MANILA, PHILIPPINES — 2022 has been a massive year for Filipino folk pop/pop rock band Ben&Ben. After headlining a successful North American tour and securing the #1 spot on Spotify Wrapped’s most streamed local group in the Philippines list for the third year in a row, the nine-piece act was recently announced as a performer at the Clockenflap: Hong Kong’s Music & Arts Festival, solid proof of their growing popularity overseas.
To celebrate a year of record-breaking achievements and monumental milestones, the multi-awarded band made headlines once again with their Homecoming Concert, which happened on December 18 at the SMDC Festival Grounds.
Marking their return to Manila with their biggest concert yet, Ben&Ben showed gratitude to the fans who have supported their music journey since day one.
“To match that sense of gratitude, we wanted to mount our largest show yet, with our longest set, most ambitious performance ideas, and simply the best of what we’ve made through the years,” the chart-topping Filipino group shared. “We are most excited about bringing this show, finally, to our Liwanag, because it had definitely been a long journey with a lot of hard work to get here.”
Concept-wise, Ben&Ben’s Homecoming Concert 2022 was centered around the feeling of home: as a place, idea, or person of comfort, or as a reassuring gesture of security and intimacy. As the Paninindigan Kita hitmakers put it, the outdoor music show was also about coming home to each other and being home to each other.
“We’ve always likened how each piece of music we make is a little gift that our listeners have allowed into their lives, and how they have likewise felt the comfort of home through our songs, so it’s in that give and take and sharing of the feeling of home that we ultimately want to highlight for this show.”
In terms of the set list, the acclaimed band took pride in finding a perfect balance of impact, energy, emotion, and storytelling. “To do this, we imagined ourselves as audience members and tried to approximate what might feel best after a certain song or what might be the most sensible in terms of managing energy for both them and us throughout the lengthy set,” said Ben&Ben. “We feel the set we eventually came up with is the perfect rollercoaster — one that keeps you hooked and engaged the whole time without lingering too long on the highs or the lows.”
The Homecoming Concert also featured guest performances from artists who shared their incomparable talent to make their sophomore album, Pebble House. Vol.1 an incredible piece of music history: from Filipina neo-soul artist KZ Tandingan to young alt-rock visionaries Zild and Juan Karlos.
This event was presented by Ovation Productions, Ben&Ben Music Productions, Sony Music Philippines, and Tap Go; brought to you by SMART Telecommunications Inc., and Angkas, in cooperation with Pru Life UK.
Listen to Ben&Ben’s latest single “Dear” along with their greatest hits in the official Ben&Ben: The Complete Collection playlist on Spotify.
