2024 is off to a fire start with a lineup of hyped-up events. We’ve seen a ton of epic concerts and slay personalities, from fan events to artist gigs. The stakes are high, and it’s shaping up to be a year so epic you’ll need a countdown for every event!

As May wraps up, the hype is real for what 2024’s got in store for the Philippine entertainment scene. If you are looking forward to getting ready for mind-blowing theater shows and concerts that slap, featuring both local legends and international stars, this year’s all about epic memories, making 2024 one for the books!

Here is a glimpse into the lit events of the year’s second quarter, featuring homegrown and international talents who will grace the stage.

MAY

May has been full of vibrant and diverse performances from beloved artists, bands, and idol groups. With the last few weeks before May wrap up, exciting events await to captivate the Filipino audience and add to the impressive entertainment lineup.

LAUFEY: A NIGHT AT THE SYMPHONY WITH THE MANILA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Lauvers! Prepare to be bewitched by the angelic voice of Icelandic-Chinese singer Laufey as she returns to Manila from May 28 to 29. The jazz-inspired pop singer-songwriter is set to perform alongside the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra at the PICC Plenary Hall in Pasay, promising audiences an enchanting evening for her two-night show. 

Laufey’s debut performance in the Philippines was last year for “A Night of Jazz with Laufey” at the Filinvest Tent. She is set to return for a third time for her “Bewitched: The Goddess Tour” at the SM Mall of Asia Arena this September.

GAYLE (MY FIRST TIME) IN ASIA TOUR 2024

The 19-year-old American singer-songwriter Gayle is set to deliver an electrifying performance at The Podium Hall on May 29 for her first-ever concert in the Philippines. Best known for her viral pop-rock song “abcdefu,” released in August 2021,  which is the lead single of her debut EP “a study of the human experience volume one”, Gayle garnered her first Grammy nomination for Song of the Year 2024 and was an Eras Tour Opener for Taylor Swift in 2023. 

Gayle will also perform in Bangkok, Tokyo, and Seoul for her (My First Time) in Asia Tour 2024.

JUNE

The stage is set for a captivating June, with a lineup that showcases diverse artistic excellence featuring mesmerizing performances from local theater productions, OPM, P-Pop, and K-Pop artists.  This month’s exciting events promise a wide range of entertainment, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy.

IU H.E.R.E.H WORLD TOUR CONCERT IN MANILA

Kicking off the month with a spectacular concert, popular K-pop soloist IU is set to dazzle Filipino audiences once again. Following her 2019 tour “Love,  Poem,” the South Korean singer-songwriter is scheduled to return to the Philippines for her H.E.R.E.H World Tour (also known as H.E.R) at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on June 1st, marking her first world tour and a  ninth concert tour with stops in Asia, North America, and Europe.

Dabbling in K-pop, R&B, and soul music, IU’s vocals, stage presence, and diverse range of genres make her stand out. Her top hits include “Good Day,” “Palette ft. G-Dragon,” and “Eight ft. Suga of BTS,” which are beloved by Filipino fans. Besides her remarkable musical performances, IU is also known for her acting work, with one of her prominent roles in the K-drama, Hotel Del Luna (2019).

SAME GROUND: KITCHIE NADAL’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

Alt-Rock OPM Icon Kitchie Nadal triumphantly returns to the Philippine concert scene, celebrating the 20th anniversary of her solo career with a homecoming show on June 2 at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City. Nadal’s anniversary concert will feature some of her closest peers in the music industry. It will honor her journey as an artist who paved the way for women in alternative and pop music, highlighting uncompromising artistry and inspiring individuality.

I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE

2024 is an exciting year for Repertory Philippines as they embark on their 87th season, presenting a full lineup for the first time since 2019. One of their highly anticipated productions is the off-Broadway lighthearted musical, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” scheduled to run from June 7 to 30 at the RCBC Theater in Makati City.

Penned by Joe DiPietro and with music by Jimmy Roberts, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” is the longest-running off-Broadway musical revue. Perfect for fans of modern musicals and sitcoms, the musical delivers a delightful and relatable exploration of love and relationships through a series of vignettes, showcasing the talents of a versatile four-person cast.

REP’s show production is directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, the “first lady” of Philippine musical theater. Ejay Yatco provides musical direction, and Joey Mendoza designs the set.

VIRGIN LABFEST 19: PINTOG

Returning this June with its 19th edition, ‘Virgin Labfest 19: Pintog,’ Virgin Labfest’s annual showcase of untried, untested, and unstaged one-act plays will run from June 12 to 30 at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Malate, Manila.

VLF 19: Pintog presents 12 new scripts that delve into the intricate layers of human experience. Scripts to be staged include Set A: Dilema (Hans Pieter Arao’s “Vengeance of the Gods,” Lino Balmes’ “Ningas,” and Rick Patriarca’s “Love on the Brain”), Set B: Bingit (Herlyn Alegre’s “Sentenaryo,” Dip Mariposque’s “The Divine Family,” and Jhudiel Clare Sosa’s “Identite”), Set C: Pu-Tim (Joshua Lim So’s “Pagkapit sa Hangin,” Ara Jenika Vinzon’s “Lipistick at Pulbura,” and Chesie Galvez-Cariño’s “The Foxtrot”), and Set D: Di-Tiyak (Elisa Santos’ “Sa Babaeng Lahat,” Dustin Celestino’s “Ang Munting Liwanag sa Madilim na Sulok ng Serbeserya sa Maynila,” and Neil Azcuna’s “Si Hesus na’a sa U.S.”).

Three plays from VLF 18: Hitik will also make a return on the stage with Set E: Sagad (Revisited), featuring Andrew Estacio’s “Awit ng Dalagang Marmol,” Dingdong Novenario’s “Dominador Gonzales: National Artist,” and Zheg Arban’s “Room 209”.

Meanwhile, four scripts submitted this season will have stage readings, including Christa De La Cruz’s “Huling Salita,” Dia Sales’ “Pabili ng Christmas Tree,” Atria Pacana’s “Shiver,” and Floyd Scott Tioganco’s “Patayin ang mga Surot”.

WELCOME TO SU: HOME ASIA TOUR

South Korean singer-songwriter Suho will bring his first-ever concert tour to Manila on June 22 at the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City. Apart from being the leader of the K-Pop group EXO, Suho debuted as a solo artist in 2020, releasing his EP “Self-Portrait,” followed by “Grey Suit” (2022) and his upcoming EP “1 to 3,” set to drop on May 31, 2024. 

Suho’s “Welcome to Su: Home” Asia tour will kick off on May 25 in Seoul and includes stops in Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. 

In addition to his impressive musical career, Suho has also pursued acting, winning the AAA Emotive Award and AAA Best Acting Performance Award at the 2023 Asia Artist Awards (AAA) in December 2023, the last time he visited the country.

BINIVERSE: THE FIRST SOLO CONCERT

The nation’s girl group, BINI, is finally holding its first solo concert this year, a long-awaited event for its fans, known as Blooms. The BINIverse concert is scheduled to run from June 28 to June 30 at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City. Initially planned as a one-day event, it was extended to three days due to the overwhelming demand from its dedicated and loyal fan base.

The rising P-pop sensation has been gaining well-deserved recognition both locally and internationally for its stage presence, and catchy and upbeat bubblegum pop hits like “Pantropiko” and “Salamin, Salamin,” which are sure to make you want to dance along to its choreography. 

BINI received the Rising Star Award at the Billboard Philippines Women in Music in March and, later that month, became the most streamed OPM female artist on Spotify for the first time.

These events will surely light up what’s in store for the rest of the year. Even though we’re still in the second quarter, these events will channel a slay energy, making 2024 one for the books.

Written by | Angelica Olasiman