MANILA, Philippines–While 2015 is offering Manila a heavy line-up of concerts on its first two quarters (the list include The 1975, Michael Bublé, The Vamps, New Found Glory, Boyce Avenue, Christina Perri, Incubus, Ed Sheeran, Lenny Kravitz, The Script, Sam Smith and One Direction, among others), here’s a quick look-back on how the country’s very own Rakista Radio ended the previous year with what seemed to be the busiest, if not the biggest, rock music festival to be held in the metro.
On December 20, 2014, Rakista Radio gathered a total of 70 bands in one rock- and liquor-filled night at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati City. Dubbed Rakrakan Festival 2014, the event made room not just for one, not two, but a total of three concert stages. And the main catch of the night was not even the sheer number of bands playing. The show went on with three stages simultaneously offering classic and new Filipino songs which the crowd enjoyed swaying, head-banging, and slamming to. Imagine people running from one stage to another once they hear a familiar band playing—that’s practically how the Rakrakan Fest night went.
Three stages
Given its rich line-up of artists, Rakrakan Fest became a rock festival for all as it offered not only a unique experience of three shows simultaneously playing, but it also made room for different sub Pinoy rock genres.
The Mosh Stage | Image by Janine Villagracia/INQUIRER.net.
The Mosh Stage, for example, gathered heavy metal rock fans through artists Galaw Tao, Bonifacio Republic, Giniling Festival, Imbuenokudos, Lost Threads, Valley of Chrome, Even, Hilera, Armalite, Curbside, Pepe Smith, Kjwan, Urbandub, Razorback, Slapshock, Wilabaliw, Skychurch, Saydie, Subculture, Philia, Mr. Bones & The Boneyard Circus, Oblivion, The Youth, Diachroma, and Days of January.
The Move Stage | Image by Janine Villagracia/INQUIRER.net.
The Move Stage, on the other hand, had the crowd jumping to “major throwback feels-causing” songs after featuring household names like Barbie Almalbis, Pedicab, Chicosci, Imago, 6cyclemind, Moonstar88, Callalily, Rocksteddy, and Mayonnaise. Also in the line-up were A Music Theory, Maybe Thursday, Jejaview, Sirens, Faintlight, Absolute Play, Save Me Hollywood, Gracenote, Banda ni Kleggy, The Oktaves, Drive Me to Juliet, Tanya Markova, Maryzark, Ria Bautista, Manila Under Fire, and Neverending Weekend.
The Groove Stage | Image by Janine Villagracia/INQUIRER.net.
Even synthrock and reggae fans weren’t left out as the third stage, called the Groove, had artists Indo I, Autotelic, Chocolate Grass, Tarsius, Brisom, Reklamo, Flying Ipis, Cheats, Lions & the Scouts, Tropical Depression, Tricia Garcia, Brownman Revival, Peacepipe, Chocolate Factory, The Chongkeys, Mom’s Cake, Lady I, and Reggae Mistress.
The event kicked off early 3 p.m. of December 20, and the music indulgence lasted until 3 a.m. of the next day.
But apart from the electrifying music treat, Rakrakan Fest also had food and merchandise bazaars which attendees feasted on, and a skateboarding exhibition which gathered some of the metro’s most talented boarders.
The Rakrakan Festival 2014 was organized by Rakista Radio, with INQUIRER.net as media partner.
ADVT