Following twenty illustrious years in music, one of the country’s most recognizable musicians, Ebe Dancel is celebrating all the music and lyrics he has written with his first-ever solo concert. Ebe Dancel, together with The Manila String Machine will be taking the stage on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig.
“I’m going to play songs through the years,” Dancel shares. “The idea of strings and horns just gives the show another element. It’s a big venue, but I want it to be as intimate as possible.”
From his days with alternative rock band Sugarfree to performing in the present as a solo artist, the singer-songwriter has been creating songs that have drawn out emotions, amplified others’ experiences of certain movies and TV series, and inspired creative collaborations among artists, communities and more.
Dancel’s concert aims to encapsulate those in one night: twenty years of memories that are not only his, but are also of his audience and how they were able to relate to the music that was made — all with a twenty-piece orchestra performing alongside him.
“[Performing with the Manila String Machine] just feels like the most natural thing in the world to do,” Dancel explains. “I love a good challenge, and I love playing with an orchestra.”
The Manila String Machine is a cutting-edge string quartet and string orchestra composed of musicians who come from top music institutions. They have performed with Dancel multiple times and in various occasions: from intimate celebrations wherein they have been privately booked to ‘Dama: The Repeat,’ one of his earlier concerts as part of 3D together with Johnoy Danao and Bullet Dumas, and his digital concert series, ‘Atin Ang Gabi.’
In February, Dancel looks back not just to the songs produced but also to the moments he has experienced and the individuals he has met in his two decades of making music, including Paolo Valenciano and Chino David who serve as the creative director and musical director of #EbeDancelXMSM.
“I have always been an admirer of Paolo’s work as a director. He’s not afraid to take risks, which is the way I’ve always lived my life. I’m really excited about what he brings to the table,” says Dancel.
“I’ve known Chino for a while now,” Dancel also shares. “He was my musical director during Sugarfree’s 10th Year concert. He arranged our songs differently because there was the element of a whole orchestra playing with us.”
While the concert is the culmination of Dancel’s anniversary celebration, the festivities start as early as October with the Sugarfree anniversary tribute gigs happening at 12 Monkeys, El Pueblo, Ortigas on Tuesday, 15 October 2019. There will be a number of other shows that fans and gig attendees should watch out for.
Dancel will also be launching new merchandise at a gig on Friday, 22 November 2019 at Conspiracy Bar: a newly designed t-shirt, which fans will get the chance to win when they join a contest happening in November. Mechanics for the contest will be announced soon. Another milestone being celebrated this month is the anniversary of Entablado, Dancel’s cafe in Los Banos, Laguna. The anniversary is on Thursday, 24 October 2019.
Tickets for Ebe Dancel with The Manila String Machine are at P3500 (Gold) and P2500 (Silver) and will be available via ticket2me on 31 October 2019. For updates about the event, follow Ebe Dancel on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/EbeDancelMusic
Twitter: @ebedancel
Instagram: @ebedancel
RSVP to the official event page: https://web.facebook.com/events/2604099086319965/
Official hashtag: #EbeDancelXMSM #Ebe20Years