Just like Coachella

MANILA, Philippines - At the Wander- land 2013, held last May 18 at the Circuit Makati, 11 great music acts provided supercharged performances at the said 12-hour music and arts festival. How- ever, it was the thousands of Filipino audio- philes that made the event truly magical.

Wanderland 2013, produced by Karpos Multi- media, is a musi- cal event unlike any other local gigs Filipino music fans have been accustomed to. Some say that it is the localized version of the hip Coachella Valley Music Festival.

Colour

“It is such an honor to be com- pared to Coachel- la,” says John Dee Uy, Karpos Multimedia’s concerts and events director. “It was actually our dream to go to music festivals so we thought, why don’t we make one here in the Philippines? That was how ev- erything started, so it is a big compliment when people tell us that Wanderland is the Philippines’ version of Coachella.”

Temper

Neon Trees

Majority of the 5,000 music fans who trooped to the venue, came in Coachella-inspired outfits — sandos and shorts, (and for girls) Aztec prints and flower wreaths on their heads. The event also gathered a good number of foreigners.

When asked about highlights of the event, John recalled three things, “First was how the crowd dressed up and how they were so passion- ately involved in all the activities. Second was the international bands’ performances knowing that they all performed here in the Philippines for the first time! Last was the festive vibe.”

Wanderland 2013 opened with the performances from four of the most prominent local indie bands Taken By Cars, Pulso, She’s Only Sixteen and Yolanda Moon. The four groups received loud cheers from the crowd. In fact, international group Colour Coding gave She’s Only Sixteen a shoutout during the former’s set.

“It is nice that we can be in sync or even appreciated by people a mil- lion miles away,” says She’s Only Sixteen frontman Roberto Seña. “It is also wonderful to know that those guys aren’t hard to connect with. This only shows that there’s a lev- eled plateau on music, no matter where one comes from.”

Charming Australian indie pop band Colour Coding opened the sets of the international acts strongly, making girls swoon over their songs.

Before sunset, New Zealand folk band Avalanche City went onstage to perform a full set of more than 12 songs, to the delight of their fans.

Natalie Foster of Tully on Tully, armed with her distinct voice, then enchanted the audience with the group’s gift of music.

Breaking the sets of the interna- tional bands is Up Dharma Down, perhaps the biggest indie group in the country. The group proved that the local indie music scene has long been ready to invade the interna- tional stage.

American alternative rock band Nada Surf was the first of the three big international bands to perform. Nada Surf performed their old hits, and some new songs. Neon Tree’s solid set was due

to frontman Tyler Glen’s charisma and energy, making the set the most memorable in the event.

Closing Wanderland was the set of The Temper Trap, whose frontman Dougy Mandagi’s beautiful vocals was enough to enthrall everyone in the Circuit. Their biggest hit Sweet Disposition served as a fitting closing song to this year’s Wanderland.

Spotted enjoying the festivities were Anne and Jasmine Curtis, Er- wan Heussaff, Sam Concepion, Julia Barretto, Raymond Guttierrez, Andi and Geoff Eigenmann and radio jock Carla Dunareanu.