8TURN @ Islington Assembly Hall, London- 27/09/26
8TURN continues to demonstrate the power and art of boybands beautifully.
Debuting in 2023, many rookies enter a sea of groups beginning their debut. But 8TURN have been doing things a little bit differently. The eight members – Myungho, Jaeyun, Minho, Yoonsung, Haemin, Kyungmin, Yungyu, and Seungheon – have a big input into their sound, concept, and even songwriting, which sees them heavily involved. That in turn has given fans (TURNING) quite the catalogue of songs to enjoy.
Back on their European leg after last year, they kickstarted the evening with "BRUISE", taken from their latest EP [8.X]. Dressed in red, looking regal and ready to give TURNING a special night. As they breezed through the tight choreography, they then went into a track that I feel has made many in the crowd a fan – myself included.
“RU‐PUM PUM” is perhaps the song that made them stand out amongst current rookies, and rightfully so. As far as earworms go, this is the one that has it wiggling around in your head with its incredibly catchy chorus. Certain members began to shine, but it was during “TIC TAC” that the group found their groove and settled into their final formation.
The thing that stood out most from the evening was the endearing humour. During their first introductions to a very eagerly loud crowd, the members asked if everyone was “ready to go crazy with them tonight". The first three songs were more than evident.
Many K-pop shows – mainly with rookie groups they will include a mega mix of popular K-pop covers. Some iconic, fan-voted, or what’s currently trending within the industry. I usually am not a fan of these segments, as they can be overplayed and go on for far too long. I also really prefer to see the group's own discography. But 8TURN got this section spot on. In fact it became one of the many standout moments of the evening.
Beforehand, they had mentioned the next segment would feature their chosen units within the group, and the first group to take the stage was Oh-ku-ku (오크크). The three members absolutely pounded the stage with CORTIS’s “FaSHION” and it was as if CORTIS themselves were onstage with the reaction from the crowd. Each move was executed with grace yet determination. Next up were the remaining members – five guys – and while Oh-ku-ku (오크크) went fifth generation.
The next unit, “Five Guys", catered to the OG fans of K-pop with BIG BANG; in fact, it was their 20th anniversary show the very night before at Tottenham Stadium. This acted as an apt performance, a tribute almost. The moments you hear the lines "bang bang bang…" everyone knows exactly what to do. Regardless of age or which generation of K-pop you came into, it is one of those songs that everyone knows.
Rounding off the segment with a full eight-member reunion, they casually chucked out a cover that was voted for by fans. ATEEZ. "BOUNCY" – she is that queen. The one that gets an atmosphere going from the first few beats. Having seen ATEEZ many times, including recently at BST. I could confidently say that 8TURN without a doubt smashed it. It was as if they embodied the individual members from rapper to visuals. Dare I even say… almost as good as the powerhouse themselves?
Amongst the tracks, there was time for some fun interactions between the audience and the boys, allowing them to have a well-deserved breather from the chaotic energy they just displayed. So far, every single song has featured non-stop choreography. Something that needs to be applauded not only for the fluidity but also for the pace and amount of moves within each song. The break came in the form of interactive games featuring dance challenges, moments from the tour, as well as “Spilling the Tea". Leader Jaehyun steered the guys well, keeping the storytelling on track while allowing everyone to get their moments.
But it was time to make it atmospheric and ambient with what they do very well. Slow songs. “Heartache” and “Close to me” had the crowd waving phone torches in the air. But more importantly, these songs allowed them to show just how talented they actually are.
Boy groups are famed for moments such as these. It may sound corny, but it's an art form. To be able to put out that level of emotion, keep steady vocals, and maintain a strong stage presence after giving such a crazy first half shows just how much potential these guys have. It's everything you want in a boy group.
As the evening neared its end, it was clear that 8TURN are very much at home onstage and, compared to last year's show, have found not only their feet but also their confidence. The fear has gone, the experience is more settled, and as they launched into their recent single "STAGEFRIGHT", it was as if the night had only just begun. The encore wrapped with the fan favourite “NOM” before leaving us with “Say My Name.”
K-pop is an incredible genre, and many of its groups are full of members with multifaceted roles that are rigorous, disciplined and incredibly strong within any performance. But this time 8TURN allowed themselves the space to demonstrate all of that while managing to find the space to have fun and enjoy being on tour again. Compared to their previous European visit, the growth was clear. Watching tonight made this feel like a group finding their place, and I am very much looking forward to seeing that success climb in the future.
Photos by Charis Lydia Bagioki
Words by Kirsty Bright
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