By Caesar Vallejos, EBC Correspondent
“We don’t have to look for music from the West because we have outstanding music and artists from the ASEAN,” Annie Luis, Head of the International Affairs Office of the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) said at the press conference of the ASEAN Music Festival.
Staged to further strengthen ties through regional music showcase, the ASEAN Music Festival will be held at the at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City, November 14, 2017, 7pm.
Featuring the outstanding vocalists and bands from the Asean Member nations, the ASEAN Music Festival will be conducted with a vision to promote the identity and the artistic wealth of the region.
The concert is open to the public and is free of charge.
“As we get closer to the culmination of the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings, may we invite you all to please come and witness the ASEAN Music Festival, which will be staged With the ASEAN Music Festival will highlight various performances from the ASEAN member countries, which will be headlined by our very own local artists like Franco, Silent Sanctuary, Sandwich, The Ransom Collective, Parokya ni Edgar, and Ben & Ben,” Luis said.
“We asked the Ministers of Culture of the member states to identify the bands who will best represent their country,” Luis said. She also explained that the bands who were chosen to perform at the festival create their own music and have a taste of contemporary music in the ASEAN region.
With one shared identity, and one vision, the free concert aims to highlight cross-cultural exchanges in the form of music performances from 10 participating countries.
The presentation of the 2017 Asean National Organizing Council, is part of the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary, and Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN,. “It serves as a breather from the formal proceedings that are happening this week in Clark, Pampanga and here in Manila,” Luis said.
It is touted as one-of- a-kind soiree that champions top music discoveries on a global scale.
International acts from ASEAN-member stateswill grace the big stage that includes the celebrated music icons Asia 7 of Thailand, Nading Rhapsody of Malaysia, Nimith and Sophea of Cambodia, Sack Cells of Laos, Eint Chit of Myanmar, Mia Ismi Halida of Indonesia, Tuan Anh of Vietnam, and D’Hask of Brunei Darussalem.