Jannabi Set to Dazzle at ATA Festival 2025: A Journey from Busking to Stardom

ATA Festival 2025: A Lineup to Remember
Get ready to enjoy the 'ATA Festival 2025' with a stellar lineup that promises to make the cool autumn days unforgettable.

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"When we played our own songs, people would leave. We were at a loss, so we started performing popular songs like Delispice's 'Confession' or The Beatles' 'Hey Jude'."

Duo artist Jannabi recently reminisced about their early days during a solo concert, sharing how they once had to rely on covers of popular songs to keep audiences engaged. Fast forward to today, and Jannabi has come a long way. In August, they became the first indie band to perform at Seoul's KSPO Dome, following in the footsteps of Day6.

With the 'ATA Festival 2025' just a week away, fans are eagerly anticipating Jannabi's performance. The band is set to take the stage on the first day of the festival, September 27th, at Seoul's Nanji Hangang Park. Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, Jannabi has been recognized for their captivating stage presence at various festivals.

Despite their seasoned status, Jannabi remains popular among the MZ generation. A recent incident at their alma mater, Kyung Hee University, illustrates this well. During a performance amidst heavy rain, lead singer Choi Jung-hoon's microphone stand fell, causing him to slip and miss the opening line of 'Did You Love'. The audience, undeterred by the rain, sang the song in unison, moving Choi to express his gratitude.

After the performance, Choi took to social media to thank the audience, saying, "Today's Kyung Hee University! My juniors! I was so eager that I fell as soon as I appeared, and the mic fell off the stage, so I couldn't sing the first line of the first song." He continued, "Your incredible sense to sing along with me allowed us to finish the performance with high energy. It was an unforgettable moment, and your expressions will stay with me forever. Thank you, my juniors!"

Jannabi's stage confidence stems from years of performing. Before releasing their debut album, they busked at Seohyeon Station in 2013 and appeared on Mnet's 'Superstar K5' to gain recognition. They honed their skills performing at street venues and Hongdae clubs, eventually gracing numerous university festivals and major stages.

Choi Jung-hoon also expanded his repertoire by hosting KBS's music program 'The Seasons - Park of the Night' for three months in 2023, enhancing his stage presence and audience engagement skills. He continued to showcase his talents as a special MC for KBS's 'Immortal Songs - Rock Festival in Ulsan'. Fans are eager to see what witty remarks he will bring to the ATA stage on the 27th.

Joining Jannabi on September 27th are artists like Kim Junsu, Peppertones, Lee Mujin, 10cm, Park Hye-won, Kyung Seo, H1-KEY, Say My Name, and Hwang Garam. The second day of the festival, September 28th, will feature Kim Jaejoong, The Boyz, Tours, Cravity, Ha Sung-woon, Fifty Fifty, 82Major, QWER, Eunice, Bad Villain, and New Beat lighting up the riverside.

Reported by Min-Kyung Lee, TenAsia 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr