Inside Danny O’Donoghue’s Surprise Acoustic Set In Manila

There’s nothing like an intimate, acoustic performance by an internationally renowned hitmaker to shake the Monday blues away.

On May 26, 2026, an extremely lucky audience of local musicians, music industry professionals, and fans got to witness Danny O’Donoghue, the lead singer of iconic Irish pop-rock band The Script, perform some of his band’s biggest hits with just his voice and an acoustic guitar. This extra special installment of Billboard Philippines X was held at Uma Nota Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

O’Donoghue had been flown in by leading concert promoters Wilbros Live to do a series of promotional appearances — a teaser of sorts for the just-announced upcoming Manila leg of the band’s forthcoming Man in the Arena tour, which will be held on March 18, 2027 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Wilbros President and CEO Winston Llamas also shared a few words at the event, mentioning that the Manila show will be The Script’s first stop in Asia for the tour — reflecting the importance of the band’s Filipino fanbase to their enduring popularity and success.

Spotted in the crowd were representatives from different record labels and management groups, colleagues and friends of Billboard Philippines, and prominent Filipino musicians like Kenaniah, Eliza Maturan, SUYEN, and members of Over October and ONE CLICK STRAIGHT, among others. After some welcoming remarks by Modern Media Group Inc. Publisher Anne Bernisca and an introduction by Billboard Philippines Managing Editor Jason Caballa, The Script’s frontman took to the stage and greeted the crowd.

Despite coming from a full day of media appearances and performances, O’Donoghue showed no signs of fatigue, enthusiastically engaging with the audience with origin stories of how the songs were written and other behind-the-scenes trivia. He opened his set with “For the First Time,” the carrier single from The Script’s second album, Science & Faith. He praised the people in the crowd for harmonizing with him while he sang — a trend that would continue throughout his brief but one-of-a-kind set. 

He then followed with the 2008 single “Breakeven” and the song that everyone had been waiting for — the mega-hit “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved,” which, incidentally, marks its 100th consecutive week on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 chart this week, constantly ranking since the chart’s inception in July of 2023, and demonstrating Filipinos’ undiminishing adoration for one of The Script’s signature anthems.

Finally, O’Donoghue closed his set with an acoustic rendition of the will.i.am collaboration “Hall of Fame,” prefacing it with a story of how it was written during his stint as a coach on The Voice UK, and how his fellow coach and Black Eyed Peas member wanted it for himself. He also narrated how the band refused its usage for the Olympics, preferring that it be featured at paralympic events instead. It’s a story that reveals the artist’s generosity, which was evident from the way he performed that evening — baring his soul with sincerity and gratitude for those listening after all these years, with nothing but a guitar and his voice in top form.

Special thanks to Wilbros Live and our official venue partner, Uma Nota Manila.