3 OPM bands serenade Abreeza Kadayawan shoppers

Ayala Mall Abreeza made this year’s Kadayawan celebration extra-special with a mind-blowing musical series featuring some of OPM’s coolest acts: Orange & Lemons, IV of Spades, and Ben&Ben.

Kicking off the Kadayawan jam sesh on August 17 was Orange & Lemons, the seminal crossover indie pop/alternative rock band that broke out in the early 2000s but left fans yearning for their feel-good sound when its members parted ways in 2007. Now that the band has reunited, Davao fans packed the Restaurant Row to hear much-missed hits such as “Abot Kamay,” “Hanggang Kailan,” and “Lihim,” as well as charming renditions of the Eraserheads’ “Huwag Kang Matakot” and the APO Hiking Society’s “Yakap sa Dilim.”

August 19 saw two phenomenal new acts tearing up the Activity Center stage: IV of Spades and Ben&Ben. First up was IV of Spades, a breakthrough OPM act that may be new in the scene but has already racked up awards left and right. The trio revved up fans with funk-filled songs such as “In My Prison,” “Where Have You Been My Disco?,” and “Hey Barbara,” and got them swooning to the chart-busting ballad “Mundo”—all while rocking the groovy, 70s-recalling style the band is known for.

Following soon after was Ben&Ben, the nine-piece group that has been winning listeners over since 2015 with their refreshing mashup of Filipino and Western folk, world, and pop elements. The band got the crowd on its feet with uplifting tracks such as “Sunrise” and “Ride Home,” in between calming them down with the soothing melodies of “Bibingka” and “Kathang Isip.”

Ayala Mall Abreeza gave fans more reason to rejoice with an Instagram contest which allowed 30 winners to meet and greet IV of Spades and Ben&Ben. Two lucky winners even got to go on a date with the bands after the shows—an unforgettable end to an already astounding day.

Kadayawan season at Ayala Mall Abreeza also brought shoppers lots to love, with the annual mall-wide Kadayawan Sale running from August 13 to 19 and GCash gifting users with cashbacks from August 17 to 19 and cinema discounts throughout August. The Mindanao Trade Expo added to the Kadayawan shopping hype with a packed bazaar where the region’s artists, crafters, and producers showcased their world-class wares from August 11 to 17. /