The Rose is, quite truly, a delicious, divine rose when they perform, blooming with talent every single time. One could never dare question their live show credentials. Whether it’s OVO Wembley Arena, Scala, or now Indigo at The O2, The Rose continue to deliver with effortless impact, rising to meet any stage, big or small, with the same breathtaking energy.

READ MORE: THE ROSE AT SCALA, LONDON

This time, The Rose opted for a more intimate setting, performing not just one, but two nights (17th and 19th of June) at Indigo at The O2. As part of their Once Upon A WRLD Tour, the shows coincided with the release of their third mini-album, WRLD. We had the good fortune of catching the group on the second night of their London show.

Divided into four acts, The Rose kicked things off with a cinematic build-up; aural background music setting the mood before moving to the first song of the night, Ticket to the Sky from their latest release, WRLD. Woosung, Dojoon, Hajoon, and Taegyeom stepped on stage, instruments in hand, ready to pull us into their acoustic universe. Act 1 opened with a soft blue glow washing over the stage. They followed up with Childhood from their 2022 album HEAL, a song I’d never heard performed acoustically before, it felt like finding a secret level in your favourite game. A real treat, especially for longtime fans.

The performance began with guitars delicately entwining. Woosung’s unmistakably husky timbre soon merged with Dojoon’s velvety tone, creating a beautiful vocal fusion. I truly enjoyed how quiet the audience stayed, something you don’t often see at concerts, which allowed every part of Act 1’s performance to come through clearly. Definition of Ugly, from the aforementioned HEAL album, followed, its delivery, utterly breathtaking. Woosung’s emotionally filled performance was spine-tingling. Then came She’s in the Rain, from their 2018 release DAWN, one of my favourite songs, performed with honest emotion and feeling, the song showed clearly why it still connects so strongly with listeners.

Watching The Rose’s journey take shape live feels a bit like witnessing students progress through the entire education system, except these students have just earned their PhD in rock and everything else that comes with music. From day one, their growth has been defined by relentless hard work, stubborn grit, and a trust in one another to keep going even when the road got rough. And while every act of the show served its purpose and told its own story through the songs, it was the acoustic sets that truly stole the show for me. There’s something magical about hearing their voices laid bare, with minimal instrumentation – pure, first-class vocal finesse that left me wishing for more stripped-down performances from The Rose.

The pace picked up with Tomorrow from their 2025 release, WRLD, before they smoothly transitioned into Act 2. And wow, Nebula was absolutely sublime. This song mixes thoughtful words with great sounds, and I’ve been singing it to myself nonstop. Lifeline had the crowd jumping and dancing like there was no tomorrow, completely caught up in the pure joy of the music. Even with a few technical hiccups during You Are Beautiful from their 2023 album DUAL, the band delivered. The energy carried forward effortlessly with Shift as Act 2 subtly transformed its rhythm and mood while maintaining a great atmosphere.

Slowly, from their latest release WRLD, was performed with care and feeling, with Woosung and Dojoon’s voices flowing beautifully together throughout the song. Their live performance was impressive; every note landed perfectly, and even when a pitch wavered, it was so subtle that you hardly noticed. The energy picked up with Nauseous from their 2023 full-length album DUAL, boosted by the bassist Taegyeom’s cool vocal contribution. Act 2 wrapped up with Yes from their 2022 album HEAL.

READ MORE: BORN TO ROCK – WOOSUNG IN LONDON

The technical glitches during the performance were definitely noticeable, but the guys handled it with effortless charm, turning a potential setback into a relaxed, unscripted chat with their fans. Woosung and Dojoon joked. But before all that, they shared candidly: “This is the show we really wanted to do – looking into your faces. It’s like you’re almost in our living room, just hanging out with us. We wanted to show you the most natural side of The Rose.”

Vocally, they impressed. Musically, they were flawless. Not a single note was wasted, even with the issues mentioned above. They’re the kind of band that makes you wonder if their instruments have been blessed with holy water, because what they deliver on stage feels sacred, sublime, and almost otherworldly.

Act 3 unleashed a range of emotions, featuring six songs. It kicked off with Back to Me, where the crowd was, yet again, jumping, singing, alive with joy. Next came Alive from DUAL (2023), a track whose live performance never fails to make you feel – literally – alive. There’s something raw about it, as if you’re swept into an epic celebration at a legendary London venue like Fabric, surrounded by beats and euphoria.

Then, the mood shifted with RED, from their third single album, and a MENT that took us back to their beginnings. The band reminisced about their first European tour in London, 2018, an important moment etched firmly in their story. The sweat and heat of the moment felt like a small price to pay for witnessing such an authentic reflection on their journey. Sorry followed, one of their most lyrically thoughtful pieces. The atmosphere changed with Eclipse, a gentle reminder that dreams do come true, before closing with the superb Beauty and the Beast, a single from 2021 that perfectly balanced delicate vulnerability and powerful storytelling, leaving me enchanted.

Checking out the staging – the couch, the bed – it felt like crashing their living room party… except there were 3,000 of us invited! I loved how cozy and “homie” it was, especially compared to massive arenas like Wembley, where you’re basically a tiny speck in the crowd. This time, it was like Woosung and the crew threw a Sunday BBQ and somehow invited all of us over for a concert too. Honestly, I’m all in for this small-venue vibe; it’s intimate, personal, and way more fun.

The Rose is a magnificent mix of professionalism and the charming chaos of youth – a perfect harmony between experience and restless energy. Watching them in Act 4 was a great reminder of their magic. The set began with Nevermind, where Dojoon’s voice bore the weight of exhaustion, while Woosung powered on with passion. Each song that followed, from the Wonder to Sour and the cosmic calm after Cosmo, carried the audience through various moods.

READ MORE: THE ROSE AT WEMBLEY ARENA

Closing the show with O from their album WRLD, The Rose delivered a song of hope in a fractured world, inviting everyone to “come as one,” shedding colour and division. Dojoon’s verse, imagining the fall of oppressive rulers and the rise of dreams, brought a powerful dimension of optimism and courage. It was a moment that brought tears, a shared human plea for change and healing. The Rose ended the show with a message, reminding us that even in the chaos and exhaustion, music holds the power to heal, unite, and inspire. Honestly, that’s the kind of ending that leaves you buzzing. While there’s no need to compare O to John Lennon’s iconic songs like Imagine or Give Peace a Chance, the song brings similar feelings.

After seven years of watching The Rose’s evolution, witnessing their growth from hopeful newcomers to masters of their art, these two nights at Indigo at The O2 were simply SUBLIME. The intimate venue was a perfect stage for a band that knows how to deliver a great show, and the group has proven time and again they’re at the top of their game.

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Written by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of Maggie Zhu for View of the Arts

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}