The Most Anticipated Concerts of 2024

It’s going to be a busy year for live music in the country. Dozens of shows from local and international acts have already been announced in the first few months of 2024. Here’s a rundown of the 2024 Manila concerts we’re most looking forward to seeing.

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Coldplay Is Coming Back to the Philippines

1| Coldplay

January 19 to 20

Philippine Arena

The foursome of Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Jonny Buckland, and Chris Martin have been making music since the late 1990s and they’ve made a pretty strong case for claiming the title of biggest rock band in the planet. They were in Manila once before, playing at the Mall of Asia Concert grounds, but this time, they’re taking their Music of the Spheres World Tour to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Expect to hear all of the Coldplay classics as well as some of their newest hits in this can’t-miss show. 

2| Rivermaya

February 17

SMDC Festival Grounds

Rivermaya has gone through multiple lineup changes in its three-decade-long history as a band so it was only a matter of time before the original lineup (minus Perf De Castro) would come together and reunite to play all of the band’s biggest and most recognizable hits. Bamboo Mañalac, Rico Blanco, Nathan Azarcon, and Mark Escueta will no doubt bring back all the feels when they take the stage and perform together for the first time since the late 1990s. 

3| Bobapalooza Music and Arts Festival

February 24 and 25

Filinvest City Event Grounds

The second edition of the Bobapalooza Music and Arts Festival promises to be bigger and better than the inaugural edition last year. For one thing, international headliners Pale Waves and The Band Camino are coming to play in the country for the first time. The local talent lineup is also stacked: with performances from Juan Karlos, Itchyworms, Urbandub, Sandwich, Chicosci, Syd Hartha and many more. 

4| Wanderland Music and Arts Festival

March 9 and 10

Filinvest Concert Grounds, Alabang

The OG local music festival is now on its 10th edition, and organizers scored a coup when it announced beach rock hero Jack Johnson to headline Day 1. Others in the first wave of performers include Novo Amor, Parcels, Ena Mori, Paolo Sandejas, Jeff Bernat, Beenzino, and more. Wave 2 of the lineup should be coming any day now and, of course, we expect nothing but big names to draw in the crowds at the Filinvest concert grounds in March. 

5| Slash

Macrh 12

New Frontier Theater

Slash is no stranger to the Philippines, but his latest visit to Manila is special as he’s bringing some friends along: Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, which is made up of Alter Bridge guitarist Myles Kennedy, Todd Kerns, Brent Fitz, and Frank Sidoris. If your concert diet is seriously lacking some guitar muscle, here’s your chance to indulge. 

6| Rod Stewart

March 13

MOA Arena

Rod Stewart is one of the bestselling pop-rock performers of all time, selling a combined 120 million records throughout his career. In the Philippines, he’s especially popular; his songs like “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy,” “I Don’t Want to Talk About It,” and “Have I Told You Lately” are videoke staples, and he’s performed here a number of times already through the years. The seventysomething singer and songwriter with the trademark raspy voice will no doubt thrill his Filipino fans once again when he returns for a one-night only show in March. 

7| Janet Jackson

March 13

Smart Araneta Coliseum

Pop and R&B superstar Janet Jackson is coming back to Manila to perform for the first time in over 10 years. Bringing her Together Again World Tour to the Philippines, Jackson will expose fans to a virtual retrospective of her immense, nearly 50-year-long career. Expect to hear all of the hits, including “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “If,” “Got Ti It’s Gone,” “Again,” “All for You,” and, of course, “Together Again.”

8| James Taylor

April 8

MOA Arena

James Taylor is the singer and songwriter responsible for timeless classics like “Fire And Rain,” “How Sweet It Is,” “Your Smiling Face,” and “You’ve Got a Friend,” and many more, and we’re more than a little ecstatic that he’s coming to Manila for the first time in nearly 30 years. (Remember when he had to cancel his planned show here in 2017 because of the drug war attached to the previous administration?) This time, we’re looking forward to finally seeing him walk onstage, play his guitar and sing. It’s going to be a good show.

9| JR Richards (Dishwalla)

April 20

Skydome, SM North EDSA

In case you didn’t know, JR Richards is the original vocalist of ‘90s alternative band Dishwalla. He left the band in 2008 and has been performing and releasing music as a solo artist ever since. His old band performed in Manila in 2014, but songs like “Angels or Devils,” “Every little Thing,” “Somewhere in the Middle,” and, of course, “Counting Blue Cars” will always be associated with Richards.

10| Incubus

April 25

Araneta Coliseum

Incubus, of course, has a special place in the hearts and souls of every teen who grew up and came of age in the 1990s and early 2000s. Brandon Boyd and the rest of the band have performed in Manila before, most recently in 2018, and every time, they’re welcomed with open arms and ears. This time will be no different.