Magic Moments: Postscript to Wanderland 2024

At one point during his set on the second day of Wanderland 2024, artist Jeff Bernat told the crowd, “I was born here in the Philippines and grew up in the U.S. I just want to say that I’m very, very proud to be Filipino, and to be performing in front of all of you today.” 

Jeff Bernat

Photo by Arnie Bugay.

This certainly wasn’t the first time that an international artist of Filipino descent was part of the lineup of the annual music and arts festival. Just last year, No Rome performed for the first time on the Wanderland stage. But there was something truly heartwarming about the way Bernat, an acclaimed recording artist and producer, truly owned his Filipino-ness in front of a home crowd.

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Moments like that are par for the course at Wanderland. The country’s biggest and longest-running music festival has been creating unforgettable music memories since 2013, and this year’s edition—its ninth—was no exception.

Parcels

Photo by Teddy Garcia.

Last year’s comeback was particularly hard to top; the presence of superstars Carly Rae Jepsen, Phoenix, Dashboard Confessional, FKJ, and so many others put Wanderland, which was sidelined by the pandemic, back on track, and reminded local music fans exactly what an international-caliber music festival can be, and is. 

There was certainly an effort this year. K-pop superstar Hwasa put on an explosive performance in front of her adoring fans; Novo Amor finally made it to Manila and killed onstage after initially being on the bill at the canceled 2020 show; Parcels gained tons of new fans, and more than satisfied their old ones, during their well-applauded set; and Thundercat closed the show with his out-of-this-world guitar stylings that you had to see to believe.

Novo Amor

Photo by Teddy Garcia.

While there were other noteworthy acts—Lola Amour’s triumphant comeback to the Wanderland stage after winning the Wanderband competition in 2017; Breakbot and Irfane’s tremendously fun DJ set; PJ Morton bringing the soul, funk, and R&B—I’d like to think that this year’s festival will be best-remembered for the triumphant Philippine debut of Jack Johnson.

We’ve already written about why it was such a big deal that Johnson finally made his way to Manila, but having him say it right back—that he’s been wanting to come and play here for years—made fans feel like the adoration was mutual. Minus the added production values present at last year’s headline acts (Jepsen and Phoenix), Johnson had to rely on his guitar, vocals and little else to please a crowd used to things like fancy lighting, back-up dancers, and fireworks. 

Hwasa

Photo by Arnie Bugay.

It speaks to the singer-songwriter’s talent, charisma, and power as a performer that the crowd seemed more than sufficiently pleased with his set. Backed by just three other guys (including multi-instrumentalist and fan favorite Zach Gill) and combing through his expansive discography stretching back all the way to 2001, Johnson had audiences transfixed throughout his nearly two-hour-long performance.

He started with “Mudfootball,” and went straight to “Sitting Waiting Wishing,” and first single “Flake,” hardly skipping a beat. Stripped down to the basics, there was no room for error, and the T-shirt-and-jeans-clad Hawaii native delivered. His big smile was infectious, making everyone feel welcome and warm, but it was his songs that delivered his message of hope, inclusivity and love.

Jack Johnson

Photo by Teddy Garcia.

Hearing familiar songs like “Inaudible Melodies,” “If I Had Eyes,” “Good People,” and “Bubble Toes,” brought memories of countless road trips to beach towns like La Union—his music is sunny and feel-good as only someone coming from the islands of Hawaii could write. In “Breakdown,” he brought the five guys of Parcels out for a quick, barely rehearsed harmony jam. And in “Banana Pancakes,” it was local up-and-comer’s Jose Miguel’s turn to belt out a verse. Johnson was considerate nearly to a fault and it was clear the crowd loved him even more for it.

Wanderers enjoying the festival

Photo by Teddy Garcia.

That’s exactly the kind of magic that Wanderland brings—the chance to catch the artists that have powered the soundtrack of our lives play in real life and take the experience of admiring these artists to new heights. The festival experience adds more to that idea—picking the right outfit, walking around the grounds with your friends, deciding on what to eat or drink, plunking yourself down on the grass or pushing forward so you’re nose-to-the-iron-barriers close to the stage—but essentially, it’s the chance to hear the songs we love and listen to in our bedrooms, in the car, through our headphones on the morning and afternoon commute, delivered right in front of us by the artists themselves. For music fans of any age, there’s no better feeling.