All good vibes and fun at the V1BE Booze and Arts Festival

CEBU, Philippines —  There is something about going to a music festival that makes it an exciting experience. You can see many artists in one go. You can enjoy food and drinks. Most importantly, you’re with a crowd as pumped up as you are.

On October 27, the V1BE Booze and Arts Festival took place at SM Seaside City’s Concert Grounds with gates opening as early as 12 noon, allowing guests to have the entire day to experience V1BE’s installations and activities, from group games, brand booths, sponsor tents, and VIP tents called V1BE lounges.

Festival-goers upon entry were greeted with the Experience Zone, a common area with activities such as an Interstellar Gateway, Spaceship Swings, life-sized Beer Pong and Jenga blocks, and V1BE’s eight-footer astronaut sculpture.

Experiencing the daytime portion of the line-up under the scorching heat is not for the weak, unless there’s a certain band you want to see. Thankfully, Cebuano band Wonggoys made it worthwhile, and we feel the crowd favorite deserved to perform during the night portion of the music fest. Hey Moonshine also stood out with their rock genre.

Up-and-coming talents from all over the country opened the event, like Hollywood Folk Hogan from Cebu, Abu from Dumaguete, and Gem and Claude, winners of the Beetzee Songwriters Contest Season 2. Soloists Paulo B and Rein followed, with Manila-based bands The Mox, Olkisrotom, and Hey June! rounding up the mid-afternoon set.

DJ Kate Jagdon took charge of the sundown experience, before Marikina City-based band Gracenote kicked off the evening portion as they charmed their audience, especially when they incorporated Taylor Swift’s “Enchanted” into one of their songs.

Dilaw and 6Cyclemind definitely know how to interact with a crowd, making their respective performances fun to watch even for non-fans.

Shanti Dope, noticeably the only hip-hop artist that night, had the audience rapping along with his hits, especially “Nadarang.”

V1BE also marked the first time that Gen Z star ZILD performed in Cebu. Known as the former vocalist of IV of Spades, he has established his own identity as a solo artist and it showed when he performed songs mostly from his latest album “Medisina” such as “Dekada ‘70” and “Isang Anghel.”

Rico Blanco, obviously the most anticipated act, still knows how to put on a show with a set that evoked nostalgia. Cebu’s own Urbandub was also perhaps the biggest highlight as they performed their classics.

Nineties icon Agaw Agimat and Skool Service closed out V1BE, creating an unforgettable night of music, booze, food, and experiences.

Event producer and promoter L-Squared Productions Inc. stated in a post-event release that it was grateful and ecstatic with the success of V1BE, calling it a fitting end to a year marred with controversy and cancellations in Cebu’s live entertainment events scene.

“This is our team’s first event ever and we are beyond elated to have pulled off something as massive as V1BE,” said L-Squared. “We really wanted to bring something new and exciting to the market and elevate the music festival experience in Cebu – and we hope that Cebuanos enjoyed it.”