Aぇ! group Earns Rave Reviews at “Summer Sonic,” While SixTONES Faces Fan Disappointment

The five-member group “Aぇ! group” from STARTO ENTERTAINMENT performed at the music festival “SUMMER SONIC 2025” (commonly known as “Summersoni”) on August 17, marking their first appearance at a music festival since their CD debut. They opened as the first act on the main stage “AIR STAGE” at Expo ’70 Commemorative Park in Osaka.

Their stage began with a band-style performance, later showcasing dance as well. As idols capable of both playing instruments and dancing, they demonstrated a dual appeal.

Highly acclaimed by music fans

After their time as Kansai Juniors, Aぇ! group made their CD debut in May 2024. At this day’s “Summer Sonic,” many fans who came for them gathered, but of course, music fans who seemed not to know much about Aぇ! group also watched the stage. Afterwards, on social media, users thought to be general audience members posted:

“Aぇ! group’s band set performance was insanely good, I even ended up raising my beer! They played instruments, they danced, and that vocal ability was truly amazing.”
“Aぇ! group, not bad! A stage with a good impression. A group that gives their all is great.”
“I caught a group partway through that seemed to be Johnny’s, but do idols usually belt out shouts like that? It wasn’t at all like “idols crashing in!” but rather gave off an intensely pressing feeling. Who was that vocalist?”
“I saw a band called Aぇ! group for the first time, and they were cool! The blond guy’s voice was way too high! I want to go if they have another live!”

Along with praise for the main vocalist, Seiya Suetsugu (31), there were comments highly evaluating Aぇ! group.

“On the 17th, Aぇ! group’s YouTube released a digest video of the setlist performed at ‘Summer Sonic,’ Aぇ! group – SUMMER SONIC 2025 OSAKA Setlist Digest. In the comments section, there were warm messages even from viewers who seemed not to have been fans originally, such as, ‘I came from Summer Sonic, I’m a guy but I seriously fell for them,’ and ‘I joined the fan club.’

Also, from the group’s fans, at a timing when the excitement of ‘Summer Sonic’ hadn’t cooled down, voices of praise went up toward the management side that uploaded a digest video easy to spread to music fans: ‘Fast work!’ ‘The management is way too good.’” (Entertainment writer)

Fans have mixed feelings about the fan service

On the other hand, “SixTONES,” also under STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, appeared on August 16 at “Summer Sonic” on the “MARINE STAGE” (ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba). There, over member Hokuto Matsumura’s (30) fan service, voices of disappointment arose from SixTONES fans.

“It seems that perhaps excited about performing at the festival, Matsumura went down into the audience, threw towels toward the crowd, and even sprayed water from the plastic bottle he had been drinking from—things he normally doesn’t do at their own concerts,” (the same source).

Because of that, fans reacted:

“Hokuto Matsumura looking excited and having fun—I’ve never seen that at a regular concert. It feels lonely and sad that he shows that side of himself at an outside festival.”
“That’s behavior unthinkable for the usual Hokuto. He doesn’t give fan service at their concerts, but he does it at a festival.”
“At SixTONES concerts he only casually waves his hand.”
“Hokuto-kun, you’ve changed. On the recent tours it’s only been hand waves, but now you’re going into the crowd, throwing the water you were drinking and towels.”

They were shocked.

At “Summer Sonic,” Aぇ! group won praise from music fans, while SixTONES left their own supporters disappointed. For both groups, will this festival appearance become a turning point bringing good influence to their future activities?