Nina brings a nostalgia-filled night to Fiddler’s anniversary
CEBU, Philippines — It was a celebration of pure nostalgia on October 3 at Fiddler’s Cebu, when Nina sang familiar tunes from her discography that got the crowd cheering as they raised their glasses to the good old days and snapped out their phones to document the unforgettable night.
Asia’s Diamond Soul Siren was in the Queen City of the South for a one-night-only, sold-out gig as Fiddler’s celebrated its anniversary. Opening for the R&B singer were pop band Soul8 and Cebuana singer-songwriter Kate Torralba, who co-organized the event with Fiddler’s through Kate Torralba Projects.
“The venue might be intimate, but the love and energy were absolutely massive!” Nina told The FREEMAN
Among the songs that Nina and Torralba performed onstage as a duet were “Fallen” and “In My Life.”
Torralba’s friendship with Nina goes way back to when she was doing double duty as a fashion designer, with Nina as one of her clients who was still starting her music career. Not one to miss an opportunity to also be known for her music, Torralba gave Nina a copy of one of her albums, which Nina loved so much that she made Torralba a bracelet — a symbol of their friendship.
“She always had such a nice, pleasant energy. She’s always very kind,” Torralba told The FREEMAN. “She appreciates my songwriting, which I feel so honored and validated by her. She’s a gem, and I adore her.”
Among the other songs that Nina performed, a mix of originals and covers, were “Sunlight,” Claire Marlo’s “’Til They Take My Heart Away,” “Jealous,” Steve Perry’s “Foolish Heart,” “Someday,” and Julia Fordham’s “Love Moves in Mysterious Ways.”
While each song was met with cheers as soon as the crowd heard a familiar tune, it was “Love Moves” that garnered the loudest response, as it is one of Nina’s signature hits.
When the audience loudly called for an encore, Nina gave in and sang her rendition of Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together,” including the signature whistle note that many would agree could rival that of the Queen of Christmas herself.
Securing Nina for its anniversary celebration is a fitting milestone for Fiddler’s as it continues to establish itself as a premier live music hotspot in Cebu, having been in operation for three and a half years.
Located along F. Ramos Street, Fiddler’s is open from Tuesday to Sunday starting at 5 p.m., offering customers a live musical act every night. Its social media pages regularly post weekly schedules of performers, giving music lovers a chance to discover both familiar acts and emerging local artists while dining and drinking at the establishment.
Among the frequent names taking the Fiddler’s stage include Soul8, acoustic acts Alesis and Thirsty Club Specials, and alternative rock bands like Lumad.
Fiddler’s also hosts a Songwriters’ Night every last Monday of the month, giving songwriters in Cebu a dedicated space to showcase their original music and connect with audiences in an intimate live setting.
For owner Brian Noel, the continued support Fiddler’s receives from its frequent customers has been instrumental in keeping the venue going amid challenging economic times.
“We’ve had our loyal customers who keep supporting us,” said Noel. “We wanted [our concert with Nina] to be a celebration with them because we wouldn’t be here without them. We’ve been doing great because of them.”
Noel added that Fiddler’s partnerships with various music organizers have also helped sustain the venue’s momentum, bringing different performers and audiences through its doors and keeping the live-music scene at the restobar buzzing.
One of those partners is Torralba, whose relationship with Fiddler’s has flourished since the venue hosted the anniversary reunion show of her band Hard Candy last December. In the months since, she has continued to bring several of her Cebu gigs to Fiddler’s, which she now fondly calls “her home stage” in Cebu.
Her appearance with Nina marked her 10th show at Fiddler’s, as she looks to launch a Cebu edition of her “Kate Torralba and Friends” concert series. The concert series has a regular residency at Iron Fairies Manila.
“I feel at home with Fiddler’s,” said Torralba, recalling that the restaurant that previously occupied the space was Cafe Adriatico, where her late father and journalist Choy Torralba would often frequent. “I sound good here. It’s very laid back, which I like because it’s not too big of a venue where it can no longer be intimate. Here, it’s intimate enough.”
She added, “They are a fantastic partner. I love working with Brian and his team. It’s such a blessing for me to have a venue partner who believes in my music sensibilities.” — (FREEMAN)
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