Kodaline belts out farewell in Seoul while wearing FC Seoul uniforms for goodbye with 1,900 fans

Kodaline, Seoul’s last visit that shook 1,900… Saying goodbye with “All I Want”

After its fifth studio album set to arrive in October, the band calls it quits; wraps up the farewell finale in FC Seoul uniforms

“Thank you so much for following along and supporting us over the past few years. We truly appreciate you loving our music and our shows.”

The world-famous rock band “Kodaline” (KODALINE) from Ireland said farewell to Korean fans with a warm, emotional goodbye. On the “Farewell” world tour stop held on Dec. 12 at Seoul’s Olympic Park Olympic Hall ahead of its breakup, the group delivered parting remarks that mixed romance and melancholy to an audience of more than 1,900 people.

120 minutes of acoustic canvas filled with romance, not solemnity

They will mark the end of band activities with their final album “We Were Only Young”, scheduled for release this coming October. Even though it was a stage held in anticipation of the breakup, what shone through more than sadness was the band’s signature warm comfort. The smooth vocals of “Steve Garrigan” and the cozy lighting turned the Olympic Hall into a vast acoustic canvas.

“Wherever You Are” and “Ready” highlighted the band’s vocal skills, moving freely between true voice and falsetto. At “Brand New Day”, Steve Garrigan carried an acoustic guitar onstage himself to maximize the folk sensibility. Amid today’s popular music trends dominated by high-intensity dopamine, the analog melodies they delivered were more than enough to spark deep nostalgia in the audience.

Moments of connection shining through a silver flash-wave, and a special serenade

The line between stage and audience dissolved into a sing-along. In response to the band’s cues, the crowd answered with perfect harmony, and when “THE ONE” and “WITHOUT YOU” filled the hall, the audience simultaneously turned on their phone flashlights to produce a spectacular scene. In particular, Steve Garrigan showed a romantic side when, before singing “WITHOUT YOU”, he lifted his wedding-ring hand and said, “At last year’s wedding, I sang this song instead of a wedding speech.”

The highlight of the show was the encore stage without a doubt. When the opening notes of “All I Want”—the signature track that sparked a worldwide sensation as the theme song from the U.S. drama Grey’s Anatomy—began to play, the room’s energy hit its peak. The song’s aching lyrics were transformed into a perfect farewell message the band delivers to Korean fans. Steve Garrigan proved his special love for Korea by drawing a big heart with his arms while wearing FC Seoul’s uniform. “You are really amazing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” the band’s final remarks left a lingering aftertaste.

After wrapping up its successful Korea stop, “Kodaline” continues its Asia tour with stops in Chiba, Japan, as well as Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Bangkok, Thailand. Then, in October, the band plans to put a full stop on its brilliant history by releasing its fifth studio album, “We Were Only Young,” to the world simultaneously.