There is something genuinely special about watching a group grow year after year, and witnessing 8TURN’s journey unfold has been an absolute privilege so far. Having followed their path closely—from our deep-dive conversations about the bold, experimental coordinates of their single album [8.X] and that hypnotic title track “Stagefright,” right through to the infectious energy of their latest release “BESAME”—seeing them conquer new milestones is always rewarding.
What made this particular London stop on their [8TURN TRACE] World Tour at the Islington Assembly Hall on September 27th feel so meaningful, though, was the crowd… Yes, the fans, TURNINGs. Standing in the venue and watching the room fill up with an even bigger sea of TURNINGs than before brought a massive smile to my face. Seeing their dedicated fanbase expand right in front of our eyes is a testament to just how hard these eight members—Jaeyun, Myungho, Minho, Yoonsung, Haemin, Kyungmin, Yoon-gyu, and Seungheon—work on every single track and performance.
Of course, the connection with the boys goes above and beyond. Back behind the scenes of our interview a few months ago, we were chatting about how fun it would be to film a dance challenge together, wondering aloud if we could actually make it happen. Well, we did—and that shared energy translated straight onto the floor!
(If you haven’t seen it yet, you can catch our full video interview and right here:)
Before we jump into the review of their incredible night on stage, I have to drop a quick teaser: a brand-new, incredibly fun game with 8TURN is dropping very soon, so you’ll definitely want to keep your eyes peeled for that!
Now, let’s talk about the magic they brought to the stage…
8TURN opened their show with one of their latest tracks, “BRUISE.” I still remember when we talked about this track in one of our previous interviews, and I was so looking forward to experiencing it live—they made it even more special!
Straight after, they performed one of their staples, “RU‐PUM PUM,” followed by “WALK IT OUT.” After this incredible opening, 8TURN took a moment to introduce themselves and welcome the fans to their show! The group then continued with their debut track, “TIC TAC,” followed by a dance solo stage from Jaeyun. The group regrouped with “WONDER” and “8PM,” the incredible B-side from their latest single album.
“Like a Friend” was up next, and they really made us feel like we were 8TURN’s friends, followed by “SKETCH.” 8TURN then divided into two units to perform two covers, which they lowkey ATE both of! First in line were Minho, Myungho, and Kyungmin with “FaSHioN” (a Cortis cover), followed by Jaeyun, Yoonsung, Haemin, Yungyu, and Seungheon with “BANG BANG BANG” (a BIGBANG cover)—what a game changer! Not to pick a favourite, but coming straight from a BIGBANG concert in London the night before, this hit differently, I must say!
8TURN then regrouped on stage to play a game with a spinning wheel where the members could pick, mix of spill the tea, and do dance challenges; the guys had such a fun time playing on stage! The show picked up again with another cover, but this time the whole group performed “BOUNCY” by ATEEZ, which they absolutely killed.
The group followed up with “Heartache,” “Close to Me,” and their latest track, “BESAME”! “Electric Heart” was up next, followed by “LEGGO,” one of my favourite tracks, which was also the subject of our debut interview with the group a few years ago!
8TURN took another little break and talked about travelling to London by ferry, and Haemin shared a funny story about his visit to the Arsenal stadium. They thanked the fans for coming out to their second world tour. The show was unfortunately coming to an end with one of their latest tracks, “Stagefright”… but we all know that a K-pop show ain’t a K-pop show without an encore!
8TURN rocked back on stage to perform “WE.” They took a moment to thank the fans by saying they felt a lot of love and support, and each member thanked the crowd one by one, which was so sweet. 8TURN really showed just how much they care about their fans.
They wrapped up the show with “NOM” and “Say My Name.” Unfortunately, this marked the end of an unforgettable night!
This wraps up the evening—what is left to say rather than 8TURN is growing comeback after comeback? They give their best each time, and it truly shows! What makes them extra special is how down-to-earth they are. Each member showcases their unique personality, especially when performing live, which really helps them stand out from the crowd.
Stay tuned for our upcoming new video!
