Wanderland 2024 Welcomes Wanderers Home With Performances From Thundercat, Parcels, Hwasa, Jack Johnson, And More

Wanderland has welcomed its Wanderers back home.

Through the years, the Manila-based music and arts festival has made its mark as a one-of-a-kind event that brings together not only the best of international and local music but also a community of friends, old and new. With the theme of Bob’s Neighborhood, this year’s festival brought to life what Wanderland has always been fondly remembered for: being a home for good music and good people.

The festival – which brought us back to the breezy and cozy Filinvest Event Grounds – featured an array of a bigger, better selection for food and drinks than ever before, a new section titled the Wander Market that encouraged audiences to discover new hobbies, and a whole lot of novel & impressive installations that made great use of the festival grounds.

The live art was also even more interactive than before, allowing anyone in attendance to fully engage with the social and community aspects of the festival. With invited artists free to paint their own designs on white houses, Wanderers could also draw their own art on the inside of the houses. The festival also introduced a playground section for kids called Little Wanderers, making the festival even more inclusive and enjoyable for people of all ages.

But, of course in true Wanderland fashion, this year’s run continued to place a unique and special emphasis on music discovery. Bringing on stage a wide selection of indie gems, on top of highly anticipated international headliners like Thundercat and Jack Johnson, this weekend came with a whole lot of great surprises and discoveries for the regular Wanderers and new neighbors alike.

Such pleasant surprises included South Korean rapper Beenzino, Cloudriver, Parcels, and more –– all of whom were able to play alongside some of the Philippines’ most promising talents, like Ena Mori and Lola Amour. So upon basking in the atmosphere presented by each and every one of their performances, it marked a stellar display of talents that did its job of exposing well-deserved talents to a much wider audience than expected.

So without further adieu, here are Billboard Philippines‘ picks for the best performances from both days of 2024’s Wanderland Festival below:

Day 1

Ena Mori

As always, Ena Mori always knows how to put on a show; and, the Wanderland stage was no exception. A whole lot of people in the audience were blown away by her astounding performance, bringing vivid and technicolor sounds to Bob’s neighborhood. 

By infusing her signature pop flair with the live setting, Mori was able to demand the crowd’s attention with tracks like “VIVID”, “RUNAWAY HOLIDAY” and even the debut live performance of her upcoming single “HEARTACHE GENERATION”. And while her set only went on for just thirty minutes, it left a long-lasting impression on the audience –– especially to those who just discovered her music for the first time. 

Gabba

Math-rock virtuoso Gabba’s performance at Wanderland brought a unique energy to the festival. engulfing the festival with stellar riffs and impressive melodies that left the audience breathless at numerous points of his set. Despite it being the multi-instrumentalist’s first time gracing the stage, it felt like he was right at home. The crowd basked in the atmosphere of his music, with hundreds of people swaying along to “Puzzle” and “Fridge Magnets” among other tracks, resonating with the audience from all areas of the concert grounds.

Beenzino

For his first time in the Philippines, Beenzino carried his signature swagger to this year’s festival –– performing what may objectively be the coolest and most confident musical set from both days. Seeing how he performed on stage left the visitors of Bob’s neighborhood stunned and speechless, which shows just how impressive his stage presence is in the live setting. The effortlessly cool nature of his performance to “Aqua Man” and “Boogie On & On” sent the crowd into a frenzy, with some of them even trying their best to sing along to the Korean lyrics of his tracks.  

Lola Amour

Lola Amour‘s performance was resounding in more ways than one. Beyond being a mesmerizing sunset set, it’s the Filipino funk-pop band’s long-awaited homecoming, growing from being 2017’s Wanderband to one of the country’s most sought-after bands. It marked a full-circle moment both for the group and their fans –– a moment which they commemorated by delivering a stellar set filled with signature hits, hidden gems, and even sneak previews of some new songs on the way. 

Some crowd-pleasing moments that took everyone by storm included their funky performance to “Fallen”, an enrapturing live performance of “Pwede Ba”, and the ‘unofficial’ Philippine national anthem “Raining in Manila”. Everyone in the audience was so enthralled with their performance that you could easily find couples swaying together, or superfans dancing the night away while recording themselves to nearly every track in the setlist. 

Parcels

This Australian funk outfit delivered what could be described as the most surprising performance from both days of the festival –– given that one word that could sum up their set is that it was ‘transcendent’.

Rarely do you see a band in such perfect harmony with one another, but Parcels was able to do all that and a whole lot more. The entire festival grounds were enraptured with their entire set (especially at “Tieduprightnow”, “Overnight”, and “Lightenup”), wherein you’d notice several people grooving to every riff and beat coming from the stage. It was perhaps one of the most jam-packed parts of the festival since everyone (including those unfamiliar with their music) found themselves captivated by their sound.

Together with the ambient lighting that added a sense of mystique to their set, the band provided a full sensory experience that was just too darn good to overlook. And while they didn’t get to say too much while performing, their music was way more than enough to introduce Filipino audiences to their artistry. So by the time they did their joint and final bow together, nearly everyone in attendance at the festival made sure to clap and cheer their hearts out. 

Novo Amor

Welsh multi-instrumentalist Novo Amor delivered one of the most intimate sets of the festival, captivating listeners with heartfelt and somber live renditions of the most beloved tracks from his discography. 

Hearing songs like “Anchor” proved to be an emotional experience for many in the crowd, as you could easily some individuals getting watery-eyed as they belted out every lyric to the song. Yet despite that, his warm candor and the soft nature of his delivery provided a sense of comfort and solace that showcased just how far (and personal) his music means to the Filipino community. 

Jack Johnson

As the headliner for Day 1, the energy and anticipation to watch Jack Johnson perform live in the Philippines for the first time ever were palpable from the tail end of the festival grounds. You could easily see just how universal the Grammy winner’s audience was, with a healthy mix of millennials, Gen Z’s, and even children fully embracing his music. 

Though most people expected a primarily acoustic set from Johnson, he and his live band went above and beyond to translate his music into special renditions that incorporated harmonicas, and even an accordion into his nearly two-hour-long set. Making things even more special for the Wanderers in the crowd were his joint performances with Parcels and Jose Miguel –– which added a unique spin to songs like “Banana Pancakes” and more. Adding a special acoustic encore as his finale, Johnson’s rendition of “Better Together” invited the crowd to sing along –– to which they obliged with full force and passion. 

Day 2

Paolo Sandejas

Marking his first-time debut on the Wanderland stage, Paolo Sandejas made audiences “Sway” to the easy-listening nature of his tracks that captured the audience’s attention in a near instant. Aside from performing his popular songs like “Bloom” and “Different Shade of Blue”, the indie artist gave the crowd a special sneak preview of his upcoming debut album with a live performance of his upcoming single titled “Sirens.” And with how much the festival goers enjoyed the breezy elements of his music, there’s no doubt about how well the reception will be to his forthcoming record.

Grent Perez

Filipino-Australian Grent Perez was back in the Philippines and the crowd was more than ready to sing along to his viral songs. Despite him powering through a raspy throat, his upbeat and infectious energy was more than enough to make the audience dance along to his songs. Another added surprise was his cutesy attempts to talk in Filipino during the set, even saying, “Wag kayong mahiyang tumalon (Don’t be afraid to jump!)” while in between songs. While many know him from tracks like “Cherry Wine” and “Clementine,” “Ego” was a pleasant surprise and a definite must-hear and must-watch song from the artist. 

The Walters

One of the artists that the Wanderland crowd was most enthusiastic about was definitely The Walters. Despite some technical difficulties in the first half of the set, like lead vocalist Luke Olson’s wireless mic not transmitting any sound, their fans at Wanderland were clamoring for more. The band delivered a high-energy set and performed their viral tracks like “I Love You So,” even revealing that the rising virality of the song is what brought the band back together.

Olson’s infectious personality shined during the set as he jumped around the stage and even went down to the crowd to interact with fans in the middle of songs. At the end of their performance, everything came together to make for one of the most enjoyable sets during the event.

PJ Morton

Critically-acclaimed and GRAMMY award-winning musician PJ Morton delivered an out of this world experience on the Wander stage. Accompanied by a full band, two backup singers, and Morton sat on his piano, the next few minutes were drowning in R&B, soul, funk, and jazz goodness. His set was dripping in smooth tunes, accented best by Morton’s exquisite vocal riffs and piano playing. As an audience member, you were hooked onto every word of his set. It was even fun when he sang his rendition of The Bee Gee’s “How Deep Is Your Love,” egging the crowd on as they sang along. Since it was his first time in the Philippines, he even joked: “I heard you guys were good at singing!” as he led the audience into his songs.

Hwasa

One of the stand-out performers of Wanderland’s Day 2 lineup had to be, without question, Hwasa. In a sea of lightsticks, fan banners, and glowsticks, her Moomoos came out in full force to support her whole set. Hwasa was decked out in an all denim outfit, and together with her backup dancers, she delivered a jam-packed and high energy performance that left fans wanting more. Even with the language barrier (which was crossed with an English translator for Hwasa), the crowd made sure that the idol felt their love and appreciation for her. In the audience, you could even see dedicated fans performing the choreography while in the crowd.

Hwasa mentioned during her set how she teared up during Mamamoo’s last concert in the Philippines last year because of the love she could feel from the Filipino audience. Her set at Wanderland was no different, and she reiterated how thankful she was to her fans for enjoying the night with her. With a mix of both stellar performances and heartfelt interactions with the audience, Hwasa’s Wanderland set was not one to be missed.

Breakbot & Irfane

Who would expect that the large space of the Filinvest City Concert Grounds could be turned into a massive rave?

Breakbot & Irfane’s live DJ set provided the crowd with tons of dance-worthy tracks, almost making the grassy ground feel close to the polished floors of an actual disco club. People were really getting their groove on with needle drops to Lizzo, Daft Punk, Donna Summer, and especially Breakbot’s original songs among other tracks that brought the house down. 

The set added a unique spin to the usual Wanderland experience –– proving that there’s nothing wrong with reinventing the wheel as this cherished musical festival goes on over the years.

Thundercat

To say that Thundercat blew people away is no understatement. Beyond anything, this set was the most mesmerizing to watch. Thundercat’s musical prowess just draws you in, and despite there not being a lot of songs with lyrics (except for of course, “Dragonball Durag,” “Them Changes,” and the like), the instrumental tracks were a flurry of syncopated jazz-funk goodness that you couldn’t help drop your jaw and say, “He’s so good” every 15 seconds.

“I don’t usually wear my durag in public, but I thought today was a special occasion,” he said during his performance, referring to the recent death of famed manga artist as well as the creator of the Dragonball series, Akira Toriyama last March 1. That night, Thundercat donned his dragonball-themed durag and dedicated his set to the artist. The crowd cheered along with shouts of “rest in peace, Akira,” especially from those at the barricade. Nevertheless, Thundercat’s exemplary performance and musicality kept the crowd up and dancing even past midnight. Truly one of the greatest musicians and performers of this generation.

In the embrace of Bob’s Neighborhood, this year’s Wanderland Festival undeniably succeeded in transforming the Filinvest Event Grounds into a home for both music enthusiasts and a community with a shared vision for the ideal festival experience. The festival’s commitment to fostering a sense of belonging was evident not only in the diverse musical lineup but also in the ambiance that ensured that every attendee, regardless of age, found a place within the vibrant festivities of the event.

With this year’s run, Wanderland was able to reinforce the idea that this festival is not just an annual gathering of people, but a homecoming for a diverse community of wanderers. As the musical notes resonated through the air, Wanderland 2024’s spotlight on both local and international talents, coupled with delightful surprises, demonstrated a commitment to music discovery that defines the festival’s essence. The shared experiences, unexpected performances, and the sense of unity created an unforgettable weekend that not only met but exceeded the expectations of both loyal Wanderers and new neighbors.

In a world of music festivals, Wanderland stands out not just as a musical event, but as a testament to the power of good music and good people coming together to create a home away from home. And for sure, next year’s festival (which will mark their 10th year on the scene) will become another trip back home –– ready to welcome us in with open arms.

Check out more from Wanderland 2024 here.