'Sorry Tottenham, this place is ours now,' Bang Chan nervously joked. Though, he might be right.
Stray Kids lit up London for two days on July 18-19th, becoming the first K-Pop group to perform at Tottenham Hotspur stadium, with an unforgettable concert as part of their DominATE world tour.
The group set the stage on fire (literally) delivered an electrifying show that blended high octane energy with spectacular storytelling, to a sold-out crowd of over 60,000.
STAYs roared to life the moment the lights dropped, and the opening beats of “Mountains” rang out. From the start, the atmosphere was electric. Tracks like “Thunderous”, “District 9” and “Back Door” hit hard with explosive choreography, razor-sharp rap lines, and seamless transitions that turned the massive venue into a kinetic, shared heartbeat.
The production values were massive yet meticulous. The army of backup dancers momentarily stole the show in a performance solo, featuring a medley of Stray Kids fan-favourites such as "Hellevator", "S-Class" and their newest, "Walkin on Water".
Though the theatrics didn't stop. A black car rolled onstage, pyrotechnics fired in time with beat drops as they gave an elevated performance of "Chk Chk Boom". The group’s choreography was on another level. Synchronised, forceful and relentless - leaving no doubt about their artistic and (impressive) physical endurance.
"I wanted to sit down so badly after standing there for three hours, how were they running about like that?" one concert-goer said.
The inclusion of a live band added an even deeper grit and complexity. The group took a moment to featuring each member of the instrumental quartet with their own solo sessions on the drums, keyboard, bass and electric guitar.
Another unique aspect that hasn't been seen much at London K-Pop shows, was the fun surprise of the members splitting onto elevated carts being wheeled around, followed by large balloons of their respective animals as they greeted fans around the stadium.
What pulled the night beyond a typical arena show was the thoughtful pacing and emotional range. The concert featured powerful unit stages that showcased the members’ individual artistry. Han and Felix's “Truman” and Changbin and I.N’s “Burnin' Tires” hyped up the audience, while Bang Chan and Hyunjin brough a more sensual energy with "ESCAPE". The unit segment ended with and Lee Know and Seungmin's "CINEMA" in an emotional conclusion, featuring names of fans running through the screens. The band’s connection with the audience was palpable, from Felix’s deceptively low-toned delivery that resonated across the stadium to Bang Chan’s endearing and fourth-wall breaking banter with fans. The group also revealed that the location was chosen by Changbin, due to his love of football.
The crowd matched the energy beat for beat, turning the venue into a sea of light sticks and coordinated chants. Highlights like “God’s Menu” and “Maniac” created seismic moments where the auditory boundary between group and audience all but disappeared - especially during the encore with "MIROH" where the entire stadium were prompted to jump up and down.
Their London stop wasn’t just a concert, it was a demonstration that Stray Kids have grown into artists who can deliver not just performances, but experiences. Favourites of the night were "Maniac", "District 9" and "ESCAPE", with the encore festival version of "Chk Chk Boom" as an honorary mention. With a perfectly balanced setlist of explosive hits and genre-defying artistry, the DominATE tour stop in London solidified Stray Kids as one of the leaders in the global K-Pop movement.
What was your favourite moment of the show? Let us know, and be sure to follow KpopWise for more!
Thank you LiveNation for the invite
Photos courtesy of LiveNation