Written by Holly Craig

Genderless kpop group xlov brought their first European tour to Manchester, a city well known for queer expression and a strong sense of identity. With the city’s intense atmosphere and motion, xlov were set on a mission to create a haven for their beloved evols. Members Wumuti, Hyun, Rui and Haru took the stage at Manchester Academy on February 12th 2026 showcasing their talent and devotion to the message they so strongly carry within their hearts.

Before the show officially begun I spoke to many evols around the venue, each showing varying levels of excitement and gratitude towards the group. An abundannce of LGBT fans covered the streets surrounding as anticipation grew for the long awaited concert. I saw many fans dressed as their favourite members yet still holding a strong sense of self and identity within their expressions. Xkov mentioned during their ments about how important it is to be yourself and that it will forever be the most beautiful version of who you can be. Evols are a perfect match for xlov shown through their commitment to being who they truly are and showcasing compelling kindness towards each other. Walking through the lines I saw glimpses of fans helping each other with their makeup, taking concert fit pictures and hyping each other up.

The concert began with the roars of fans, each fan unbothered by a language barrier as they sang to the hit song 1&only before the members even appeared on stage. Undeniably xlov felt the energy of fans backstage, something many artists dream of hearing. Evols excitement only kept growing the closer to the beginning of the show, for their first European tour xlov pulled so many dedicated fans into one space.

The concert began with intense screams and cheers, each fab pulling their phones up in preperation for the members to appear on stage. Wumuti, Haru, Rui and Hyun walked onto stage with fierce makeup and outfits truly showcasing their genderless concept they’ve carried since debut. Rizz was the opening song for their Manchester show, a song with intricate dances and iconic vocals. I’mma be and 1 of Lov followed, changing the energy from hype to sentimental. Although 1 of Lov is less energetic than the first 2 songs, fans didn’t dip in energy and instead proudly sang along.

Xlov introduced themselves giving each a whimsical intro, showcasing their personalities and individuality. They kindly asked fans to only raise phone flashlights in the essence of an emergency to ensure that fans in need would be able to quickly get the help that they need. This small sentiment truly touched the hearts of fans, allowing them to enjoy the concert without the worry of a lack of support. Between each of the songs the members told stories, explained their songs and joked around with each other. Xlov has the star quality of much more experienced groups despite having only debuted in 2025. Through the stories the members told it created a closer atmosphere between fans and artist highlighting the authenticity of the group.

Hyu and Wumuti made a strong moment in the concert with their performance of “diamonds” by Rihanna, the harmonies between the duo resonated with fans. Rui and Haru showcased their dance skills in a duo performance highlighting flexibility and movement control. All 4 members then rejoined the stage to perform a cover of Blackpink’s “Lovesick Girls” putting their own twist on the song.

Following their cover performances Xlov returned to their own discography with a run of Bizness, Scent and Kiss and say goodbye. It created an overwhelming expression of emotions deeply shared between xlov and evols alike. Each performance showed different aspects of xlov’s personalities and performance skills. Angel baby by Troye Sivan followed with the members sweet vocals surrounding the venue hall. In between the songs the artists stayed true to their evols, connecting with them through interactions and more ments.

Energy returned again with dirty baby and drip drip and then the highlight of their show with their hit song 1&only. After attending many concerts with varying capacities the energy during 1&only truly shocked me, the volume in the room reached an all time high with every evol singing along and doing the fanchants. The show ended with a message to the fans expressing that they should always be who they are and that is what makes them beautiful. They then closed the show with their cutesy song Biii:-p. An xlov concert is an experience that everyone should have, it’s the perfect space for so many people from all walks of life.