In a historic first for K-pop, aespa graced the stages of the popular American 'Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival.'

On the 11th, local time, aespa took to the stage at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, marking their debut as the first K-pop group at the 'Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival'. Their mini-concert, replete with a dynamic setlist, captivated global fans in attendance.

Drawing over 220,000 attendees annually, the 'Outside Lands Festival' is one of the U.S.'s premier outdoor music festivals. This year, alongside aespa, the lineup included renowned pop stars like Kendrick Lamar, ODESZA, and Lana Del Rey. The festival provided yet another platform for aespa to showcase their global prowess.

aespa Makes Historic Appearance at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, Despite Giselle's Absence
(Photo : SM Entertainment)
aespa Makes Historic Appearance at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, Despite Giselle's Absence

However, Giselle was notably absent from the festival due to flu-like symptoms, leaving only Karina, Winter, and Ningning to perform. Earlier on the 11th, their agency, SM Entertainment, stated, "While fulfilling her U.S. schedule, Giselle showed signs of the flu. Based on medical advice, she is currently resting. Even though she expressed a strong desire to fulfill the scheduled activities, our top priority is the artist's health," and asked for understanding from the fans.

At the festival, aespa showcased their unique sound and performance with tracks like 'Spicy', 'Salty & Sweet', 'Thirsty', and 'Welcome To MY World', highlighting their distinct charm with 'ænergy'. Their hit songs 'Black Mamba', 'Next Level', and 'Girls' especially drew massive crowd sing-alongs and explosive reactions.

aespa Makes Historic Appearance at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, Despite Giselle's Absence
(Photo : SM Entertainment)
aespa Makes Historic Appearance at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, Despite Giselle's Absence

Furthermore, they performed a total of 10 songs, including English tracks like 'Life's Too Short' and 'Hold On Tight', accentuated by a live band session, completing a riveting stage performance.

On another note, starting from the 13th, aespa will kick off their world tour, spanning 14 cities across the U.S., South America, and Europe. They are also set to release their English single 'Better Things' on the 18th at 1 PM (Korean time).