Seventeen becomes first K-pop group on Glastonbury’s main stage

Seventeen poses at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, Friday. Image: Pledis Entertainment via The Korea Herald

Seventeen became the first K-pop group to perform on the main stage at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, setting a significant milestone for K-pop while showcasing the genre’s growing influence.

The 13-member band captivated the audience for an hour on the Pyramid Stage with a powerful set that began with Woozi’s keyboard solo before launching into hits like “Maestro,” “Ready to Love,” “SOS,” “Clap,” “God of Music” and “Headliner.”

“It’s unbelievable that we are the first K-pop group to perform at Glastonbury,” Woozi proclaimed.

Glastonbury, the UK’s largest music festival, is a dream stage for artists across various genres, including rock, pop, jazz, and electronic music. This year’s edition took place from Wednesday to Sunday and featured over 20 main-stage performances by acts including Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and SZA.

Seventeen perform their songs on the main Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, the United Kingdom, on Friday, local time. Image: Pledis Entertainment via The Korea Herald

Seventeen constantly engaged with the audience, prowling across the stage and encouraging fans to join them. The enthusiastic crowd sang along to “Rock With You” and “Hot,” with the band responding to the audience’s excitement.

Unique to Seventeen’s performance were the subunit performances that highlighted diverse talents within the group.

The hip-hop unit performed “Lalali,” the performance team showcased “I Don’t Understand But I Luv U” and the vocal group delivered “Youth Anthem.” Joshua and Vernon’s English track “2 Minus 1” further elevated the concert atmosphere.

“Despite differences in language, nationality, and culture, we can connect through music. That’s why we are here. Please remember Seventeen,” Joshua said.

The encore was marked by an enthusiastic rendition of “Very Nice,” with the audience repeatedly singing the chorus.

Seungkwan took the interaction a step further by pointing the microphone at fans, heightening the concert’s energy.

Following the Glastonbury performance, Seventeen is to stay busy in Asia, including appearing on Fuji TV’s “FNS Music Festival” in Japan on Wednesday and hosting fan meetings at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on July 23 and 24.