SF9 Bring Energy and Charm to London’s Indigo at The O2

If there’s one thing you can always count on with SF9, it’s that they’ll show up, give their all, and make even a slightly tired stage feel like home. When the five members of SF9 (yes, only five this time around – the others were sorely missed but very much there in spirit) took the stage at the Indigo at The O2 for their LOVE DAWN – 2025 SF9 LIVE FANTASY #5 show, London was ready.

The night rolled out with a sleek intro video, the kind that makes you think, “Oh yes, I’m about to enter the world of K-pop fantasy!” And then boom! LOVE RACE began. The members appeared in black and red outfits, dancing with the energy that could power the London Eye for a week. The song, from their Love Race mini-album (the second in their Your Fantasy series), hit all the right notes – literally and visually. Then, they moved into RPM, a song that always feels like an adrenaline shot straight to the heart. The drums hit hard, the choreography was crisp, and yes, the exhaustion was just a little visible, but honestly, who can blame them? Five guys doing what 8 usually do is Olympic-level commitment.

By Now or Never, the red lighting had completely taken over the stage, matching both the song’s intensity and the group’s effort to keep up the energy. Vocals wavered here and there, but it wasn’t about skill, it was about stamina. And yet, SF9 powered through with charm, making the crowd’s cheers louder than any missed note.

Then came the Ment. Classic SF9 humour: “We missed you guys so much! Did you miss us, too? London, scream!” (the noise so loud it could probably be heard in Birmingham.)

Tear Drop flowed into Trauma, both visually strong numbers, drenched in red light on and off, were delivered well. You could see why Tear Drop remains one of their defining post-Kingdom moments. Then, with Cruel Love, WARURU, and BIBORA, the group just refused to slow down. The setlist was basically a marathon of semi-paced and fast-paced choreography, all while managing to look dangerously good under all that sweat.

And then… it was solo stage time. Before that, the VCR popped up, the K-pop equivalent of halftime – before 3 out of 5 members took the spotlight.

Youngbin’s cover of pH-1’s Nerdy Love was fun and fresh, though it did make one wonder (as always): why won’t FNC Entertainment just give these guys better staging? With all the talent SF9 has, it’s almost a crime to see them backed only by basic visuals when they could have a full spectacle. Inseong followed with a cover of ROSÉ’s On the Ground, which he handled with grace – though honestly, we’d rather hear him belt out one of SF9’s many underrated B-sides. Jaeyoon tackled Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather, and let’s just say: that’s not an easy task. But he did it, even hitting those delicate high notes written for a female range. A sincere round of applause (and probably some goosebumps) for that one. Then came Hwiyoung, the ultimate cool rocker, taking on sombr’s Back to Friends. The vibe changed completely – gritty and confident. He looked like he walked straight out of a moody indie film, and honestly, I approved. He hit those notes and delivered that attitude.

When the group returned in their beautiful white outfits, they lightened the mood with jokes about the London Eye’s operating schedule – because if SF9 can’t poke fun at local landmarks, who can?

Just On My Way kicked off the next set, bringing a fresh rush of adrenaline. “Are you excited?” the group exclaimed. The crowd yelled “YES!” and off they went again, refusing to rest. Even when I was silently begging for a ballad (just one!), SF9 was like, nope, you’re dancing with us.

During Round and Round, the members’ fatigue was showing. Still, they laughed through it all, teasing each other and keeping the energy alive. That warmth – that humour – is part of what makes SF9 such a joy to watch. They closed the main set with a series of fun songs: Enough, Good Guy, Love No. 4, and, of course, the classic O Sole Mio. If you’ve ever wanted to experience euphoria, chaos, and cardio all at once, that final stretch was it.

The encore brought Mamma Mia and My Fantasia, a perfect reminder of how versatile SF9’s discography really is. Despite missing members and an exhausting tour schedule, they gave London a dynamic show. So yes, maybe they were tired, maybe the staging could’ve been flashier, but SF9 pulled it off regardless. With five members, charisma, and obvious love for their fans, Love Dawn in London was a joy to watch. And if their next tour includes all 8 members? London had better reinforce its roof.

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Written by Maggie Gogler

_{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.}