Together In Boy Band Dreams: Inside The Filipino 5SOSFam

Something was in the air in the early-to-mid 2010s when boy bands ruled the world, the hearts and ears of a lot of young listeners, and the inspirations of online fan fiction stories.

Among the pool of popular boy bands at the time, apart from One Direction and The Vamps, one such band continues to evolve into a sound that translates nostalgia into something more. 5 Seconds of Summer, or 5SOS, have been in the music scene for over a decade, and yet, their whole aura exudes something new with every music release.

This also comes with such a devoted fandomFandomA community of devoted supporters organized around an artist or group, known for shared language, rituals, and collective action. Fandoms drive streaming, voting, and merchandise sales, and Filipino fans areGo to Fandom Glossary that has been with them all these years, from the peak of the boy band era in the 2010s to the rise of other genres and popular music tastes that came after. The 5SOS fandom, or the 5SOSFam, especially in the Philippines, has stood by the different musical eras of the Australian pop-rock outfit.

There’s no better time than the band’s return to the country, with full-scale arena shows that many longtime fans, and even new listeners, have waited for almost a decade. From their Manila stop at Sounds Live Feels Live World TourWorld TourA series of concerts held across multiple countries and continents, usually to support a new album or career milestone. World tours demonstrate an artist's international reach, and Philippine stops haveGo to World Tour Glossary in 2016, to being part of the lineup of the In The Mix music festival in 2017, and the exclusive and intimate Just Woke Up in Manila live showcase in 2019, the band is all set to breathe the same Philippine air as the most devoted fans do.

Raised On Pop-Punk

The 5SOSFam in the Philippines sure knows how to rock out with their socks out for their favorite four-piece. We can look into one devoted collective that is among the ones keeping the passion for the fandomFandomA community of devoted supporters organized around an artist or group, known for shared language, rituals, and collective action. Fandoms drive streaming, voting, and merchandise sales, and Filipino fans areGo to Fandom Glossary alive: Project: DAHLIA, which began with three musicians and friends — Avery Pagarigan, Gabrielle Cortes, and Niwron Pagkatipunan.

Taking their experiences and learnings from performing onstage, the “independent production built around thoughtfully curated live experiences for emerging artists and their audiences” aims to bring the spirit of performance to the kinds of shows they would want to personally be part of.

In 2025, at the time of the release of 5SOS’ sixth album, EVERYONE’S A STAR!, the team, who are 5SOS fans themselves, held together a special showcase for the fandom.

“Having experienced the local gig scene from the artist’s side, we knew there were things we wanted to approach differently. We wanted to push artists forward instead of simply filling a lineup, give rising musicians a real opportunity to reach new listeners, and create shows where audiences feel like they’re part of something rather than simply watching it happen,” Project: DAHLIA shares in an interview with Billboard Philippines.

After years since the last 5SOS fan gathering in the country, there was a drive to bring the community together again. “For us, the community is really what gives these events meaning,” they add. “You can put together a lineup, book a venue, and build a stage, but it’s the people in the room who turn it into something memorable!”

For them, it’s having a space where fans can be free with how they express their love for the music without feeling toned down. But more than that, these events also showcase rising local artists in the lineup, which can turn into a moment of discovery for people who may not have heard them before.

“If someone comes because they love 5SOS and leaves following three Filipino bands they heard for the first time that night, that’s exactly the kind of connection we want Project: DAHLIA to create,” they add.

In the spirit of how 5SOS first came onto everyone’s radar, from releasing and uploading covers on YouTube to having their biggest break yet when they joined One Direction on their Where We Are Tour as their opening acts, it’s through musical showcases like this that an artist or band gets their foot in the door.

The Fandom, Fully Evolved

“What stood out to us about the Filipino 5SOSFam is how deeply the music has stayed with people over the years,” they explain. Like most fans today who continue to support the band, many can recount discovering 5SOS when they were younger. Despite the band’s music changing and a lot having happened through the years, the connection never waned.

“There’s also such a strong culture of shared enthusiasm among Filipino fans. We love singing together, making things for each other, and turning our love for an artist into something communal. That made us feel like 5SOS deserved to be celebrated not only when they’re in Manila, but in the spaces between those concerts too,” they add.

Project: DAHLIA held TONIGHT, EVERYONE’S A STAR! — A 5SOS Cover Night in Cubao to celebrate the album’s release. The timing has never been more perfect, as the album marked another chapter for the band’s ever-growing evolution.

It was more than just an album listening experience; from their perspective as musicians, it was the live performance at the center of it all. “There was also something fitting about the title EVERYONE’S A STAR! For one night, the distinction between artist and audience became a little less important because the artists themselves were fans of 5SOS,” they share.

A community featuring longtime gig-goers, first-timers, emerging musicians, and people joining the open mic session, the space lived and breathed like the ultimate 5SOS fandom experience in the country.

As their first event, Project: DAHLIA, it was the daunting, worrisome feeling of thinking that not a lot of people would show up. But lo and behold, the night went on, and the venue was filled with more than 200 people dancing and singing along to the songs that embody why the 5SOS fandomFandomA community of devoted supporters organized around an artist or group, known for shared language, rituals, and collective action. Fandoms drive streaming, voting, and merchandise sales, and Filipino fans areGo to Fandom Glossary is strong in the Philippines.

“Watching people discover the bands, seeing strangers singing together, hearing the crowd know every word, and watching people stay and support acts they may never have heard of before reminded us why we wanted to do this,” they explain.

As musicians themselves who also performed at the show, they realized that having the passion is one thing, but actually organizing and following systems is another. They made sure to have the best show possible for 5SOS fans in the country, with the experience made by fans, for the fans.

From a three-person show, Project: DAHLIA found the strength in numbers. Expanding their unit into an even bigger production, this wasn’t a one-time thing. As 5SOS are set to make their grand return in the Philippines with not one, not two, but three shows at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the occasion deserved a much-needed pre-game celebration.

Less than a year later, the worthy follow-up was 5SOS Night Vol. II: The ClubSOS Remix in Makati. “Once the Manila shows were announced, it felt like the perfect time to bring everyone back together before the concerts,” they explained.

On the matter of evolution, they didn’t want to recreate the same night. The second show was a part cover night, part fan gathering, and part pre-concert party that made a strong case for how even without the band’s presence, their spirit continues to live on through the passion of the fans.

“The live bands are still at the heart of it because that’s part of Project: DAHLIA’s identity, but this time we’re extending the night into a club-style party with a DJ afterward, especially following 5SOS’ release of CLUBSOS remixes,” they share.

Local acts avycd, CHNDTR, 3VAD (Dave Silonga), [BLANK]NEXTDOOR, 5 Steps Behind, and Gem Largo set the stage for a worthy pre-game. Meanwhile, the CLUBSOS portion of the night, which mirrors the band’s dance music and DJ project remixing their songs, made way for electrifying sets by Shuae and Neil Demate.

Even without the presence of 5SOS, local acts got to interpret the songs and perform their own renditions of fan-favorite tracks and deep cuts from the band — from “She Looks So Perfect” and “Bad Omens” to “Ghost of You” and even Luke Hemmings’ “Starting Line.”

“What we find particularly interesting is that it isn’t only nostalgia. Some fans have been here since the early 2010s, but there are also people discovering 5SOS through later albums and becoming part of the fandomFandomA community of devoted supporters organized around an artist or group, known for shared language, rituals, and collective action. Fandoms drive streaming, voting, and merchandise sales, and Filipino fans areGo to Fandom Glossary now,” they share.

More than that, community events such as the ones held by Project: DAHLIA only prove how important having a community of passionate fans can truly be to experiencing the fandomFandomA community of devoted supporters organized around an artist or group, known for shared language, rituals, and collective action. Fandoms drive streaming, voting, and merchandise sales, and Filipino fans areGo to Fandom Glossary and enjoying the music. Even after a concert ends, there’s still a community of people who build friendships, create memories, and offer an inclusive space where old and new fans can coexist.

“There’s also something different about hearing a song alone through your headphones and hearing a room full of people scream it with you. Fan events give people permission to care loudly. You can show up knowing nobody and still immediately have something in common with everyone around you,” they share.

“We want these gatherings to create a bridge between fandom and the independent music community. If a fan comes for 5SOS, discovers a Filipino band they love, meets people they stay friends with, and eventually comes back to another local gig because of that experience, then the event has created something that lasts beyond one night,” they share.

“For us, that’s the point: the music gets people through the door, but the community gives them a reason to stay,” they add.

Ralph Regis

Lifestyle and Culture Writer

Ralph Regis is a Lifestyle and Culture Writer at Billboard Philippines, where he bridges the worlds of film, television, fashion, art, food, and cultural trends with both the local and international music scene.

He has written extensively about artist collaborations, brand partnerships, and pop culture moments that connect back to music. He also brings stories to life through in-depth interviews with musicians and personalities, drawing on their diverse perspectives, opinions, and reflections on the human condition.

In addition, Ralph also writes about music releases across a wide range of genres, including pop, hip-hop, P-pop, and rock, highlighting both rising and established artists. With a passion for storytelling that goes beyond trends, he explores how music is part of our daily lives in one form or another, connecting culture, experiences, and everything in between.

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