A calendar of concerts

Manila has become a major touring stop for foreign artists and as long as one has cash to spare, performances by the biggest stars are at one’s disposal. Just a few weeks ago, we had Robin Thicke and Shawn Mendes in separate shows. Here now is a look at who are coming and which shows we can now look forward to.

Switchfoot Live In Manila on April 16 at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater. Celebrate Easter Sunday with the Christian sounds of the alternative rock band. Among its hits are Meant To Live, Dare You To Move, This Is Your Life, Stars, We Are One Tonight, Oh Gravity and others. And goody, Switchfoot guys are doing the show not for the big bucks but to share their music. Just buy one Walkway shirt for P500 and get a free ticket.

China Crisis and Peter Coyle Live In Manila on April 21 at the Kia Theater at Araneta Center. The China Crisis had a big hit with Wishful Thinking during the New Wave craze in the ’80s while Coyle was once with the Lotus Eaters who hit the charts with The First Picture Of You. Could be fun.

Kenny G Live In Manila also on April 27 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. Next to the piano and the guitar, the musical instrument Pinoy’s dig the most is the sax and if you want a sax wiz, Kenny G is the man with over 75 million albums sold and hits like Silhouette, Songbird, Morning, Don’t Make Me Wait For Love, The Moment, Sentimental, My Heart Will Go On and many more.

Pulp Summer Slam 17: Redemption on April 29 at the Amoranto Stadium. Pulp has something very special for metal rockers in this, the 17th edition of its annual rock fest. The legendary Megadeth will be performing live along with Dragonforce, Whitechapel, Crossfaith, I See Stars, Gods of Eden, plus our very own, Slapshock, Greyhounz, Wilabali, Razorback, Kjwan and the 2016 Red Horse Beer Pambansang Muziklaban Champion Shotgun Combo.

 The Village People will be at the Kia Theater on May 14  to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Dubbed as the Kings of Disco, the group has sold over a hundred million records. Its hits like Macho Man, Y.M.C.A., In The Navy, Go West, Can’t Stop The Music and others. It will be a massive disco, nostalgia kick. Also coming along will be Bjorn Again, an ABBA tribute group. And when you say ABBA, you will get tunes like Waterloo, Thank You For the Music, The Winner Takes It All and many more.

Alden Richards in Upsurge at the Kia Theater on May 27. Word has it that tickets to this one are already sold out. Not a surprise really as the guy remains one of the hottest singing stars around. So those diehard fans can just keep trying Ticketnet or maybe pray that the producers will decide to add an extra show.

Britney Spears will be performing at the Mall of Asia Arena on June 15. This is the first time in town for the famous, multi-Platinum selling, Grammy winning pop icon in Manila. So expect all those fans who as kids grooved to Hit Me Baby One More Time to be in line for the show. And they will expect Britney to perform Oops! I Did It Again, Stronger, I’m A Slave 4 U, I’m Not A Girl Not Yet A Woman, Piece Of Me, Till The World Ends, Criminal and many more.

Throwback Thursday featuring Sybil, El DeBarge and Kalapana at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on June 29. This is a strange mix but all scored with hits out here and were once big favorites among local fans. El DeBarge is known for Time Will Reveal, Rhythm Of The Night, Starlight Express and others when he was part of DeBarge with his family. As a solo act, he had Who’s Johnny. Disco diva Sybil popularized Falling in Love, Make It Easy On Me, The Love I Lost and others. Of course, the enduring Hawaiian band Kalapana had Nightbird, Naturally, When The Morning Comes and The Hurt. The show will also be held on June 30 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao as Flashback Friday.

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher will be at the Mall of Asia Arena on Aug. 14. Too bad his brother Noel and the Oasis band will not be with him. One of the greatest groups of the ’90s era, Oasis scored big with hit albums like Be Here Now and What’s The Story Morning Glory and Liam’s rendition of Live Forever, Lyla, Don’t Go Away, Slide Away, The Shock Of Lightning, Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova are part of legend. So the sneer, the attitude and the music of Oasis will be coming along with Liam.