Ben&Ben tapped as special guest in Ed Sheeran’s PH concert | Images: Instagram/@benandbenmusic
OPM band Ben&Ben is set to perform as a special guest in the Manila leg of Ed Sheeran’s +-=÷× Tour (pronounced The Mathematics Tour) in March.
The nine-piece Filipino indie folk-pop band shared the thrilling news on its Instagram page, accompanied by the official concert poster featuring their name and a throwback video of their cover of Sheeran’s track “Perfect.”
“Ma, special guest na kami ni Ed Sheeran sa concert niya (crying emoji)” they wrote. “Parang dati lang, nagcocover lang kami ng “Perfect” sa Youtube. Never in our wildest dreams did we think this could happen. Surreal,”
“SLIDE FOR A THROWBACK! Ibang iba pa itsura namin nun. Andami na pala nating pinagdaanan, Liwanag (heart sign emoji),” added the band referring to their old YouTube video.
The group was formerly known as The Benjamins, as they were only initially headlined by twin brothers Miguel and Paolo Benjamin. It was only in 2016 that they decided to add new members and change their band name to Ben&Ben.
The indie band is famously known for their hits “Kathang Isip,” “Ride Home,” “Leaves,” and “Lifetime,” among others.
Ben&Ben’s songs are also set to be featured for the first time in a live musical via the upcoming staging of “One More Chance: The Musical.” Their song “Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay” was also recently popularized in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 entry, “Rewind,” starring Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera.
Aside from the “Pagtingin” singers, Britain’s Got Talent alum Calum Scott will also be featured as a special guest in the fourth concert tour of Sheeran.
This will be the third time the “Shape of You” singer will perform in the Philippines. He previously took his act in the country last 2015 and 2018. He also appeared in an episode of “All-Out Sundays” in 2021.
“The first time I came to the Philippines and I’ve never ever felt that much love from a place ever,” said Sheeran at the time.
Sheeran’s next Manila concert is happening on March 9, 2024, at the SMDC Festival Grounds.