From April 21 to 23, over 15,000 K-Pop fans and enthusiasts flocked to Las Vegas for We Bridge Expo & Festival. The inaugural three-day cultural expo and two-night music festival brought fans from around the country for a jammed-packed weekend K-Pop takeover featuring performances from CIX, ONEUS, Dreamcatcher, KANGDANIEL, JESSI, MONSTA X, BE’O, VIVIZ, BamBam, and ENHYPEN.
Upon entering the expo, attendees were greeted by an immersive pathway filled with life-size cutouts of groups on the We Bridge lineup. Although the lighting in the expo was dimly lit like a nightclub, fans still managed to snag a few shots next to their favorite artist standees. Those with a passion for contemporary art were treated to art galleries and live painting exhibitions by South Korean contemporary artist collective, Gallery STAN.
From Korean and Filipino food to Hawaiian snacks and boba, the expo’s marketplace brought an eclectic mix of food vendors who served free food, drink, and dessert samples of their cultural specialties. Retail vendors such as K-POP Nation sold K-Pop merchandise, while apparel companies like KORELIMITED sold casual streetwear clothing with free customization.
A dance stage created a safe space for fans of all dance levels to learn the choreography of some of their favorite songs. Adjacent to the dance area was The Lounge Booth, an activation that delivered top-tier service with its professional photoshoot style setup, lighting, and an amazing team of creatives. The space came complete with two all-white and all-pink sets and a professional photographer who directed and posed each person to create album-jacket-worthy images. The activation was one of the most in-demand services at the convention and ensured that everyone left feeling like a K-Pop star.
The Grammy Museum stage was the highlight of the expo. It featured star-studded programming that included thought-provoking panels from industry professionals as well as artist interviews, performances, and hi-touch fan engagements. Among the scheduled programs, ENHYPEN attracted the largest (and loudest) crowd of them all. By the time the members arrived at the expo floor and took their seats, the entire hall erupted in ear-piercing screams that resurfaced every time a member appeared on the large monitors above the stage.
While all of these activities provided a source of excitement and fun for K-Pop fans, they came during a difficult time for those in the K-Pop community due to the sudden passing of ASTRO’s Moonbin. “Our heart goes out to his family and loved ones, and the fans and community worldwide who are mourning his loss,” said Alex Kang, the founder and event producer of the festival and the CEO of Infinite Projects Entertainment. “Although this is a tragic and sad time for the community, we hope that our festival can bring some light, love, and joy to the fans, and unite them through their love for this music and culture, to celebrate everything [Moonbin] lived for – his music, dance, art, and the passionate and dedicated K-Pop fans.” His memory was honored through moments of silence and a “Light Up” tribute held at the beginning of the first concert night. Audience members turned on their phone lights in solidarity and offered a comforting, uplifting experience. Many ASTRO fans called AROHA were also in attendance, proudly donning Moonbin jerseys and ASTRO fan banners.
CIX kicked off the first night with their latest release, “458.” Fresh off their 2nd WORLD TOUR <Save me, Kill me>, BX, Seunghun, Yonghee, Bae Jinyoung, and Hyunsuk charmed the audience with their smooth dance moves and equally smooth vocals. Fan favorites “Movie Star” and “Cinema” pulled everyone to their feet as they sang along to the catchy melodies and lyrics. With a new album confirmed to be in the works, fans will definitely be seeing more from them soon.
Following suit was ONEUS, the only act to perform on both concert nights. The group strolled onto the stage and opened with “Bring It On” while dressed in the outfits from the song’s music video and album concept photos. Seoho, Leedo, Keonhee, Hwanwoong, and Xion went for an all-choreo setlist that showcased the group’s signature, gravity-defying dance moves, and synchronization. Although they did not utilize the catwalk or extended stage on either night, the members’ strong stage presence was felt throughout the arena. At one point, ONEUS encouraged concertgoers to go to Korea and see all the beautiful sights and sounds of their home country. While traveling may not be in the books for everyone, the group brought Korean culture to the We Bridge stage with their intricate fan dance choreography in “Luna” and “Lit.” Following the completion of their Reach For Us world tour, the members have been diligently preparing for their ninth EP, PYGMALION, and will make their comeback and their “musical transformation” on May 8.
Dreamcatcher got the crowd lit with their dynamic setlist ranging from title tracks to B-sides. JiU, SuA, Siyeon, Handong, Yoohyeon, Dami, and Gahyeon began with “Maison,” a rock-centric statement piece about the negative impacts humanity has had on the environment. Attendees who did not go to their recent Reason: Makes Dreamcatcher 2023 tour received a firsthand taste of the septet’s diverse discography and equally vibrant personalities. As Dreamcatcher segued into additional rock numbers like “BOCA” and “Break The Wall,” the venue became a sea of rock n’ roll hand gestures before transforming into a mini rave club with “Silent Night.” The intense EDM track amplified the energy in the arena as the girls headbanged along and finished off with “Mayday” and “Scream.”
Backed by his group of dancers, solo artist KANGDANIEL showcased his suave dance moves with back-to-back performances of “Nirvana” and “Paranoia.” While catching his breath, he shared how the latter was written during his darkest time and was reflected in the choreography as well. He followed with a rock rendition of “Antidote,” trading out the choreography number for a vocal-centered performance.
“I’m a different type of beast” was JESSI’s opening line as she sauntered on stage with “What Type of X.” From start to finish, she made the stage her domain. She commanded full audience attention as she performed her viral hits like “Zoom,” “Cold Blooded,” and “Nunu Nana.” When she wasn’t performing, she did what she does best — made everyone feel “Gucci.” JESSI hijacked the festival and opted to use most of the time to take care of her fans because, “There’s no set time, so fuck it.” She hyped up birthday celebrants, took photos, and jokingly suggested drawing a penis after a fan asked her to draw his next tattoo. JESSI, with the support of her trusted security guard, even leaned off the stage to hug a fan at the barricade. In another instance, she left the stage again without any hesitation to sign fans’ t-shirts. If attendees didn’t know who she was before the night began, they were surely chanting her name and demanding her own solo tour by the end of it.
The first night closed out with a stunning performance by Day 1 headliner, MONSTA X. Four microphone stands were placed on stage in preparation for their first performance of the night — “You Problem.” The crowd happily grooved in their seats and sang along to the all-English lyrics. Although Minhyuk and Shownu could not attend the show, MONBEBEs gladly chimed in alongside Joohoney, I.M, Kihyun, and Hyungwon. The MONBEBEs’ voices were palpable as they continued to sing along to tracks such as “Someone’s Someone,” “Secrets,” and “Burning Up.”
Rapper BE’O warmed up the audience on Day 2 with a refreshing, energetic set. Despite this being his first-ever U.S. performance, he felt completely at home on stage as he opened with “Limousine” and “Complex.” Despite encountering technical difficulties throughout his set, BE’O never lost his smile, and his positive vibes radiated with the audience. His breakout hit, “Counting Stars,” drew the largest reaction from the crowd as they sang along to the chorus and even filled in for BE’O as he stopped and held out his microphone towards the crowd.
ONEUS returned to the We Bridge stage for their second performance of the weekend. The members, now in blue suits, performed the same setlist with as much vigor and passion as they would exhibit on their own solo concerts.
Following ONEUS’ second performance on the We Bridge stage, VIVIZ took their turn on stage with “Pull Up.” Despite the difficult circumstances, the girls still gave their best to deliver a solid first U.S. performance. They exhibited their signature synchronized dance moves as they glided through songs such as “Loveade” and “Love Love Love.” In return, the audience showered the girls with an outpour of cheers of love and support at every given moment, creating a blanket of comfort for both the members and audience members who stood in solidarity with them. “Thank you for treating us so gently and kindly,” Umji softly acknowledged. VIVIZ wrapped up their set with “BOP BOP!,” bowed to the audience, and left the stage.
Making his first U.S. debut as a solo artist, BamBam started his set off with back-to-back performances of “Pandora” and “Ride or Die.” His playful personality was out on full display as he casually interacted with the audience. In between his performances of “Tippy Toes” and “RiBBon,” he shared that he will be back in the U.S. very soon. In his interview at the Grammy Museum stage earlier in the day, the singer spilled the tea and hinted that he’ll be performing in a city about five hours away from Las Vegas and hopes to price the tickets low to entice his fans and casual listeners alike to attend. After all, he described his music as a convenience store — open 24/7 to anyone to come and go as they please. Until then, U.S. fans were treated to a packed setlist that ended with his upbeat latest single, “Sour & Sweet.”
To close out the final concert performance of the festival, headliners ENHYPEN came and delivered a jammed-packed set that began with their hit track, “FEVER.” The group — consisting of members Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Ni-ki — was once again greeted with an even louder roar of gleeful screams as each member showcased their favorite dance moves from “FEVER.” ENHYPEN also performed other powerful tracks, such as “TFW (That Feeling When)” and the thunderous “Future Perfect (Pass the MIC)” before feigning their final performance with “SHOUTOUT.” Fans began to slowly file out of the venue before the lights suddenly began to flash. Many ran back to their seats (or found unoccupied ones) just as ENHYPEN reemerged onstage for a surprise encore performance of “Polaroid Love.” While the members wandered the stage, some took fans’ phones and Polaroid cameras and took selfies. A security guard by the extended stage went the extra mile and helped pass the phones and cameras back and forth between the fans and the ENHYPEN members. It was a heartwarming gesture that was truly a pleasant sight to see.
Overall the We Bridge Expo & Festival, in its first iteration, shows great potential to become Las Vegas’ primary source for more K-Pop performances. With the festival confirmed to return next year (per MC Yuri Park’s closing statement on the second night), Las Vegas fans can look forward to not only a fresh and improved event but also to hopefully more opportunities for Las Vegas to become a regular stop in future K-Pop tours and events.