When everything is easing up, music festivals are back. We can’t say that the pandemic is at its absolute end, but there’s nothing quite like a festival during this time—It’s like nothing ever happened.

Wanderland Music Festival, from the ever-active Karpos Multimedia, has made a comeback after two years of lockdowns and restrictions. But thank God for vaccinations and boosters, we can’t have a magical show if everyone’s not in tiptop shape, right?

Karpos comes back better and stronger with Wanderland Music Festival’s two-day extravaganza in March. It was two days of powerful lineups that could go head-to-head with gigantic festivals around the world.

Karpos and Globe brought Wanderland back. Replete with amazing musical and visual artists, for two full days at the Filinvest City events grounds in Alabang, it was full of wonderful noise, banter, food and alcohol, which also happened to have live art.

Everyone lined up like it was the last thing they would do even before the gates opened for day one. With artists such as Sunset Rollercoaster, Men I Trust, our very own Blaster, and No Rome, headlined by Carly Rae Jepsen, who wouldn’t be raring to go? Everyone grabbed a drink or two or something or the other at the food stalls set up by the Moment Group among others, then spread out their mats on the ground waiting for the show to start. It was all music and mayhem.

NOTHING LIKE A MUSIC FESTIVAL TO REMIND YOU YOU’RE ALIVE Wanderland’s two-day extravaganza showed off an impressive roster

Beers and mixed drinks flooded everyone’s cups, along with food stalls that catered to everyone, vegan and carnivores alike. The weather, hot as it was, wasn’t boiling, and there were tents for you to cool down, which were also full of merch from Globe and other brands. You just had to pick where you wanted to go, and everything was within your grasp.

The live music was something else. Everyone was just feeling themselves, swaying to the band that was playing on either the Globe stage or the main stage. Fast forward to Sunset Rollercoaster’s set, as they closed day one’s Globe stage: Every sensory feeling I could process was felt during their set, and then it was done, just like that. My friend and I took a bathroom break first, and bought drinks, and then patiently waited for everyone’s favorite popstar.

The main stage was crowded in a minute and a half once the lights went off. Pink and red hues flushed everyone’s eyes, and out came Carly Rae Jepsen. Delightful screams and jumping ensued, and no jeers were heard. Although it was tiring, it also felt weirdly calming being in a sea of shrieking people singing at the top of their lungs. The night ended with her massive hit “Cut to the Feeling,” and that’s when I felt how sore my feet were from walking and jumping the whole day. That’s how you know you had a great time.

The second day’s another story—dare I say it was better than the first! I was on the way to the show, listening nonstop to Phoenix, trying to remember every word Thomas Mars sang because I could not contain the excitement seeing them live for the first time. This was the band’s second time in Manila. Their first show here was in 2014.
The crowd was bigger now than the day before, and surprisingly mostly millennials. It might have to do with day two’s line up—A mix of nostalgic artists, local and foreign, with new ones as well. What with FKJ having such an amazing stage set-up, and an amazing set too, and a surprise with his partner, June, who goes by the artist name (((O))), and Dashboard Confessional playing back-to-back with Rico Blanco, and singing everyone’s teenage anthems.

As the day went on, I patiently waited for this soulful funk band called Flu. Since coming into fruition in 2018 at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the band has soared to new heights. I saw them just having the time of their lives up there. To cut it short, and for you to find out more about them, I’ll just leave it at “I had a fine day and that they had a magnificent set.”

A thousand and one alcohol runs and bathroom breaks later, we found ourselves in Rico Blanco’s hypnotic tunes. So much of his music, Rivermaya or not, has been a part of the lives of a lot of people in attendance. When Antukin’s ever-famous guitar riff came on, people lost it and sang along to his magnetic voice. A lot of older songs were played, and the lot of the crowd knew every word. “Your Universe” capped off his set, and there was just something to that song, hearing it live ever since I first heard it back in high school. It might have been the nostalgia kicking, or it just might have to be how overly cheesy yet lovely that song was.

As Rico Blanco’s set ended, people who weren’t there yet ran over to the Globe stage in anticipation of Dashboard Confessional’s much awaited comeback to Manila. From “Stolen” to Spider-Man 2’s “Vindicated” to “Screaming Infidelities,” a lot of Chris Carraba’s classics were played along with a few new ones. The surprising scene-stealer, however, was “Belle of the Boulevard.” Carabba shared he had a friend who told him he couldn’t leave Manila without playing it, so he did. As soon as the intro played, everyone started shouting nonstop. The set ended with crowd favorite “Hands Down” with everyone’s hands high up, singing to that melodic chorus and that iconic bridge. Understandably so, every concertgoer’s teenage self was in the house too.

In all honesty, Dashboard Confessional could have ended the night and no one would have batted an eye. But the main act was just setting up. From local artistas to die-hard fans, everyone was a fan that night. And then, a familiar drum track came on.

It was the spellbinding intro of Lisztomania that made the crowd roar. Phoenix was undoubtedly the main act. Old and new fans alike went ballistic over the entrancing track, and sang along, with Thomas Mars leading this amazing set of performers in order to give an unforgettable show. “Entertainment,” one of their massive hits from 2013’s Bankrupt!, played and I lost it. It was my favorite song! The show continued, and we were all living in a daze of French rock and roll and irresistible vocals. Toward the middle of their set, “Tonight” was played, a track that features Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend, and I lost it again. No, Ezra did not make a surprise appearance, but if Karpos were to listen to people’s clamor on who to bring here next, they might just book Vampire Weekend (Hi, Karpos friends).

A lot more songs were played, from “Lasso” to “Girlfriend” to “Armistice” to “Rome.” The French band concluded their set with “1901” and “Identical” (Reprise), but what surprised the revelers was that the French frontman was finally able to crowdsurf this time around. And then, the night ended. Tired as we were, voices lost from the neverending sing-alongs, no one left without a satisfied grin on their faces. It was one hell of a night.

Wanderland Music Festival came back strong, and is here to stay. Big props to Globe for letting us experience this two-day affair full of food, alcohol, singing, and live music. Free tickets or not, count me in on the next one.

An insider hint: Karpos and Globe have put up a wall at the venue where people in attendance could write down who they would want to see in the next festival. Who knows, we might see K-Pop powerhouse NewJeans soon, or even Indie darlings Vampire Weekend too. We can’t truly say until the next lineup is revealed, so keep your eyes peeled for information by following their social media accounts. www.globe.com.ph