Berlin got a taste of Korean indie rock as CATCH THE YOUNG took over Säälchen for the opening night of K-INDIE ON FESTIVAL – No Borders, Just RocK! on 19 September.
The five-piece band — NAMHYUN, KIHOON, SANI, JUNYONG, and JUNGMO — delivered a 13-song set for the German crowd, bringing their self-described “YOUTH-POP ROCK” sound to the fourth edition of the festival.
Hosted by the Korean Cultural Center in Germany, K-INDIE ON FESTIVAL has been introducing German audiences to Korean music beyond K-pop since 2023. This edition kicked off at Säälchen before continuing for its second day at Holzmarkt.
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For CATCH THE YOUNG, their Berlin appearance was all about meeting the crowd at full force. “The incredible passion and energy from the Berlin audience really pushed us to give it our all,” shared SANI.
The band’s set included ‘Amplify’, the title track from their first full-length album, EVOLVE. Slower moments saw fans light up the venue with their phone flashlights, but as the band shifted back into their up-tempo material, the room quickly turned into a sea of cheering and jumping fans.
One song in particular brought Berlin and CATCH THE YOUNG together: their cover of German singer Nena’s ‘99 Luftballons’. Taking on the local favourite drew an especially enthusiastic response from the audience, turning the familiar ‘80s hit into one of the night’s standout moments.
The performance also gave the group another opportunity to bring their alternative pop-rock sound beyond Korea, with their vocal harmonies and full-band arrangements at the centre of the set.
“It was a great opportunity for us to perform at K-INDIE ON FESTIVAL. I'm proud of all our members,” said JUNGMO.
Berlin is only the beginning of the band’s latest international run. CATCH THE YOUNG are next set to embark on their first Latin American tour, CATCH THE YOUNG LIVE EVOLVE: LATAM TOUR 2026, named after EVOLVE. The tour will take the band to Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Buenos Aires, and Santiago, giving even more fans a chance to experience their "YOUTH-POP ROCK" sound live.
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