GGRF Sub-Headliner Bombshell
The live tour manager, Go Kyung-min, had shown the Group Sound members that "rock festival performance offer". Believing they needed a solid promotional hook for the live tour, Kyung-min planned to kick things off with the festival and plug it there—like shouting, "We're doing a live tour!" mid-set.
He'd intended to counter-offer, but instead, the festival side came knocking first.
"Does everyone agree?"
"Of course!"
With Choi Iseo's cheerful reply, it was decided: Group Sound would perform at GGRF (Grand Groove Rock Festival).
Kyung-min immediately relayed their acceptance to the festival organizers, and things proceeded smoothly...
⋮ Friday 19:30 ~ 20:40 Group Sound ⋮
The very day Group Sound's performance was announced.
It might not claim the title of "largest in Korea", but GGRF was still a bona fide massive rock festival. To land a spot as "main stage sub-headliner", you needed multiple festival appearances under your belt, plus the chops for solo concerts or nationwide/overseas tours... That was the going perception.
So when Group Sound was announced for that exact spot, it was no surprise the music communities exploded.
Public opinion split into three camps roughly.
Fans thrilled about Group Sound's slot.
Those who thought it premature but still congratulated the rise of a sub-headliner-caliber act.
Keyboard warriors raging in fury.
Most folks in music communities and general boards welcomed Group Sound's sub-headliner slot. Even without music show appearances, they'd proven themselves on terrestrial TV. Their Music Letter unplugged set and college festival shows had cemented them as the "normie pick". Plus, their tracks lingered on charts, proving real staying power—not just viral hype or bubbles.
Some even argued they deserved headliner status.
Even those who felt it was too soon—like Icarus flying too close to the sun—hoped the rapid rise wouldn't backfire, but still cheered the gig itself. Why hate a comet-like rock band, especially a domestic one?
But as the saying goes, just like folks washing underwear in hotel coffee pots meant for boiling water, the world has all types. The third camp fit that bill.
Using the announcement as ammo, they spewed malice in private communities or SNS—favorite band snubbed, kids too successful, music sucks, whatever. Mostly dredging up Ha Suyeon's past or Choi Iseo's SNS pics.
But the rumors bubbling in private communities got squashed when fans screenshotted and dragged them out. Posts got archived on other sites, doxxing ensued in bad cases.
Just another day in community land.
"One more time."
"Give it a rest!! I can't!!"
With that shout, Iseo slung her bass over her shoulder and flopped down flat.
Her heaving breaths made the strap-bound chest rise and fall.
She watched for a moment, then approached and kicked Iseo's arm lightly.
"Get up. We gotta practice."
"We've been at it straight for three hours!!"
"Does the three hours matter? What matters is you missed it now. It's not like we practiced for three hours—it's like we just wasted three hours on the floor."
Ignoring Iseo's yell, she replied calmly.
It wasn't about "practice time". It was what you achieved in practice.
Ten minutes that hit the goal? Solid session. A thousand hours with nothing? Wasted time.
'Only three hours and she's down? She's gotten way too lax lately.'
Back in the band's early days? They jammed on sight, no clock-watching. Blisters? Grip through 'em. Arms sore? Play anyway. That grit got them here—now that they were skilled enough for longer, denser sessions, she should be grateful, not whining about "only three hours".
Time to tighten discipline, she thought sincerely.
"Take a break, everyone~!"
How the hell do you instill discipline anyway?
Maybe whack their calves with a switch like she got as a kid...
She was pondering that when Jeong Yu-young, the manager, walked in with coffee and desserts.
"Unnie!! I love you!!"
"I have a boyfriend, sorry!"
"You had a boyfriend?"
"Yeah! About six years now!"
Coffee run turns into Iseo and Yu-young gossiping at the table. Ignoring their boyfriend quiz, she nibbled a cookie.
"This tastes weird."
"Oh, that's gingerbread! Tasty, right? Super strong ginger kick..."
Odd tastes, she thought, and popped the rest in her mouth.
Then Yoo Seoha approached.
"How we structuring the festival set?"
"Dunno. Gotta hear from them, but... last year's pics might clue us in. Festivals mean stage effects are tricky anyway..."
"Better chat 'em up."
"Chat who?"
Seoha nodded at the question. She added, "Tell me if anything's decided," sipped her coffee, and grabbed a pen.
Brainstorming setlist during break.
'Gotta totally redo it from that ByeTaylor'd fest. Different time slot, crowd, scale.'
ByeTaylor'd topped at 5,000 daily—huge for indie, small for commercial fests.
GGRF? Three days, 100,000 peak—a monster. Not #1's 150k, but 10x ByeTaylor'd's 10k daily math-wise. Plus higher stakes on time and hype.
Stick to old sets? No hate, but some disappointment inevitable.
Why? Group Sound always surprised.
'No reason to break that streak here. Tour promo too, like Team Leader Go said...'
She scratched her head, pen in hand.
For fresh tricks to wow the crowd.
'Rock fest's a total first. Hell, places like this period...'
Like any average Korean schoolgirl, she'd outgrown idol fandom for anime, then anime music. Ayoon leaned indoor over outdoor vibes.
Now here she was, solo at a rock festival.
For one band only, barely knowing others.
'Kinda fun tho. Thought it'd be some wild orgy...'
Nude-ish crowds grinding to beats? That's what she pictured.
But this was worlds apart—she relaxed.
Duh. She'd seen electronic fests, not rock.
Premium (fanclub) official Discord. Festival-goers mixed with the envious and sidelined.
"Hi~"
"Oh! President's here!"
"Not president anymore heh heh."
No cliques—nicknames only, no contact swaps. A "rock fest expert" member led them: main stage, sub stage, food zone pitstops, culture rundown.
"Rock fests got unique vibes like slamming, moshing, etc."
"What's that?"
"Weird dance— you'll get it live. Mid-set, they clear space? That's the slam zone for slams, moshes, walls of death... Originally hardcore/punk, but now everyone's doing it if they spot a chance..."
As "rock fest pro" explained, Ayoon eyed the stage.
Unfamiliar band, but owning it. That cleared space? Probably the slam/mosh thing—rowdy but fun.
Then unease hit mid-song.
Crowd thinning despite peak performance. Folks bailing?
'Mass food poisoning?'
"People dipping out hard? Show's still going."
"...Shit, yeah! Gotta hustle!"
"Rock fest pro" snapped alert at Ayoon's words.
Ayoon glanced around—walkers, runners, all main stage-bound.
"Why's everyone going? Next act's ages away..."
"Hurry or no front spots! Can't miss our girls!"
"Whoa."
Ayoon whipped around and bolted.
Can't miss our girls? Hell no.
Seemed everyone agreed—food zone emptied fast. Half-eaten chicken skewers and beers abandoned. Bathroom lines vanished.
Hold it an hour? Ditch everything for our girls' pull?
'Oh crap...'
Ayoon thought, whipping out her camera.
There, far off—her "idol", Ha Suyeon, guitar slung, hitting the stage.