FRESH from their success in Parokya ni Edgar’s Inuman Sessions concert held a few months ago at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gym, Bace Productions is coming with a much bigger music event for Dabawenyos particularly those who grew up listening to OPM rock acts a decade ago.
Dubbed Musica E Vita or Music is Life, the music festival brings together top OPM bands in recent years. These include Urbandub, Franco, Callalily, Silent Sanctuary, Hale, Cueshe and Slapshock.
The concert will be held this October 14, 2017 at the Crocodile Park Grounds, and is a must attend event for many who, perhaps, have been hearing the songs of these bands in the radio and in television as they were staples of MTV and Myx.
Cueshe was one of the top-selling rock acts a decade ago with songs such as “Ulan,” “Stay,” “Sorry,” “Can’t Let You Go” and “Borrowed Time.” The band, like Franco and Urbandub, traces their roots from Cebu. They won numerous citations particularly Double Platinum award from Asap Platinum Circle in 2006 for their debut album Half Empty, Half Full. Their iconic hit song “Stay” won the first Myx Awards Best Song for 2006. In 2015, they released their single “Ikaw Lamang.”
Callalily will always be known for their vocalist Kean Cipriano who has also dabbled into acting. The alternative band is known for their hits “Stars,” “Susundan,” “Ako’y Babalik,” and “Minsan”. The band won the 2013 Myx Music Award for Best Group and the 2007 Best Band of the Year given by OPM Songhits Awards.
Silent Sanctuary was formed in 2001 in Metro Manila. They are known for their hits “Pasensya Ka Na,” “Sa Yo,” “Hiling,” “Kundiman,” “Ikaw Lamang,” among many others. The band is known for mixing classical music instruments with their rock music. The prolific band has released five albums.
Slapshock is a heavy metal band with hits like “Agent Orange,”, “Madapaka,” “Numb,” “Sigaw,” among many others. The band signed up with Apl de Ap’s BMBX Entertainment in 2014 where they got to collaborate with Apl de Ap in the single “Crown.”
Urbandub was one of the biggest bands to come out of Cebu in recent years with hits such as “First of Summer,” “Alert the Armory,” “The Fight is Over,” “Soul Searching,” among many others. The band’s success inspired the Davao indie scene in the last decade. Their album Influence won the 2004 album of the year in the NU107 rock awards.
Franco started as a superband combining rock icons from different popular bands. Franco Reyes from Inyo, Gabby Alipe of Urbandub, Buwi Meneses from Parokya ni Edgar and Paolo Toleran from Queso. Their hits include “Castaway” and “Better Days.” The band reformed in 2013 as the former band members decided to concentrate on their respective bands. The present band line-up includes Franco Reyes, Paul Canada, Dave Delfin and Victor Guison.
Hale is known for vocalist Champ Lui Pio who is the son of Dabawenyo musician songwriter Nonoy Tan (who was also famous in the 1970s for Wadab band). The band was one of the hottest acts in the past decade with hits such as “Broken Sonnet,” “The Day You Said Goodnight,” “Blue Sky,” and “Kung Wala Ka.” The band performed during the June 3 concert with Parokya ni Edgar.
Musica E Vita is perhaps one of the biggest music events in Davao City with these hit bands in attendance. A once-in-a-lifetime affair you shouldn’t miss.
Ticket prices at VVIP: P3,500; VIP P2,800, Gold: P2,200, Silver P1,500, General Admission: P600. You can check out Bace Productions page at Facebook for ticket promos. Their main ticket outlet is at Ground Floor Gaisano Mall in front of Greenwich.