Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, Maroon 5 set Manila shows
INTERNATIONAL hitmakers Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, Owl City, Imagine Dragons and Maroon 5 are set to perform here in the next few months.
American electronica act Owl City is holding a free show on May 8 at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater. Best known for its 2009 single “Fireflies” from the album “Ocean Eyes,” Owl City’s gig will be its third in the Philippines.
Smith, the 22-year-old pop-R&B singer from London who took home four trophies at the recent Grammy Awards, will conclude Music Management Inc.’s (MMI Live) “British Invasion” concert series with a one-night show at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena on May 10. The series previously featured The 1975, The
Vamps, Ed Sheeran and One Direction.
Smith is visiting Manila for the first time as part of his current world tour “In the Lonely Hour,” in support of his debut album of the same title. The tour kicked off in January.
Famous for strong, emotive vocals, Smith—like fellow British artist Adele—has channeled heartbreak to musical success. His biggest hit so far is the gospel-inflected “Stay with Me,” which topped British charts and peaked at No. 2 in the United States.
Aside from these gigs, MMI Live recently announced three more MOA Arena shows for the remainder of 2015.
For US pop singer and former Nickelodeon actress Ariana Grande, the voice behind hit dance ditties “Problem” and “Break Free,” Manila (on Aug. 23) is one of only three Asian stops in her ongoing “The Honeymoon Tour.”
The diminutive Grande, who has two studio records, “Yours Truly” and “My Everything,” is one of the most formidable young vocalists to emerge in recent years. The 21-year-old’s expansive (reportedly four octaves) vocal range, have prompted fans and critics to compare her to pop-R&B superstar Mariah Carey.
Another Grammy Award-winning act, the alternative rock band Imagine Dragons will fly in
for the “Smokes + Mirrors” (also the title of its second album) concert on Aug. 27, part of a world tour.
The four-man group—Dan Reynolds, lead vocals; Daniel Sermon, guitar; Ben McKee, bass; and Daniel Platzman, drums—had its biggest break in 2012 with the release of its three biggest singles, “It’s Time,” “Demons” and “Radioactive.” Rolling Stone magazine declared the latter the biggest rock hit of 2013.
Fourth trip
Triple Grammy Award-winning poprock band Maroon 5 makes its fourth trip to Manila on Sept. 17, as part of “The Maroon 5World Tour 2015.”
Led by frontman and “The Voice” mentor Adam Levine, the band is promoting its fifth studio record, “V.”
(apolicarpio@inqurer.com.ph)