NEWS of the 7107 music extravaganza caused excitement among music fans upon its initial announcement online.
However, latest discussions on Twitter reveal disappointment over the lack of more major foreign acts as headliners, considering the pricey tickets: P25,000 for a two-day VIP pass; P10,000 for a two-day general admission pass; plus parking fees if you’re coming in a private vehicle. Also be ready to spend for hotel accommodations, food and drinks in case you plan to watch for two days.
Here’s a brief rundown of the more prominent performers on the bill:
Red Hot Chili Peppers: six-time Grammy winner whose heady brew of rock, funk, punk, metal and rap music has sold more than 80 million records. Frontman Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith are three of the world’s most exciting musicians onstage, while Josh Klinghoffer has replaced John Frusciante on guitar.
Kaskade: voted America’s Best DJ in 2011 and 2013 by DJ Times, the first DJ-specific magazine to publish in the United States. He has released 10 albums; many of the tracks, which he originally wrote or collaborated with other artists, could make every dance music freak go crazy.
Empire of the Sun: Australian electronic music duo composed of Luke Steele of alternative rock act The Sleepy Jackson, and Nick Littlemore of electronic dance outfit Pnau. Known for its elaborately produced videos, this group has had a number of hit albums and singles that Pinoy fans should be able to relate to.
Kendrick Lamar: American hip hop artist, whose 2012 major-label debut album, “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” shot to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts, with the hits “Swimming Pools (Drank),” “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” and “Poetic Justice.” MTV has hyped him as the “No. 1 Hottest MC in the Game.”
The rest of the international acts—Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Kid Ink, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Alvaro, Luciana, Natives, DJ Riddler, Reid Stefan—are not considered major acts yet, though these young artists are what make music fests interesting.
As far as the local artists lineup is concerned, there are only five big ones (Up Dharma Down, Kjwan, Radioactive Sago Project, Sponge Cola and Itchyworms); but though some are on the verge of getting more buzz, and the rest totally under the radar, there’s no harm in checking them out: Taken by Cars, Runmanila, Pulso, Jensen & the Flips, Maude, Abra & Loonie, Encounters With a Yeti, Runway Crimes, Rocksteddy, She’s Only Sixteen, Techy Romantics, Cheats, Yolanda Moon, Wilderness, Musical O, Sleepwalk Circus, Hidden Nikki, Skymarines, Child/ren of the Pilgrimage, The Charmes, The Ringmaster, Popular Days, The Sleepyheads, Not Another Boy Band, Nix Dam P, Keith Bryan Haw, Marc Marasigan, Aryan, Travis Monsod, DJ B-Cal, DJ Ron Poe, Katsy Lee, Carlo Atendido, Patrick Po, Jessica Milner, Motherbasss and Skratchmark.
Our only concern is that the open-air concert grounds should be a grassy field because you need to sit or lie down after a few hours. But if it’s just cold concrete, the gig might not be worth the trip at all.
Pocholo Concepcion