Umme Ahmad, Sharina Mueller and Sharina’s sister outside the Forum

THE pavement outside Kentish Town Forum was transformed into an urban campsite this week as “K-Pop” fans keen to see their favourite band arrived early to get a head start on the queue.

Several campers arrived a full 24 hours before Korean indie-rock and pop band The Rose took the stage on Tuesday evening as part of their “Heal Together” world tour.

By Tuesday afternoon fans, known as the “Black Roses”, had formed a queue along Highgate Road stretching almost as far as the Southampton Arms pub. The band is staging a comeback after a mandatory spell in the South Korean military forced several members to step back from performing.

Anoushka Dickens was among those who stayed on the pavement on Monday to beat the queues.

“I’ve never lined up this long before,” she said. “It was long, dark and cold, but it was worth camping. I didn’t camp with a tent. Some people had air mattresses but I slept on the ground – I didn’t bring much. The fans are super nice, they shared their food and drink with me . . . They were so lovely.”

Several people who stayed on the pavement on Monday night told the New Journal they had come from abroad to see the show, including from Spain and Norway. Chloe Trubridge, who had been queuing since the early hours of Tuesday morning, was giving out free model roses to fans.

She said: “I handmade these myself – I made 1,000. It took four months to do, but when I found out they were coming here for Valentine’s Day, I thought: why not do something for them for Valentine’s day?” .

Students Sarah Randle and Arnete Kuncyte

Ms Trubridge said she had made 500 red roses and 500 black roses. “The red roses resembles the actual group, because they’re called The Rose, and the black roses are black because that’s what the fandom is called.”

The queue for the concert stretched up Highgate Road – as far as the Southampton Arms and, below, Kate from Vauxhall, Charlotte from Norway, Noelle from Spain, Chrissie from Portsmouth, Charlotte from Wellingborough with Anoushka Dickens from York

Meanwhile Umme Ahmad and Sharina Müller, who had wrapped themselves in thermal foil blankets, said they were in “survival mode” as they waited to see the show.

“What you’ll find about K-Pop fans is a lot of them have a really wonderful heart, and they have such dedication. I’m in my 30s, but you find such a diversity of people of all ages, but when you have one common unity – you all support someone – it’s such a great feeling,” Ms Ahmad said.

Students Sarah Randle and Arnete Kuncyte, who began queuing at 4am, urged people who had never listened to Korean music to “give it a try.”

Ms Randle said. “They associate the fans with crazy teenagers, but there’s so many different styles and groups.”

Ms Kuncyte said listening to Korean music had opened up a “whole different world” for her.

“It’s changed me as a person, from my style, the way I act, the way I do my makeup as well,” Ms Kuncyte said. “It’s so different, it’s changed my lifestyle completely. And they’ve also really made me lose my money – it’s really expensive [being a fan].”