SoundCheckManila

It has been 12 years since his last concert in Manila and Josh Groban’s highly anticipated show last Feb 22 in MOA Arena was definitely worth the wait. It was a special night from the entire tour where he included a lot of his greatest hits specially for Manila.  

What made it even more special and definitely a highlight of the night was when he was joined by Lea Salonga. Even in a wheelchair, the Broadway star looked stunning in her blue dress. Both had great rapport on stage and as expected, the two world class singers left the audience in awe as they performed “All I Ask Of You” and “The Prayer”. It was so  amazing and pitch-perfect that it gave me goosebumps. It was a rare performance and Filipino fans were so lucky to witness that.

Aside from Lea Salonga, Josh Groban also had a beautiful duet with balladeer Christian Bautista. Christian, who was also the front act of the show, has been a longtime fan of Josh Groban and was truly inspired by him so it was nice to see him living one of his greatest dreams as they performed Andrea Bocelli’s “We Will Meet Once Again” together. What delighted a lot of the fans was also hearing once again some of the old hits just like the uplifting song, “You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)” and when he performed it that night, his powerful baritone voice blended beautifully with the music from ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, that accompanied him up throughout the night.

The crowd also looked forward to “You Raise Me Up”, one of his most famous songs. He mentioned that he believes that Filipinos are some of world’s greatest singers and he knows we love to sing that’s why he asked the crowd to sing  along with him and the Ateneo Chamber Singers that backed him up for the show. And towards the end of the song, the arena was filled with star-like lights from the audience. It was a heartwarming sight as fans swayed in unison, giving us all the feels. Aside from that, what also made the audience  emotional that night were “To Where You Are” and “She’s Out of My Life”. He shared that the latter was actually a Manila-exclusive performance and he stayed up all night just to practice that since he doesn’t usually play it in other shows. 

By Anna Bettina Pangalangan

Love songs will always have a special place in the hearts of Filipinos. Whether it is about serenading a someone or belting out a song in videoke, there is much ado about songs that speak of love in its myriad forms.

Rick Price is one of the balladeers who made a mark. His soft-rock ballad “Heaven Knows” is a staple in many karaoke sessions and for a reason—it talks about a jilted lover who is in limbo if staying with memories or moving on would be the best recourse. In the end, the lover surrenders and looks up to the heavens for answers. Needless to say, it has become the theme song of many broken hearts since its release in the ‘90s.

His other popular songs “Nothing Can Stop Us Now”, “Not a Day Goes By”, and “Where Is the Love” tug at hearts and make for a strong case for love, thanks in part to his soulful and smooth vocal act.

Photo by:  Ron Ryan Buguis

It is only fitting that the 57-year-old recording artist came to the Philippines during the season of love. The New Frontier Theater was packed with attendees waiting to be serenaded by the 57-year-old recording artist and Joey Generoso and Jinky Vidal, the former Side A lead singer and Freestyle vocal leader, respectively.

Price started his set with his very own “Nothing Can Stop Us Now” and went about the show with other hits such as “Make You Feel My Love”; “I’ll Be There”; and “Every Breath You Take”; “Hallelujah”; “Let It Be”; “Imagine” and “You’ve Got a Friend” where he shared the stage with Generoso.

Photo by: Ron Ryan Buguis

Included in the roster are his original songs “Run Away Rene” and “Where Is the Love” which he sang with Vidal.

The elements of being a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist surfaced during Price’s concert. As he continued the show, he proved that he has not lost his voice or his skills in playing the guitar and the piano. His talent is intact after all these years; indeed even time was not able to take away the very talent that catapulted him to stardom in 1992.

With the simple stage setup, there was only one attraction on the platform: The Performer. In the case of Price, his one-man act was enough to capture the audience’s attention. He had a presence and interacted with the crowd who openly responded when asked to sing along. It was a mellow kind of night, with the concertgoers sitting back and enjoying the musical performance.

Perhaps moved by the openness of Filipinos, Price said that he is planning to come back. “We are planning to make more trips back to the Philippines. I look forward to seeing you again. I will leave with this song. God bless you for coming out tonight. I had a great time singing for you.”

As the crowd clapped, Price started to play the notes for “Heaven Knows”. He need not finish singing the song—the concertgoers did it for him, as proof of the enduring influence of lyrics and melody that capture the heights and depths of love.

As Rakrakan Festival makes its way back, this year we are going to have two days of peace, love, and music with back-to-back performances from 120 OPM bands and artists! And just like last year, we will be having 6 stages divided into 3 stages per day. For DAY 1, we have CENTER STAGE, MOVE STAGE, and INDIE STAGE! And for DAY 2, we have SLAM STAGE, MOSH STAGE, and PEACE STAGE! I know you’re all excited for the complete lineup so here you go!

On DAY 1, performing on the INDIE STAGE we have MILES EXPERIENCE, BETTER DAYS, BRWN, LIONS & ACROBATS, INTERTWINED, ANG BANDANG SHIRLEY, BRISOM, LOLA AMOUR, SHE'S ONLY SIXTEEN, BITA & THE BOTFLIES, OVER OCTOBER, BENNYBUNNYBAND, SANDIWA, NOT INFORMED, SLEEP ALLEY, MAY,  ABSOLUTE PLAY, RED LIGHT GO, THE LATE ISABEL, and THE VOWELS, THEY ORBIT! Performing on our CENTER STAGE we have JUAN KARLOS, SPONGECOLA, HALE, GLOC 9, SHANTIDOPE, JUST HUSH, BECAUSE, STICK FIGGAS, QUEST, GEO ONG, AGSUNTA, FREESTYLE, SIDE A, BARBIE ALMALBIS, MIGZ HALECO, DOTTY CHAN, RIOT, MOJOFLY, and FERN! And on our MOVE STAGE, catch performances by MAYONNAISE, THIS BAND, MOONSTAR88, GRACENOTE, QUESO, TYPECAST, 6CYCLEMIND, IMAGO, ROUGE, KJWAN, TANYA MARKOVA, JOIN THE CLUB, WOOPIS, DRIVE ME TO JULIET, CHNDTR, MADELINE, MARYZARK, SUD, and RED HORSE MUZIKLABAN CHAMPION!

 On DAY 2, performing on our MOSH STAGE are SLAPSHOCK, FRANCO, ULTRA COMBO, URBANDUB, BASTI ARTADI, COLN, CHICOSCI, WILABALIW, ROCKSTEDDY, GINILING FESTIVAL, EVEN, SAYDIE, PHILIA, VALLEY OF CHROME, FASPITCH, 123 PIKIT, REBORN, DICTA LICENSE, and RED HORSE MUZIKLABAN CHAMPION! On our SLAM STAGE, watch performances from WUDS, PHILIPPINE VIOLATORS, CATFIGHT, SUNFLOWER PROJECT, SUBCULTURE, BAD BURN, MANILA UNDER FIRE, SHOTGUN COMBO, ATTHISMO, HAPPY THREE FRIENDS, MORPHINE KINGS, MR. BONES & THE BONEYARD CIRCUS, ARCADIA, EMBERCORE, VIE, JURASSIC PARDS, SWITCH, SKYCHURCH, THE REPUBLICATS, and RUNBYNINE. And on our 6th and final stage – PEACE STAGE, catch performances by DECEMBER AVENUE, I BELONG TO THE ZOO, AUTOTELIC, MUNIMUNI, CHOCOLATE FACTORY, BROWNMAN REVIVAL, THE CHONGKEYS, BANDA NI KLEGGY, PEDICAB, HILERA, LION & THE SCOUTS, REGGAE MISTRESS, COLLIE HERB, ENGKANTO, KADANGYAN, WRITTEN BY THE STARS, SAGIP ADIK FOUNDATION, SLOWDOUGH, JEJAVIEW, and SALVATION ARMY!

And to enjoy a safe and hassle-free music festival, here are some reminders and DOs and DON’Ts for you;

  REMINDERS:

 ·       On the event day, tickets are available at SM Tickets for P530. If you buy your tickets at the venue, price is P500.

·       Don’t buy tickets from unreliable sources and scalpers. Tickets will be scanned. Buy your tickets in the official ticket booth at the venue or at SM Tickets ONLY.

·       There will be special entry passes for VIP holders. Check layout map at rakrakanfestival.com.

·       Minors from age 13-17 years old should be accompanied by an adult. All minors will wear a special tag and will not be served beer.

·       13 years old below is not allowed to enter the event.

·       Make sure to be on your best and most comfortable attire to enjoy the festival.

·       Better to come early to avoid long lines! With this, you can also have more time to scout and visit the whole area including the bazaars. You may also get a chance to grab more freebies from our event partners and sponsors.

·       There are limited parking spaces, so be “Rakers” and commute your way to Circuit Makati, Event Grounds.

·       Refer to www.rakrakanfestival.com for band schedules and festival map so you know where to go.

·       Dangerous items are not allowed such as firearms including sharp or pointed objects.

·       There will be a baggage area for your belongings. Numbers will be provided to claim your items after the event.

·       The organizers has the right to request for proper identification when age is in doubt.

·       The organizers has the right to refuse admission if needed.

·       The organizers will not be responsible for any loss of property before, during, and after the event.

Cheers to another year for OPM! In celebration for this momentous occasion, we are bringing back RAKRAKAN FESTIVAL as we become BIGGER, LOUDER, and BOLDER! Oh, we just can’t get enough OPM in our veins, don’t we? Well, get ready to make history AGAIN as we celebrate Peace, Love, and Music with astounding back-to-back performances from our roster of OPM’s finest artists on March 1-2, 2019 at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds! Yep, you read it right—TWO DAYS of Rakrakan Festival this year because one day just won’t be enough to satisfy our OPM cravings.

It would still be a massive production set-up complete with 120 OPM artists, 6 stages (with 3stages per day), skateboarding competitions, live art exhibitions, a merch bazaar, carnival games—name it!

What’s the complete band line-up, though? Well, you gotta stay on the lookout as we drop ‘em in the days to come! We’re still spicing things a bit to give you one hell of a rock n’ roll experience that will leave you a week-long festival hangover!

And if 6 music-filled stages aren’t enough to satisfy of an OPM fan, “Rakrakan Festival 2019 Peace, Love, and Music” offers these pocket events to maximize the Rakrakan experience:

 Skateboarding Exhibition and Competition – a staple since 2013, the skateboarding exhibition and competition feature a free-for-all skateboarding area for attendees, with freebies and prizes at stake for contest participants in several categories including Best Run and Best Trick.  Street Art Contest – five street art teams will endeavor to bring their creativity to life in this activity; winning teams will be judged based on their originality, style, and design. In addition, a “freedom wall” will be setup for all guests who wish to express their creativeness and leave their impression for future generations of OPM supporters.  Merch Exhibit – currently the largest congregation of indie merchandisers in Metro Manila, with over 70 brands participating annually. Festival-goers will find everything here from tees and tank tops to shorts and jeans, jackets, socks, jewelry, footwear, artworks, sunglasses, pins, caps, toys, and plenty of other goods at very affordable prices!  “Peace, Love, and Music” efforts shall also be undertaken in cooperation with several advocacy groups such as LoveYourself, Peace & Equity Foundation, United Nations (Philippines), Global Peace Youth, Act for Peace, and more in order to educate the audience regarding awareness of several advocacies about social issues in the country.  Side activities such as face painting and henna tattooing, brand-sponsored games, information drives, and artist meet-and-greet (for VIP ticket holders) will be there to complement the whole festival experience. Note this! Rakrakan Festival goers wearing

WHITE will be given a free baller upon entrance while goers wearing RED will be given a free rose as a symbol of love!

Tickets are now available at all SM Tickets outlets nationwide! Prices are as follows: 1 DAY PASS: Pre-Sale: PHP 400 Door Price: PHP 500 VIP: PHP 1500 2 DAY PASS: Pre-Sale: PHP 700 Door Price: PHP 1000 VIP: PHP 2000

Wilbros Live is thrilled to present Australia’s young rising star RUEL to perform in Manila for the very first time on Saturday, March 16th at the TEATRINO in Greenhills, San Juan. Tickets will be on-sale on February 1st starting at 10AM via TicketWorld.com.ph or at the Music Museum box office. 

Shortly after releasing his 2017 breakthrough single “Don’t Tell Me,” the now 16 year-old, London-born, Sydney-raised singer and songwriter Ruel has emerged as one of the most exciting new recording artists and live performers in the world. 

Things had begun to spark for Ruel upon thre release of “Don’t Tell Me.” Ruel was invited to perform on Australian radio station Triple J’s “Like A Version,” where he sang a stripped-down version of “Golden Years” and a cover of Jack Garratt’s “Weathered.” The jaw-dropping performance showcased Ruel’s dazzling voice, and the video quickly became one of the most-viewed “Like a Version” performances of the year after receiving over half a million plays in just 48 hours. 

Not long after the release of “Don’t Tell Me,” Ruel was invited to write with Julia Stone, which led to him supporting Angus & Julia Stone on their sold-out Australian tour. In the same year, Elton John requested an interview with Ruel for his show on Beats 1, praising him: “You have the most amazing voice that I've ever heard from a male singer at 14 years of age and it's quite incredible.” Ruel was then invited to support Khalid on his Australia/New Zealand tour, performing to more than 5,000 people a night. Ready, his debut EP has already amassed over 100 million global streams and features standout singles “Don’t Tell Me,” “Dazed & Confused,” “Younger” and “Not Thinkin’ Bout You,” all of which have been propelling Ruel on a swift, upward trajectory. 

Andy Brown, the lead singer and guitarist of the popular British Pop Rock Band Lawson, will be performing a one night only acoustic concert at the SM Skydome in SM City North Edsa on Saturday, March 30, 2019.

Andy Brown embarked on a solo career in 2017. During his time with Lawson, Andy together with his bandmates, achieved 7 top 20 UK singles. And their debut album, Chapman Square went multi-platinum all over the world including the Philippines.

This December 14, Andy will be releasing his debut album Cedarmont with singles “Talk of the Town” and “Lay with Me.” He will be performing songs from his debut album, as well as hit songs from Lawson such as “Standing In The Dark”, “Learn to Love Again,” “When She was Mine,” “Where My Love Goes” and many more.

Filipino fans shall once again be treated to world-class entertainment as Ovation Productions, on its 40th year, proudly announces that Tony Award-winner and Broadway royalty Lea Salonga now joins multi-platinum singer-songwriter Josh Groban at his special post-Valentines Manila concert this 2019. Two of the most powerful and distinct voices in the industry come together for the Bridges Tour live on February 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The unmistakable voice behind global hit "You Raise Me Up" brings his internationally recognized one-night-only show to the Philippines, backed by the magnificent ABS-CBN Orchestra, Josh’s own 5-man band, and the Ateneo Choir. This latest tour kicked off in the United States last October, marking Groban’s first tour since his sold-out Stages Tour in 2016. 

Josh Groban's brand new album Bridges was released in September 2018 to critical acclaim, featuring the singles “River,” “Granted," and “Symphony" and duets with such notable artists as Andrea Bocelli and Sarah McLachlan. Bridges Tour Live in Manila is extra special as Josh will perform songs off this record, a captivating duet or two with Lea Salonga, and his greatest hits "All I Ask," "Broken Vow," "She’s Out Of My Life," "You Raise Me Up," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "To Where You Are," "Awake," "You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)," "Believe," among many others.

January 2, 2019 (Manila, Philippines) – GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum artist Lukas Graham  is set to grace the stage as he sings his latest hit singles “Love Someone” “7 Years” in the Philippines for the very first time! Catch Lukas Graham Live in Manila on January 13, 2019 (6PM) at Eastwood Mall Open Park!

Lukas Graham, releases their new album, 3 (The Purple Album)  via Warner Bros. Records. The 10-track record makes its debut as lead single “Love Someone” follows in the footsteps of breakout hit “7 Years,” as it rapidly climbs the Hot AC radio charts, amassing 50 million Spotify streams and 30 million YouTube views before it impacts at Top 40 radio next week. “Love Someone” is on track to become a global smash, reaching #1 in their home country of Denmark and continuing to climb the charts in the U.K., Europe, Australia, and beyond. Lukas Graham recently performed the song on Dancing With The Stars and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

While Lukas wrote the breakout debut album and subsequent smash “7 Years” in his mid-20s, grappling with the loss of his father, the new album sees Lukas push deeper still, holding a magnifying glass up to his life, laying bare his vulnerabilities and his fears, his sadness and his joy. Now 30, engaged to his long-term girlfriend, and proud father of a little girl, Viola, 3 serves as a "growing up" moment for Lukas as he transitions from son to father. Lukas says simply, “It’s a more mature record, definitely, but it has more life in it.”

ALBUM TRACK LISTING:

Not A Damn Thing Changed

Lullaby

You’re Not The Only One (Redemption Song)

Love Someone

Promise

Stick Around

Unhappy

Everything That Isn’t Me

Hold My Hand

MCA Music’s newest pop / R&B group BRWN is about to prove that being out-of-step with the rest of the pack isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

It’s easy to dismiss – and unfairly make a judgment call on the merits of - young artists these days.

There’s a star born every second online, and recently, both self-styled critics and pundits have been quick to jump the proverbial gun on groups who are riding whatever is currently making waves.

But without a doubt, real talent is everywhere and readily available, and all one has to do is knowwhere to look and listen. Budding artists and songwriters who want to take a shot at the top alsoknow where to look and listen: inward, to where it all began.

Which is why BRWN – made up of composer/singer Max Antonio Guerero, guitarist/musicalarranger Migs Raneses, keyboardist/bassist and arranger Oman Peradilla, and drummer Stanley

Seludo – is forging its own path as a collective of young performers with both the musical know-how and the ability to dig deep, be it musical influence or purpose. After consuming a healthy diet of vintage music ranging from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, acid jazz, soul and R&B, with a healthy shot of modern electronic music and production in their formative years,

BRWN is very aware of what they want – and how they plan to achieve it. “The objective is to be challenged,” says Guerero, who dons a trademark visor during live performances as a reminder of how it should be all about the music, and appearances shouldn’t come into play. “If you can’t challenge yourself, how do you expect to come up with anything new? That’s precisely the reason why our diverse influences seem to be working to our advantage,” he smiles. “There is no limit to the possibilities. Truly, anything is possible when it comes to creating good music.”

And BRWN seems to have its finger on the pulse, because as early as now, they’ve been gradually dominating any and all stages they’ve stepped on, be it amongst newer contemporaries, or veteran players in the game like South Border. With smooth vocal lines, an undeniable bounce and swagger in the band’srhythm department, inventive yet tasty lead guitar and keyboard lines, and an overall sophistication and class, it’s not hard to see that this is definitely THE group that is going to make waves this last quarter of the year. And not just locally - the members have all expressed their desire to take their music further outside the country, to different markets.

The band’s first single “So Good,” will be released on November 16 on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major digital streaming platforms, and you can bet that it’s going to usher in a new era in local Filipino music, as it is equal parts sexy, groovy and most importantly, well-crafted. BRWN is also currently in the studio, finishing more tracks to be collected as a debut EP in the first quarter of 2019, so it’s all very exciting from this point on.

This February, multi-awarded Australian singer-songwriter Rick Price is coming to the Philippines for a Valentine’s week concert tour with Joey G and Jinky Vidal – in CEBU on February 13 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino, in DAVAO on February 14 at the SMX Convention Center and in MANILA on February 15 at the New Frontier Theater. The ‘Heaven Knows PH Tour 2019’ will be focusing on all hits from the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s – a concert you shouldn’t miss this coming Valentine’s season. 

Rick Price, best known for his massive hit song “Heaven Knows”, has walked the journey many musicians’ dreams are made of. From the very beginning, as a nine year old and the youngest member of his families’ band, music was Rick’s passion. Since those humble yet defining days set amongst the backdrop of country Queensland, the self-taught artist has forged an internationally praised and respected career spanning more than three decades. 

It was in the 90’s when Rick secured his major recording contract with Sony Records and released his first studio album, Heaven Knows. Rick is also known for other chart-topping hits such as “Nothing Can Stop Us Now”, “Not A Day Goes By”, “Walk Away Renee”, and “Where Is The Love”. Joey Generoso, popularly known as Joey G, is the former lead vocalist of Side A – one of the iconic bands that made a remarkable impact in the local music scene. Filipinos truly loved the songs “Forevermore”, “So Many Questions”, “Got To Believe In Magic”, “Hold On”, and “Set You Free”, which catapulted Joey to the top of fame.

By Anna Bettina Pangalangan

A rush of romance filled the Smart Araneta Center as the crooners of Boyz II Men started a cascade of songs that stirred the heart and soul.

The December concert was the trio’s third performance in the country since 2014. In 2017, they serenaded the Miss Universe contestants. In the recent concert, they shared the stage with beautiful women again—but this time with the Divas, a group that is comprised of Angeline Quinto, Kyla, KZ Tandingan, and Yeng Constantino. The all-women quartet did the opening act, a strong opening salvo for the concert.

The back-to-back concert of Boyz II Men and the Divas was an amorous affair where harmonies rolled on and on and on, held together by powerful albeit seductive voices.

 The R&B legends

The award-winning group knew how to run a show sans the distracting stunts or crazy antics that are prevalent nowadays. Instead, the trio delivered a performance with the fullness of their voices and the gift of R&B.

At the start of their set, the men gave a preamble about themselves. Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman took turns in introducing themselves, each giving a heartfelt introduction about their roles and vocal prowess.

Shawn then said, “Let’s do one thing. If you have any cares, any troubles, any problems, anything negative in your life. I hope you left it at the door because we want everybody here tonight to enjoy life, enjoy yourselves and have a good night with Boyz II Men.”

There was no holding back Nathan, Wanya, and Shawn as they belted out the anthems of romance such as the “End of the Road,” “On Bended Knee,” “Water Runs Dry,” and “4 Seasons of Loneliness.”

Adding a dimension of romance, the men gave out roses to the audience when they sang “I’ll Make Love To You”.

 With the Divas

The Boyz II men called out the Divas on stage in the middle of the concert, claiming that they want “to do something different, something special that they (the audience) will like as well.”

“Tonight, we want to intermingle with some of you, guys. We want to bring somebody up to help us out with a couple of songs,” Wanya said.

To the delight of the audience, the two groups sang “Open Arms” and the hit ‘90s track, “One Sweet Day,” which still holds the record of the longest-running Billboard Hot #1 song, staying at the top for 16 weeks from 1995 to 1996.

 End of the road

As is in all things, an ending has to take place. When it was time to go, the group did depart in haste, without slivers of memories. The trio cast a spell first, a powerful one, by inviting the audience to conjure the past with the full force of emotions in tow.

“We want to celebrate (27 years) by singing one of our biggest records that you made very, very famous. We want everybody here to remember what you were doing and who you are doing it with the first you heard this,” Shawn quipped.

Without further ado, the group sang “End of the Road,” a rousing and emotional closing performance that sealed old and new memories anew.

Boyz Ii Men With Divas: Live in Concert was presented by Wilbros Live and Cornerstone Concerts.

 About the Men

Ovation Productions on its 40th year of presenting some of the biggest names in live entertainment in the Philippines proudly announces its post Valentines concert at the Mall Of Asia Arena on February 22, 2019 featuring the supremely talented Josh Groban.

Josh Groban is an internationally renowned singer, songwriter, and actor whose baritone voice is instantly recognizable and unparalleled among his peers. He has entertained fans across the globe with his multiplatinum albums and DVDs (selling more than 30 million worldwide), electrifying live performances, and comedic film and television appearances. Groban is the only artist who has had two albums land on Billboard’s list of 20 best-sellers of the last 10 years.

The 35-year-old Los Angeles native first broke through in 2001 with his self-titled 5x platinum debut, followed by 2003’s 6x platinum Closer, and 2006’s double-platinum Awake. In 2007, he became the best-selling recording artist of the year thanks to sales of Awake and his blockbuster 6x platinum, Grammy-nominated Christmas album, Noel —  the best-selling album of 2007. At the end of 2010, Groban released the Rick Rubin-produced, gold-certified Illuminations. All That Echoes followed in 2013, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, Groban’s first No. 1 debut and third chart-topper. Gold-certified All That Echoes racked up a host of positive reviews from major media outlets, including The New York Times, Billboard, Rolling Stone, and USA Today. His global arena tours routinely sell out, including his 2013 All That Echoes tour, which included 60 shows in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and North America. 

In April 2015 Groban released his seventh studio album, Stages — a collection of some of the greatest musical theater songs of all time, which Groban describes as “gorgeously arranged songs that have stood the test of time,” and which he was drawn to because of their combination of “incredible melody with an incredible story.” Recorded with producers Humberto Gatica and Bernie Herms in both Los Angeles and London’s Abbey Road (with a 75-piece orchestra), Stages features songs from Les Misérables, Carousel, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, The Fantasticks, A Chorus Line, Phantom of the Opera, and others. The gold-certified Stages was nominated for a 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Groban also released a CD/DVD package, entitled Stages Live, featuring performances recorded at the historic Los Angeles Theater in downtown L.A. for a PBS special entitled Josh Groban: Stages Live. The album has been nominated for a 2017 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Last July, Groban embarked on an extensive North American tour to support Stages, entitled “Josh Groban: On Stage.” Also in 2016, Groban made his Broadway debut starring in the new musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, which opened to glowing reviews. The New York Times raved that “Josh Groban is absolutely wonderful…he invests his singing with the pain and frustration that define Pierre. And his acting is superb, as he all but trembles with the existential despair that courses through Pierre’s veins.” Time Out NY said: “Josh Groban plays the melancholy Pierre with intensity and a simply ravishing voice.” 

As an actor, Groban has also appeared on Glee, The Simpsons, The Office, CSI: NY, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Crazy Ones, as well as in the feature films Crazy, Stupid, Love, Coffee Town, and Muppets Most Wanted. In 2015, he hosted ABC’s unique singing competition Rising Star. Groban is also a popular television talk-show guest, appearing in various late-night comedic sketches with Jimmy Kimmel, co-hosting Live With Regis and Kelly with Kelly Ripa, and paying tribute to Oprah Winfrey during the final week of her long-running show. An active arts education philanthropist and advocate, Groban is a member of Americans for the Arts Artists Committee, on whose behalf he testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior on the value of the arts during Arts Advocacy Day in 2009. In July 2011, Groban established the Find Your Light Foundation, which helps enrich the lives of young people through arts, education, and cultural awareness. It covers a wide array of possibilities, from providing instruments and funding for arts programs in schools to introducing people to the arts and culture around them through the use of technology.

Faith Cuneta makes a comeback at the Araneta Coliseum stage, opening for the last leg of the Michael Learns to Rock Philippine Tour, produced by Ovation Productions.

Faith mesmerized the crowd with her opening number, Mariah Carey's "MY ALL", she started out calmly then just hitting the high notes throughout the song. She then followed with Steve Perry's "Foolish Heart" making the sold out crowd sing with her. 

Faith then expressed her happiness and excitement to be back on stage, performing at the Araneta. She went on explaining that she went on a 3 year break from showbiz. During her break, she fell in love, got married and now she has a cute baby boy. Being back on the concert scene, she acknowledges her guitarist, Bryan Fernando which she recalls when she started singing she would perform in bar and hotel lounge gigs with a guitarist and now for her it was like "starting over again".. This led her to her next song from the same title, a Natalie Cole original once again making the audience to sing along with her.

She then paid tribute to Queen, belting out "Love of My Life". Then followed with her last single before she took a break from showbiz, a Lani Misalucha original, "Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin" which she really did a great job belting high notes til the end of the song.  She closed her set with Googoo Dolls, Iris! The crowd was awed with the power her voice!

Faith Cuneta started her career when she won in the Metropop Singing tilt in 97 along side with Kyla and Jonard. After finishing her studies at the College of St. Benilde she then pursued her passion for singing by singing professionally in bars and Hotel Lounges. Then GMA got her to sing for all their KoreanNovelas being dubbed as the AsianNovela Diva. Having a string of hit songs, she has released five  albums and also bagged Aliw Awards best female performer in 2008.                             

Andy Brown, the lead singer and guitarist of the popular British Pop Rock Band Lawson,will be performing a one night only acoustic concert at the SM Skydome in SM City North Edsa on Saturday, March 30, 2019.

Andy Brown embarked on a solo career in 2017. During his time with Lawson, Andy together with his bandmates, achieved 7 top 20 UK singles. And their debut album,Chapman Square went multi-platinum all over the world including the Philippines.

This December 14, Andy will be releasing his debut album Cedarmont with singles “Talk of the Town” and “Lay with Me.” He will be performing songs from his debut album, as well as hit songs from Lawson such as “Standing In The Dark”, “Learn to Love Again,” “When She was Mine,” “Where My Love Goes” and many more.

Written by Stephanie Poblete with special thanks to

The Moffatts Official Fan Club of the Philippines

Edited by Jacqueline Ortega

2001 was a sad year for The Moffatts. The popular 90s band announced that they were going on hiatus. That hiatus ended two years ago when they had a successful concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on February 18, 2017. The show was so well-received the brothers announced they will be coming back, and they did this year, this time around with sibling  Dave Moffatt who wasn’t with them in 2016.

After nearly 20 years history was made on November 30 as the four brothers rocked the concert stage in Manila for their The Moffatts Reunion Tour 2018 held at the New Frontier Theatre. The band was amazed by the ever enthusiastic fans who sang with them during the show. It was the reunion to end all reunions! 

It was evident that things did change,  the four brothers are now visually more matured with their casual getup and short hairdo; however, their appeal to their long-time fans did not fade away. The fans are definitely connecting with and loving them more.

The singing quartet absolutely took the audience in a trip down memory lane, which made the teenage selves of their fans happy knowing that they have kept the love alive. The band brought back the childhood and adolescent memories of every fan who watched their concert and has been supporting them right from the start. It was indeed an awesome night with '90s feels.

The Moffatts dominated the music scene in the late '90s and 2000. They rose to fame, most especially here in the Philippines, with their third LP album, Chapter I: A New Beginning in 1998. The Moffatts opened the show with the upbeat music of I'll Be There For You and also sang Crazy, Bang Bang Boom, together with Misery and Who Do You Love as part of the encore. The band also performed the tracks from their new EP album titled Chapter: II. These are Secrets, Like I Love You and So In Love. These and other classic Moffatts songs were expected to be included in the band's reunion repertoire.

The audience held their phones up to capture the Moffatts' ecstatic performance that night. The group still enjoyed receiving warm welcome from their long-time supporters who followed their local promotion guestings and public appearances for less than a week prior their concert.

A huge highlight of the show was when Bob and Dave Moffatt took two lucky female fans of their own on stage and serenaded the said girls with their hit song Girl Of My Dreams.

The show would not have been complete without them singing their hit songs If Life Is So Short and Miss You Like Crazy. The Moffatts sure had fun as well. They were also given an amazing experience by their fans.

In a recent post on their official Facebook page and Instagram account, The Moffatts seemed to be indicating that they, together with their fans, are going to enjoy once more another piece of moment that has been a sweet part of our younger years. They captioned their post with "If you keep having us, we will keep coming. Until next time." Our fingers are crossed. We may have grown older but have not really grown up when it comes to clinging to our good old feelings and cherishing our nostalgic memories of being Moffatts fans.

By: Carlin Coronel

Photos: Denise Villamar

Aaron Carter, the American and international 90’s sensation, known for the pop hits Crazy Little Party Girl, I Want Candy, I’m All About You and more, made his way back to the Philippines after 16 years, delighting his not too young, but definitely not too old Filipino fans with an unforgettable show last November 18, 2018 at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.

The 30-year-old younger brother of Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter opened his show with the remix version of his 90’s hit I Want Candy, which seemed to be a mixed illustration of how he was as an artist 2 decades ago and how he has evolved now with his current songs being at the EDM spectrum of the musical genres.

Some of the songs from the LØVË album that Aaron performed were Hard To LøVë, Bad 2 Good, Seattle TideZ and more. But he didn’t forget to take his Filipino fans to a trip down memory lane by also performing his 90’s and 00’s songs like That’s How I Beat Shaq, To All The Girls and I’m All About You, which seemed to be everyone’s favorite and the most awaited performance of all. He also had a way of pumping up the crowd by showing his acrobatic skills during some of his performances.

Before ending his show with a few more tracks, Aaron also shared his journey on how he became the artist that he is now. He talked about studying in a musical school to further develop his talent and to learn more about producing music. He also emphasized the importance of not giving up on one’s self because it’s what helped him get through trying times when many record labels kept rejecting his current work of art.

Aaron also gave his Filipino fans something to look forward to by announcing the making of LØVË Part II and by telling how much he’d love to come back again very soon for another tour.  

In celebration of #DEANxSAAYinManila MCA Music will be releasing special BUNDLE PROMOS where fans who avail of 2 VIP Standing A tickets will get a (1) free VIP Standing A ticket, while those who avail of 3 VIP Standing B tickets will get a (1) free VIP Standing B ticket!  What's more, those who avail of the VIP bundle promos will GET THE CHANCE to MEET & GREET DEAN and SAAY through a raffle draw!

Buy your tickets now and don’t miss the chance to be with DEAN this Saturday November 10 at New Frontier Theatre, as he celebrates his 26th birthday with his all Filipino Rebel fans!

 TICKET PRICES AND PERKS:

• VVIP STANDING - P11,130 (100 fans only)

• VIP STANDING A - P7,950

• VIP STANDING B - P5,830

• LOGE - P4,452

• BALCONY - P2,650

 Tickets are available via Ticketnet outlets and online at www.ticketnet.com.ph.

DEANTRBL X SAAY is presented by Talk N Text and MCA Music.

ABOUT DEAN AND SAAY