All-star band backs Kean's major concert

MANILA, Philippines - Callalily frontman Kean Cipriano is all set to hit the center stage solo, with the support of big-name friends from the music biz. The concert titled One Stage, One Night: BBS Featuring Kean Cipriano Live happens on Saturday, Nov. 26, 8 p.m. at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex.

The 24-year-old band leader is ripe and ready to headline a concert, according to Joshua Uy, who’s producing One Stage, One Night under his Cross and Arrow Events Management company in tandem with Beginnings at 20 Plus, Inc. Joshua added that the concert is a nod to Kean’s pull among the younger set, having been touted as the poster boy of the new generation of rockers.

Joining Kean on stage is BBS (a.k.a. Big Band Syndicate). It’s an all-star band combining the forces of Raimund Marasigan and Mike Dizon (Sandwich), Jay Durias (South Border), Buddy Zabala (The Dawn), Paolo Bernaldo (Moonstar 88), Eunice Jorge (Gracenote), Madeline (Paraluman), Wendell Garcia (Pupil), Bob Canamo and Rye Sarmiento (6Cyclemind).

BBS is the brainchild of 6Cyclemind guitarist Rye and Darwin Hernandez of Soupstar Entertainment which, apart from 6Cyclemind, manages the bands Sandwich, Callalily, Imago and Pedicab.

As a conceptual group, BBS came into being for the purpose of contributing “all-star” and collaborative works (without being genre-specific) to the recording industry, at the same time, doing its share in propping up fresh and emerging Pinoy talents. BBS already released an album, Ctrl+Alt+Delete+Restart, this year with Kean as lead vocalist.

One Stage, One Night shares the vision of BBS in promoting local acts. It can be dubbed as a concert for the young and by the young, as it’s the debut of the 19-year-old Joshua as a concert producer, following in the footsteps of his mom, Pelita Uy of Beginnings. The latter has been behind successful concerts in recent years featuring OPM greats such as APO Hiking Society, Ryan Cayabyab, Ogie Alcasid and The CompanY.

Joshua said that while it’s a risk to venture into producing, it’s worth doing because the goal is to encourage more appreciation for Pinoy music among people his age. “It’s frustrating that people my age watch more and listen more to international artists. In a way, I’m happy that the Philippines is being noticed as a venue for international concerts, but I’m kind of sad that concerts of international acts are being produced more when our young artists are struggling.”

A Communication Arts major at De La Salle University, who is also a freelance writer and host of Word Up on Light TV 33, Joshua added, “I’m a huge fan of music in general, especially OPM. I share my mom’s vision of pushing OPM, but what I noticed really is that to push for it kailangan din ma-reach yung mga ka-age ko (by producing) a concert that will also appeal to my generation.”

“Naging blessed din ako since I have the means to (produce),” he said, promising a one-of-a-kind rock event on Nov. 26.

Meanwhile, the star of the show is very happy that, aside from his music career, his acting career is also taking off. After being launched as an actor last year via the BGBF program on TV5, Kean has since starred in two hit movies Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank and Praybeyt Benjamin. He also has a new TV project with TV5, the Gabby Concepcion-Dina Bonnevie starrer P.S. I Love You. 

Kean, who for a time studied at the UST Conservatory of Music, never thought he’d get into showbiz since he was a reluctant actor in the first place. He also candidly admitted that when the opportunity presented itself last year, he initially thought that people might think of the move as baduy or that he’s selling out. But Kean is very grateful because it’s through acting that he’s able to reach out and draw a wider audience to his first love that is music.

For details, call SM Tickets at 470-2222.