Brighton & Hove News previews KTAM Unleashed, a new K-pop show coming to Chalk and the Ironworks Studios this November.
- 14 November – Ironworks Studios, Brighton
- 19 November – CHALK, Brighton
Around two years ago something happened in our household.
Suddenly my daughters went from being die hard Swifties to looking eastwards to a genre of music which was bubbly and fun and came with choreographed dances that put our two-step shuffle to shame.
K-pop Demon Hunters and the music surrounding it certainly brought K-pop to the mainstream.
My daughters claim to have now outgrown Rumi, Zoe and Mira, the protagonists of the film and the members of HUNTR/X, but their Spotify playlists tell a different story.
But what it also shows is that their tastes have grown to an examination of all things K-pop.
KATSEYE, Blackpink, BTS, Twice – It’s not just the music, it’s the fashion, the dances and the behind-the-scenes takes that has pulled them in.
And, they aren’t the only ones. Over the last 12 months Brighton and surrounding areas has seen its K-Pop events grow.
Just last year Chalk, Komedia and The Brighton Centre hosted K-Pop events, as well as a one off in Eastbourne also.
This winter two Brighton showcases are taking place at Ironworks Studios on 14 November and CHALK on 19 November.
KTAM Unleashed told Brighton & Hove News that whilst K-pop has developed a huge and passionate audience in the UK, opportunities to see emerging Korean artists here are still relatively limited.
“KTAM Unleashed aims to change that by creating opportunities for rising artists to perform internationally, while giving UK audiences access to much more intimate and personal K-pop experiences than traditional large-scale concerts,” managing director of KTAM, Amberley Waterton, told Brighton & Hove News.
“Our first showcase earlier this year demonstrated that there is an audience for these experiences, and the response to our winter programme has been even stronger,” she added.
So far it looks like it is heavy on the boy-bands, with several well-known faces performing and some which are waiting to recognition.
On the bill on the day will be ANOHRTS (아노하츠), a five-member South Korean pre-debut boy group under J-Star Entertainment.
The group consists of Soonchan, Hyunje, Dahoon, Woohyun, and Gihyeon.
The group released a demo version of their song “See U” on Instagram on January 13, 2026, while the official release schedule has yet to be announced.
COMMA (콤마), is a 4-member South Korean boy group under 4824 Company. The group consists of Ju-Sung, JJ, Min-Ho, and Len.
They made their official debut on January 9, 2026 with the single “Toxic Sugar”.
ANTARES is headlining the event. This six-piece boy band, also put together under J-Star, has been going since 2020 in various forms. Their single TRIGGER was released earlier this year.
Studio L will also be performing, an independent South Korean project boy group, consisting of five members: Kim Hyunsoo, Lee Minho, Heo Seongjeong, Huyuto, and Seongjin.
Each artist will perform a half-hour set, including fun games and fan interaction.
After all the performances, there is a chance to buy exclusive merchandise, and join a fansign, and photo/polaroid opportunities.
Details:
KTAM Unleashed will be at the Ironworks Studios, Brighton, on November 14 and CHALK on November 19. Tickets are available here.
Accessibility:
Ironworks has wheelchair entry. The studio is flat and the flooring is a mixture between polished concrete and laminate wood. A wheelchair viewing position must be pre-booked using the access request form. Wheelchair accessible toilets are available.
CHALK host Standing events at the venue, but has limited spaces on a seated accessibility platform, suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users, accessible toilet facilities and step free access via ramp.
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