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| (Image Source: Philippine Concerts/PLUS63 Festival) |
PLUS63 Festival is set to return on November 28, 2026, delivering an expansive festival experience at the Aseana City Concert Grounds in Parañaque City. Conceived from the Philippines’ country code (+63) and debuting in Cebu during Sinulog 2016, the festival marks its 10th anniversary this year following its successful 2025 Manila expansion. Tickets for PLUS63 Festival Manila 2026 are currently available at www.PLUS63Festival.com, priced between Php3,800 and Php13,000.
Headlining this milestone edition is multi-platinum global superstar Khalid, marking his long-awaited return to Manila since his 2018 American Teen Tour. A seven-time Grammy nominee with over 35 billion global streams, Khalid broke onto the scene with his diamond-certified debut “Location” and multi-platinum albums American Teen and Free Spirit. Recognized as Billboard’s 2025 “Disruptor” honoree and BMI’s Pop Songwriter of the Year, the pop prodigy arrives in Manila on the heels of his critically acclaimed, 80s-synth and electro-pop record After The Sun Goes Down, as well as major electronic collaborations like “Save My Love” with KYGO and Gryffin. In this focused outdoor setting, fans can anticipate an intimate performance running through defining anthems like “Young Dumb & Broke”, “Talk”, “Silence”, and “Better” alongside his latest hits. Joining him as international co-headliners are American EDM powerhouse trio Cash Cash and acclaimed North London alternative rock band Wolf Alice. Cash Cash will energize the grounds with high-octane dance-floor favorites such as “Take Me Home” and “Hero”. Meanwhile, Wolf Alice — the Brit Award-winning and Mercury Prize-winning quartet celebrated for Visions of a Life and Blue Weekend — brings their sweeping indie sound to Manila. Arriving with the rich, classic-rock-infused melodies of their Greg Kurstin-produced album The Clearing, the band will deliver standout tracks like “Don’t Delete The Kisses” and “Lipstick On The Glass”.
The anniversary lineup is anchored by a stellar roster of homegrown Filipino artists bringing distinct sonic flavors to the stage: R&B songstress DENȲ, celebrated for her smooth track “Gusto With Ya“; hitmaker Kiana V, known for her soulful single “Does She Know“; and rising contemporary hip-hop artist SHNTI, performing fan favorites including “YUH”. Beyond the music, festivalgoers can explore a curated lifestyle fair and an artisanal culinary village spotlighting local food and beverage vendors. Produced by Insignia Presents, the festival continues its decade-long mission of bridging world-class international acts with premier local talent to create an annual cultural destination.
For tickets and festival updates, visit www.PLUS63Festival.com or follow PLUS63 Festival across Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok.
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Sunset Rollercoaster Wins Best Album, ena mori Takes Best Asian Creative Artist At Taiwan’s 17th Golden Indie Music Awards
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| (Image Source: Bandwagon Asia/Golden Indie Music Awards) |
The 17th Golden Indie Music Awards (GIMA) took place last October 31, 2026 at the Taipei Music Center, celebrating outstanding independent and original music from Taiwan and across Asia. This year’s notable winners included Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster, which claimed Best Album for 《QUIT QUIETLY》, and Japanese-Filipino artist ena mori, who won Best Asian Creative Artist for EP《Ore》. Taiwanese jazz musician Yuhan Su emerged as the night’s most-awarded artist, taking home three awards for her internationally acclaimed project 《Over The Moons》. Performance highlights included Japan’s Tempalay and a special collaboration between Wonjin of South Korea’s alternative musical collective Balming Tiger and Taiwanese math-rock trio Elephant Gym, adding to the ceremony’s cross-border appeal.
Sunset Rollercoaster, known internationally for their dreamy blend of indie rock, soul and retro pop, received Best Album for《QUIT QUIETLY》.The band recently gained further global attention through《AAA》, their collaborative album with South Korean indie group HYUKOH. Born in Tokyo and raised in the Philippines, ena mori is a Japanese-Filipino singer-songwriter and producer whose music combines classical piano influences with experimental pop. Her 2022 album《DON’T BLAME THE WILD ONE!》 topped NME Asia‘s list of the best Asian albums of the year and she has performed at international events including SXSW and Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival. Her latest EP,《Ore》, earned her this year’s Best Asian Creative Artist award, highlighting the growing visibility of cross-cultural voices in Asia’s independent music scene. Yuhan Su received Best Jazz Album for 《Over The Moons》, Best Jazz Song for 〈Genius and Dumb〉 (天才與笨蛋), and the Jury Award. Other winners included Outlet Drift which won Best Band for《Masonolay i Cepo’》, Panai who received two folk music awards for her album《Minsumin》(來了) and the song〈A Bird Without Feathers〉(是 誰), and Malpace, whose debut album《No wool. No hump))》won Best R&B Album. One of the ceremony’s live highlights was ODD WAVES, a special collaboration between Wonjin, a member of South Korean alternative music collective Balming Tiger, and Taiwanese math-rock band Elephant Gym. Their set featured Elephant Gym’s〈鏡子 Mirror〉and〈中途 Midway〉, Wonjin’s〈겨울왕자 Ice King〉, and a collaborative performance of〈女巫 Witches〉〈캔디가 생각나Candy〉, bringing together intricate instrumental rhythms and distinctive vocal arrangements.
Japanese psychedelic rock band Tempalay closed the ceremony with performances of 〈Kaminchi かみんち〉 and 〈Sonatine そなちね〉. Featuring Ryoto Ohara, Natsuki Fujimoto, and AAAMYYY, the trio brought their signature blend of psychedelic rock, electronic textures, and experimental pop to the Taipei stage. Other performance highlights included a collaboration between Paiwan singer-songwriter Sauljaljui(戴曉君), Yuhan Su, and the Taiwu Ballads Troupe (TBT 泰武古謠傳唱), blending Indigenous Taiwanese musical traditions with contemporary jazz. Best Live Performance winner That’s My Shhh showcased Taiwan’s vibrant hip-hop scene with “LIVE A LIFE”.
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We Are Imaginary Pays Tribute To 18 Years Of Music-Making In New ‘Are We There Yet?’ Music Video
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/We Are Imaginary) |
Acclaimed Filipino indie-rock band We Are Imaginary has dropped the official music video for “Are We There Yet?”, the latest single from their 2026 self-titled album. Directed by Jam Lasin of Cream Flower, the music video captures the band in their jamming element, stitching together performances, candid moments, and visual references that pay tribute to their 18-year career as an underground force in the Filipino independent music scene.
The MV, now available on the band's official YouTube channel, also traces the highs and lows of band life while acknowledging the contributions of past members and collaborators whose influence remains integral to the music. In a press statement, We Are Imaginary shares, “Keeping the fire burning is another hard choice, especially in a fickle scene and as a band that doesn’t really follow trends. We won’t be here without our past members and labels so hopefully the music video sends a message that all we feel is gratitude.” The band also reunited with Lasin for their second music video collaboration, following “Object of My Affliction”. Longtime admirers of Cream Flower’s aesthetic, We Are Imaginary entrusted the director and his team to translate their vision into a compelling visual treatment. “Are We There Yet?” is the latest single from the band’s acclaimed self-titled album, released in January 2026. As one of the earliest compositions guitarist Khalid Tanji wrote for the band’s pre-pandemic album project, the track retains the driving momentum and post-punk guitar sensibilities of its original demo.
The celebration of the music video release continued last November 8, 2026 at Saguijo where the band held a vinyl and merchandise launch alongside an evening of live performances from fellow artists. The occasion also marked the debut of We Are Imaginary’s first-ever official tote bag and the vinyl release. With the vinyl release made possible through Eikon Records PH’s Rick Olivares and the production expertise of Joey Santos of Floppy Disk, the band sees physical formats as a lasting expression of musical legacy. Band member Ahmad Tanji reveals, “We get giddy like schoolchildren having our music in tangible form.” Following the album campaign, We Are Imaginary plans to return to the studio with new material currently taking shape and hopes of releasing new music in 2027 alongside performances in more cities across the Philippines and abroad.
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IdeaFirst Live Unveils 2027-2028 Season Of Original Filipino Theater Productions
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| The creative team behind the new IdeaFirst productions including Jun Robles Lana (2nd from left), Tuxqs Rutaquio and Elmer Gatchalian (Image Source: BusinessWorld/Mhicole Moral) |
IdeaFirst Live, the theater arm of The IdeaFirst Company, unveiled its ambitious 2027–2028 season of original Filipino theatrical productions last October 25, 2026 headlined by Die Beautiful: The Musical, Victorina, and Teorya ng Mga Tanong — three distinctly different productions united by a commitment to original Filipino storytelling. Following its successful stage adaptations of Anino Sa Likod Ng Buwan and About Us But Not About Us, IdeaFirst Live revealed new original works developed specifically for the theater, bringing together some of the country’s most celebrated actors, writers, and directors.
Opening the season in June 2027 at the Proscenium Theater is Die Beautiful: The Musical, a spectacular reimagining of the internationally-celebrated film about beauty, identity, resilience, and chosen family. Directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio with new book and lyrics co-written by Jun Robles Lana and Elmer Gatchalian, the production features Audie Gemora, Karylle, Esang de Torres, Maxie Andreison, Viñas Deluxe, Lance Reblando, and Chamyto. In October 2027, internationally awarded actress Eugene Domingo returns to the stage as Victorina, a new play written by Jun Robles Lana and directed by Chris Martinez. Inspired by the infamous Doña Victorina of José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, this biting comedy puts Philippine literature’s ultimate social climber center stage to challenge conventions and rewrite history in her own unique way. Coming in March 2028 is Teorya ng Mga Tanong, reuniting Romnick Sarmenta, Elijah Canlas, and Epy Quizon following their celebrated performances in About Us But Not About Us. In an intriguing meta-theatrical twist, the three actors now step into the very novel their characters once argued about. Written by Jun Robles Lana and directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio, the play promises a provocative exploration of the boundaries between fiction and reality. IdeaFirst Live also teased a fourth original production currently in development, hinting at an unconventional theatrical experience that will challenge not only the stories being told but how audiences experience them.
The announcement also marked the launch of THE FIRST LIST, IdeaFirst Live’s new audience membership program offering priority ticket booking, exclusive previews, special invitations, and other privileges. Registration for the membership program is open at the event venue and through The IdeaFirst Company’s website (theideafirstcompany.com). With its 2027–2028 season, IdeaFirst Live takes a major step in its evolution from adapting films for the stage to creating distinctive theatrical experiences that celebrate Filipino talent, imagination, and storytelling.
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LEYO Reframes Filipino Harana With Modern OPM Touches In 6-Track EP, Akda Sa Pag-Alala
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/Sony Music Entertainment Philippines) |
Filipino singer-songwriter LEYO reimagines Filipino harana with modern sensibilities in Akda Sa Pag-alala, a six-track EP released worldwide on digital music streaming platforms under Sony Music Entertainment Philippines. Melding classic OPM, acoustic pop, and R&B, LEYO’s latest release is a personal collection shaped by affection, longing, vulnerability, and self-discovery. It traces love through intimate, universally familiar stories.
Buoyed by stripped-down arrangements and velvety vocals, the EP deftly balances catchy guitar riffs and warm bass lines with jazzy, bossa nova-lite inflections. Musically, he borrows elements from the music he grew up listening to, from The Beatles and Stevie Wonder to APO Hiking Society and the Manila Sound, creating a nostalgic pop vignette with a contemporary edge. LEYO shares, “Every song on this EP was written using just an acoustic guitar. I made the harana tradition my own by blending it with the music I grew up listening to, combining classic OPM influences with Western pop and R&B elements.” The new EP also explores romance in varying tones and hues. “Pritong Itlog” finds affection in the familiarity of preparing a meal for someone, while “Kapag Umuulan” deals with yearning from the perspective of a hopeless romantic. “Torpe” and “Pwede Ko Bang Itanong” confront the uncertainties of unspoken feelings. Other songs like “Kung Magugunaw Ang Mundo” and “Kumusta Ka Sinta” convey devotion, nostalgia, and the process of coming to terms with the past. LEYO reveals, “Ultimately, it captures my journey as a young man figuring out who I am and discovering what love truly means.”
The EP also benefits from the creative contributions of producers including 2026 Awit Awards winner Brian Lotho, Rain Santana, and LEYO himself whose complementary approaches helped define the collection’s overall sound. LEYO adds, “Working with Rain Santana and Sir Brian Lotho really unlocked the full potential of these tracks. They brought two distinct approaches: Rain encouraged me to be more playful and think outside the box, while Sir Brian pushed me to be more intentional with every production choice.” Acclaimed sound engineer Emil Dela Rosa mixed and mastered the first two tracks while Hazel Pascua handled the remaining four. At its best, Akda Sa Pag-alala serves as a time capsule of youthful romance and personal growth. Through thoughtful storytelling and melodic sensibilities, LEYO offers a tender reminder that love is often best remembered through life’s smallest moments.
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Maymay Longs For Genuine Love In New Single “Sinta”
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Singer-actress Maymay Entrata goes through the exhaustion of mixed signals and temporary love, while longing for a genuine connection with someone in her new single “Sinta”, now available worldwide on digital music streaming platforms under StarPop PH. Maymay wrote the dance-pop track with ABS-CBN Music creatives, content, and operations head Jonathan Manalo and Nameless Kids’ Nhiko Sabiniano with Jonathan also serving as its producer. Through its heartfelt message, “Sinta” reminds listeners that they deserve a love that is sincere, lasting, and certain.
“Sinta” marks Maymay’s third single this year, following “What We Love” and “Masunog Man” which showcased her honest perspectives on love and life through dance-pop and pop-rock sounds, respectively. Recently, Maymay submitted her song “Masunog Man” for For Your GRAMMY® Consideration in the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category for the 2027 Grammy Awards. Building on the success of empowering hits such as “AMAKABOGERA”, “Puede Ba”, “Tsada Mahigugma”, and “Paradise”, Maymay continues to grow as a singer-songwriter, sharing personal stories and relatable experiences through her music. Beyond her local music achievements, Maymay is also gaining recognition on the international stage. She earned a nomination for Best Asia Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards and performed “Nasaan Ang Hiling”, the Filipino version of a soundtrack song from Disney’s “Snow White”. She was also featured on a Times Square billboard as part of Spotify’s EQUAL campaign and appeared in the Recording Academy’s “It Goes To 11” series where she visited the Grammy studio and shared her musical journey with a global audience.
