P-pop sensations SB19 perform electrifying show in Dubai

The Filipino boy band kicked off their WYAT (Where You At) world tour to legions of fans at the World Trade Centre

P-pop sensations SB19 kicked off their international tour with a performance at the Dubai World Trade Centre. All photos: Ruel Pableo / The National

SB19, from left, Pablo, Stell, Josh, Justin and Ken, are known as one of the greatest P-pop bands of their generation.

Fans with signs at their concert at Dubai World Trade Centre.

SB19's Justin serenades fans in Dubai World Trade Centre.

SB19 were the first South-East Asian act to be nominated for a Billboard Top Social Artist Award.

SB19 member Josh serenades the Dubai crowd.

The Dubai concert was the first stop on the band's WYAT world tour.

The tour continues on to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Singapore.

SB19 fans cheer as the band perform onstage.

After not having much success early in their career, SB19 went uploaded a practice dance video online for their second single 'Go Up', which went viral.

Fans holding up signs at the SB19 concert.

SB19 member Pablo gets stuck in.

Fans with signs, balloons and glowsticks at the event.

SB19 member Stell.

SB19 fan Sheryl Iman said the concert was 'electrifying and surreal'.

Fans held glow sticks and photos of the band as they cheered them on during their performance.

Filipino boy band SB19 played a one-off show at Dubai World Trade Centre on Saturday on the first stop of their new WYAT (Where You At) world tour.

Even though the five-piece — Pablo, Stell, Ken, Justin and Josh — performed earlier this year at Expo 2020 Dubai, the Sheikh Rashid Hall concert venue was packed with fans holding glow sticks and recording clips of the band onstage as they performed their greatest hits, including Mapa, Bazinga and their latest single Wyat (Where You At).

“It was a blast, we had the best night,” Sheryl Iman told The National. “We just really enjoyed the night from start to finish, we even enjoyed the sound check.”

Iman, who has been a fan of the band since their 2019 hit Go Up went viral, is head of the United A’Tin of Emirates fan group in the UAE, which has more than 120 members.

“The concert was electrifying and surreal,” she says. “Even though we saw them in March for Expo 2020, seeing them again performing live in front of us was so surreal. I have no words for how amazing they were.”

SB19 have not only gained legions of fans across the world since the release of their debut single in 2018, but have already broken records as a Filipino boy band.

While there are plenty of P-pop groups in the Philippines, SB19’s contemporary sound melded with their own Filipino flair, has been credited for paving the way for many up-and-coming acts in the genre.

Last year, the group picked up a nomination for an MTV Europe Music Award and became the first South-East Asian act to be nominated for a Billboard Top Social Artist Award. They kept this success going by spending seven weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart this year, breaking K-pop superstars BTS’s record for Butter in the process.

Known as the biggest P-pop band of their generation, SB19’s rise to fame has really struck a chord with their fans.

“Their talent is exceptional and when they perform they give more than 100 per cent on stage,” says Iman.

“They started on their own without having any connections. They only had their fans who supported them from 2018 so their story is something close to our hearts, because their story is our story.”

SB19’s WYAT world tour continues on to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Singapore.

SB19 perform at Expo 2020 Dubai — in pictures