The Ember Stage Was The Perfect, Fiery Start To Fête De La Musique PH 2025 – Review

With Fête De La Musique serving as the biggest annual celebration of music in the Philippines, there could not have been a better way to officially begin its 2025 iteration than with the Ember Stage.

Held last June 13, 2025 at the Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, the brand new stage of the long-standing nationwide music event was created to properly kick off this year’s festivities. And with the seven electrifying acts on the lineup, it was definitely a promising, fiery start for the Fête PH 2025 season.

In similar fashion to Fête PH’s main stage in recent years, the Ember Stage was held within the premises of a mall, making the show somewhat easily accessible for anyone who wanted to join the festivities. This was evidenced by the crowd that it drew in, consisting of a mix of clearly dedicated gig-goers who were there for their favorite artists, and passers-by piqued by their curiosity and the familiar draw of live music in general.

With the dedicated audience space packed from side to side early on and various onlookers across all floors of the Shangri-La Plaza also tuning in, the Ember Stage was clearly set to give a memorable, communal live music experience from the get-go. With the event being free of charge (like all Fête PH shows), it was no surprise to see the eclectic bunch of attendees it effortlessly gathered into the mall’s grand atrium, growing in number as the night progressed.

Kicking things off on a high note, DJ and producer HOEST opened up the Ember Stage with a bang, spinning together an energetic mix of upbeat tracks to get the party. Following him, the show took an abrupt but, nevertheless, welcome turn in mood, as Shanne Dandan changed things up to a more laidback atmosphere with songs like “Iyakin,” “Hanggang Sa Langit,” and even a special cover of “God Is A Woman” by Ariana Grande.

After her, this more serene tone in music was complemented by Jason Dhakal, who bathed the entire venue in his unmistakable soulful, almost intoxicating vocals. Here, he effortlessly captivated those in attendance and even had everyone singing along when he delivered his entrancing rendition of Sitti’s “Para Sa Akin.”

Soon after, jikamarie picked up the pace a little, playfully teetering between upbeat numbers and slow jams courtesy of her unique and catchy blend of R&B and pop. A fun standout from her set was her solo delivery of “Para Pilitin Ka” — a collaboration single with rapper Skusta Clee, showcasing just how versatile the singer-songwriter is in her own right.

Cross-genre gigs are not uncommon in the local music scene but seeing it within the context of Fête PH — which aimed to showcase just how richly diverse Filipino music is — is always a treat. Indeed, this was the case that night, most especially for those who were experiencing Fête for the very first time that evening.

Speaking of being diverse, ALYSON changed things up as they took to the stage, dressed in their striking matching red pinstripe suits, and accompanied by their trusty brass section. With their signature mix of city pop and Manila sound, ALYSON also notably gave attendees a special treat, letting them witness the live debut of their rendition of Eraserheads’ “Huwag Mo Nang Itanong.”

Immediately after them, Any Name’s Okay delivered their brand of alternative pop goodness, getting everyone to move and sing along to tracks like “Yugto,” “Cobalt Blue,” and their rocking single “Cake” to sweeten things up further. The band effortlessly kept the fun going, providing a uniquely colorful and joyous atmosphere that filled the entire venue despite the rest of the mall slowly closing up shop for the day.

Finally, capping off the festive evening was none other than the “Ikot” hitmakers themselves, Over October. Starting their set strong with the romantic synth-laced “Kaakit-Akit,” the headliners took the energy of the show to the top, getting the clearly dedicated crowd to jump and dance around with them. The rest of their set wasn’t any less fun, with tracks like “123,” “Lumayo,” and their latest single “Bitin” getting everyone to sing along, word-for-word, at the top of their lungs. By the time their performance ended with “Ikot,” it was clear that no one wanted to go home, as the song’s impassioned bridge reverberated across halls of the Shangri-La Plaza.

All in all, the Ember Stage was a nice addition to this year’s Fête PH. It not only provided another exciting show amongst the countless stages that many can expect from the nationwide event, but it also had us fired up for what else is to come from Fête de la Musique Philippines this 2025. Indeed, the festivities are just beginning, and the Ember Stage showed us just how fun it can get.