It wouldn’t hurt for music fans with nowhere to go on New Year’s Eve to check out the two-night events happening on Dec. 30 and 31 at Ciudad de Victoria, described as “a 140-hectare tourism enterprise zone in the towns of Bocaue and Sta. Maria in Bulacan”—where sits the Philippine Arena and, beside it, the Philippine Sports Stadium.
In a Nightlife story two weeks ago (“Can Chris Brown fill up the Philippine Arena?”, Dec. 7), we opined that “the probability that Brown alone cannot fill up the venue, incidentally the world’s largest arena of its kind, is so great because the artist has yet to prove his mettle as a major act—at least in the country… But then again, let’s not forget that the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) congregation, from whose funds the Philippine Arena was built, would naturally flock to its own place to celebrate New Year. In which case, the venue is not big enough.”
On hindsight, we are inclined to believe that, even without Brown, the concert would still attract people, not necessarily INC members, because Bamboo is also performing. The multiple artist lineup includes Brisom, Enrique Gil, KZ Tandingan, Morrisette, Sam Concepcion and Tempura Kidz.
Never mind that some of those acts might be out of place, but we’re confident that Bamboo alone is worth the ticket price (cheapest is P700; most expensive is P3,500).
20,000 capacity
Now before that gig, there will be two more shows, to be held Dec. 30 and 31 at the Philippine Sports Stadium, the other new venue that the INC has built. It is said to be the country’s largest football and track and field stadium with a seating capacity of 20,000 (actually more, maybe even 100,000 if people are allowed to enter the open field itself during concerts.
The performers’ lineup on Dec. 30 at the Philippine Sports Stadium includes Asin (with surviving member Lolita Carbon and we presume the US-based Pendong Aban who’s here for the holidays), Coritha, Hajji Alejandro, Juan Rodrigo, FBC Rebirth, Rey Valera, Shamrock, The Voice Kids and Willie Nepomuceno.
On Dec. 31, same venue: 6 Cyclemind, Autotelic, Barbie Almalbis, Brisom, Callalily, Imago, Itchyworms, Kjwan, Kitchie Nadal, Mayonnaise, Parokya ni Edgar, Rico Blanco, Sandwich, Silent Sanctuary, Sponge Cola and Up Dharma Down.
There’s only one price for a ticket, P500—and it’s good for two shows. Yes, that’s right, your ticket will be honored on both the Dec. 30 and 31 shows.
Here’s the best deal: Buy a ticket to the Chris Brown gig at the Philippine Arena and you get in for free at the two-night shows at the Philippine Sports Stadium.
There will also be carnival rides, circus acts, a bazaar, and other amusements on Dec. 30 and 31. Gates open at 2 p.m.
But don’t look for beer and other alcoholic beverages; we were told that it’s prohibited under INC rules.
Ticketnet.com.ph; tel. 9115555.
Coming soon
Coming soon are a number of exciting foreign music acts, all scheduled to perform here, starting on the last week after the New Year celebrations. A few notes on four of them:
Canadian singer-songwriter Michael Buble’s (performing Jan. 31, SM Mall of Asia Arena) most recent album, 2013’s “To Be Loved,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming the pop-jazz crooner’s fourth consecutive album to top the charts. It features four originals as well as 10 covers including “Somethin’ Stupid,” “To Love Somebody” “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?” and the title track, a Jackie Wilson hit. Buble has also recorded “It Had To Be You,” a duet with Barbra Streisand on her new album “Partners,” released only a few months ago.
Ticketworld.com.ph; tel. 8919999, 4702222
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran (March 12, Mall of Asia Arena) is a hot young artist. His debut album, “+,” which contained the singles “The A Team” and “Lego House” was certified quintuple platinum in the United Kingdom. His second album, “X” (read as “multiply”) went to No. 1 in the UK albums chart and the US Billboard 200. It was nominated for Album of the Year at the 57th Grammy Awards.
Tickets to the concert have sold out, according to MOA Arena staff. But don’t believe that ruse because promoters have this bad practice of keeping tickets which they sell at higher prices.
Ticketworld.com.ph; tel. 8919999, 4702222
American singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz (March 24, Globe Circuit Event Grounds, Makati) has won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance four years in a row from 1999 to 2002. We look at him as a music renaissance man who fuses soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads into his songs. He has a new album, “Strut,” which he’s promoting for his current tour. Surely his Filipino fans look forward to catching his first visit here.
Ticketworld.com.ph; tel. 8919999, 4702222
Legendary folk-rock trio Crosby, Stills & Nash (March 16, Smart Araneta Coliseum), along with a sometime fourth member, Neil Young, was once known as the first supergroup of the late 1960s. It has survived the pitfalls of fame and fortune, including substance abuse and stormy personal relationships, and emerged relatively intact. We expect a lot of the hippie generation, along with their kids, to show up at the Big Dome.
Ticketnet.com.ph; tel. 9115555
