Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Kimoto Rooftop Garden Lounge. Downtown Brooklyn.—Tuesday evening found me and my plus one on the rooftop of the Sheraton Brooklyn Hotel, attending a quaint gathering of VIP media professionals and creative talents. One could say the VIP Reception, hosted by Sun River Health, was the pre-game event to attend before the prestigious Caribbean Music Awards Show, which is returning on Thursday, August 28th, at the Kings Theatre.
When I first heard of HITGS (short for Hip, Innocent, Teenager, Girls, and Story), I didn’t know what to expect, but the name speaks for itself. This rising K-pop group, made up of five talented young girls, debuted in late April 2025. Yet, by August, they had already released three songs and added more chapters to their “HITG-Story.”
Before stepping inside, I found myself wondering: What happens when you bring together fans of Korean music and rock in one room? That question was quickly answered the moment I joined the pit at Xdinary Heroes’ Beautiful Mind World Tour stop in Los Angeles at The Hollywood Palladium. Red lights bathed the stage, instruments gleamed, and the anticipation was electric.
Rarely, only “in fantasies,” does a K-pop group return to a stadium they’ve already performed at and deliver an even crazier, more intense, and better-received set. But ATEEZ, the KQ boy group, did just that, and more, in Los Angeles at BMO Stadium for two nights in a row, August 8–9, on their IN YOUR FANTASY tour.
After a one-year hiatus and venue change. Rock the Bells came back with a vengeance in 2025.
Every year, KCON brings fans together to celebrate Korean culture, and this time, we joined the excitement in Los Angeles!
On August 2nd, Chinese artist 蔡徐坤 Cai Xu Kun, famously known as KUN, helmed his sold-out first-ever U.S. headlining show, ”KUN: ONE NIGHT ONLY” at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, CA. We got up close and personal to view the unforgettable performance, which doubled as a celebration with fans in honor of his 27th birthday and introduced the next stage in his solo career.
Thank you again to Nina for this invitation. The Knockturnal was invited to attend the remarkable and deeply moving concert of soul and jazz singer-songwriter Karen Bernod, who has spent decades lending her voice to legends like Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige, and Luther Vandross. Now, she returns center stage to remind us of her power and presence as a solo artist.
The 31st Annual HOT 97 Summer Jam was a night to remember, lighting up the Prudential Center on June 20th with high-energy performances, surprise tributes, and a crowd that came ready to celebrate Hip Hop in all its glory.