RIO DE JANEIRO: Stray Kids brought K-pop to one of Brazil’s biggest music stages Friday, making history as the first K-pop act to headline Rock in Rio before a crowd of roughly 100,000 fans in Rio de Janeiro.
The eight-member group took the stage at Palco Mundo, the festival’s main stage at Olympic Park, performing a string of hit songs while interacting with the audience throughout the set.
The appearance marked a milestone for Rock in Rio, which was first held in 1985 and has hosted major international acts including Queen and Guns N’ Roses. The festival had never previously featured a K-pop act as a headliner.
U.S. entertainment outlet Billboard praised the performance in a report published Saturday, saying Stray Kids delivered a strong debut that met the expectations of South American fans and opened a new chapter for K-pop at the festival.
The members performed in outfits inspired by traditional Korean styling, while fireworks and large-scale lighting displays added to the spectacle.
During “Chk Chk Boom,” the group incorporated samba-inspired dance steps as a tribute to Brazilian culture. At another point, the members sang part of a song by a local artist without instrumental backing, drawing an enthusiastic response from the crowd.
The performance comes as Stray Kids continue their activities across Latin America through STRAYCITY, a touring festival series organized by JYP Entertainment and U.S. concert promoter Live Nation. Stray Kids headline every stop on the series.
STRAYCITY opened Sept. 9 in Bogota, Colombia, and is scheduled to continue Sept. 14-15 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, followed by Sept. 25-26 in Mexico City. The series extends the group’s momentum across the region following its historic Rock in Rio appearance.
