked off the show with their latest title track, “LOVE RACE.” They set the bar very high—the energy and enthusiasm were incredible! They then followed up with “RPM” and “Now or Never.”
They then took a moment to catch their breath and introduced themselves, before performing the iconic “Tear Drop” and “TRAUMA.” They had another little break to interact with fans, asking if they were enjoying the stages so far and who was actually working the following day. They continued by saying that they were happy to be back in the UK after so many years.
They then continued their set with “Cruel Love,” featuring amazing smooth dance moves and impeccable vocals! “WARURU” was up next. I must say that the studio version was very good to start with, but experiencing it live was even better! SF9 then performed “BIBORA,” which is one of my favorite songs from their repertoire, and the guys really did justice to this hit!
The first stage was then wrapped with that, which led to the second part of the show: the solo stages. Youngbin opened the solos with his catchy track “someday”, followed by Inseong, who performed “On the Ground” (ROSÉ cover) with a rock band twist. His personality really shone through. Up next was Jaeyoon with the melodic “Birds of a Feather” (Billie Eilish cover), and Hwiyoung closed this set with the viral “back to friends” (sombr cover).
Just before SF9 started their new stage, they took another moment to interact with fans. This time, they asked Chani who the best actor in the video they just played was, and he picked Youngbin—only because he was the only one wearing black pants on the stage! That actually made me laugh out loud!
They then mentioned that they explored London, visiting Big Ben, and they wanted to ride the London Eye, too. Inseong also mentioned that he was raised in London for a few years when he was little, and seeing the streets, houses, or even supermarkets like Sainsbury’s or Tesco brought so many memories back.
The last stage then had a mood change with “Just On My Way,” followed by “Round and Round” and “Enough.” SF9 then continued with the famous “Good Guy,” proving that they are indeed more than just good guys. The show was slowly coming to an end with “Love No.5” and “O Sole Mio,” and they truly warmed up the stage with this last song.
We all know that a K-pop show isn’t a K-pop show without an encore.
SF9 jumped back on stage after a quick outfit change while singing to “MAMMA MIA”… but something—or rather, someone—was missing. Inseong had an outfit malfunction, so he joined the stage after that song. SF9 didn’t like the fact that he was missing, so they performed the song for a second time—what a treat! They then officially closed the show with “My Fantasia.”
I couldn’t be happier to have finally seen SF9; they definitely lived up to expectations. Although only five members were on stage, the group maintained an amazing team bond and high energy throughout the entire show. I can’t wait to see what the guys will bring next and to see them in London again soon!
DAVIDE K-POP 