Artists Days

Cebu has long been awash in music, so that it’s painful to watch some artists still scattered, divided and groping for acceptance, with their followers keeping up with who’s playing where.

In fact, text messages had flowed in once inquiring on where could have those regular gigs gone; or where to find music events calendar on live music venues here and who plays what type of music.

It’s a good thing that Bite Magazine, Killer Bee, Smash FM and Monster Radio backed the move of owners of a few bars here to provide the answer to one big need of bands and individual performers — artists need venues the way venues need artists.

Owners of seven bars here have understood the need for artists’ survival, thus establishing a symbiotic relationship with today’s crop of local musicians through an in-city project to promote the best of Cebuano sounds.

In an interview with Miss Zarah Smith, who once operated an artists’ haven – Handuraw Events Café in barangay Mabolo, it was learned that bands and individual performers such as Cattski, CDMC, D’Kazins, Smooth Friction, Urbal, Balde ni Allan, Aggressive Audio, PG-18, Mungkanghan, Attack of the Giant Fetus, Pointblank, Idle, Lui and the Band, Melophobic, Fervent, Apple Drive, Dysfunction, Nino, Lowella, Docurama, Vitamin J, Gangrene, Focfashion, Picture Filled, and the Zarah Smith Band will be part of a month-long artists tour around these seven bars that have committed to providing artists a venue, accommodation, (considerable amount of) talent fee, and a fat serving of respect.

 “The concept is to connect bars to help our local artists survive,” Zarah pointed out.

The tour kicked off last July 3 at Kalye 80s along Rahman Street in the uptown area. It’s a half-outdoor, half-indoor place that caters to all kinds of music. A day after that, artists were received with a prosit at the D’vine Wines and Deli along Salinas Drive in barangay Lahug. “It’s a small place which fits in light music, reggae, jazz and trio,” Zarah said.

On the 10th, artists were seen performing at the Tiki Bar-Bigfoot Studio in Mactan which caters to true-blue musicians.

Last July 11, the in-city tour came to The Outpost in Veterans Drive , Lahug which is already established as the new hub of artists after Handuraw folded up. “It actually is a musician’s place,” Zarah said.

On the 17th, Nuvo which is right beside Sunflower City in Salinas Drive takes turn in giving the stage to a cornucopia of genres. After that, Bravio which is a sports-resto and lounge bar along A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City (specifically Bakilid) opens its doors to real good artists for the high-end market.

Artists Days will be at Formo (Banilad Town Center ) on the 24th. The place is a little bit restricted but with the right artists to tap, the place promises attractive pays to performers other than food, drinks and accommodations.

The activity will wrap up on the 26th with a party dubbed “Sugbusika” at the Pitstop-MEPZ soccer field to start at 8 p.m. More artists are expected to converge at the venue.

“Hopefully we will be able to call out on others to open their places to artists. And get more places that will accommodate performers well, dili lang kay thank you tanan,” Zarah also said.

So before you decide to head out for another show this month, Zarah urges you to “be cool by making it a habit to support local music!”

For more details, call Zarah at 09176235994 or at 2326401. The tour is also supported by The FREEMAN as an advocate of “propagating that loud and proud sound of the Great South.”