The Greatest Hits reunion comes to Araneta

Here is great news to all residents of Quezon City and nearby areas. The Circus Band’s and New Minstrels’ the Greatest Hits Reunion Concert is coming for the first time to the Araneta Center in Cubao. Now is the chance for all those who missed this highly-entertaining show in previous years because of the infernal Valentine season vehicular traffic. This is also the chance for those who have never seen these talents in action before to take a look at what they have to offer. I am sure they will have a romantic, dancing and rocking fun time.

Titled The Best Of Our Love and produced by Viva Live, the show will be held at the new Kia Theater on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 o’clock in the evening. As in the past years, the featured performers are former members of the legendary show groups The Circus Band and The New Minstrels. And those artists who will once more recall the glorious music of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s will be:

From the Circus Band: Basil Valdez of the big hits You and Ngayon At Kailan Man; Pat Castillo and the hits Aso’t Pusa and Somewhere In Time. Jacqui Magno who is known for her versions of Someone To Watch Over Me and Bridges; Hajji Alejandro and the Manila Sound hits Panakip-butas and May Minamahal; Tillie Moreno and the classics Saan Ako Nagkamali and Umagang Kay Ganda; Ray-An Fuentes, who was part of both the Circus Band and the New Minstrels and was Tillie’s singing partner in Umagang Kay Ganda.

From the New Minstrels are Eugene Villaluz of the hits Gulong Ng Palad and Nothing I Want More; Louie Reyes, also of the award-winning Nothing I Want More and Ikaw, Ako Tayo Magkakapatid; and Ding Mercado with his big hit See You There and his Lou Rawls covers; and joining the line-up this year, although she was never with the Circus Band or the New Minstrels will be Ali Sotto.

Ali, first known as Aloha was a screen actress, Jack n Jill, The Flor Contemplacion Story, who is now better known as a talk radio host. But she actually started her showbiz career as a singer. She was 16 years old when she was discovered in a school talent show by composer George Canseco and signed to Vicor Music. Among her songs are Bakit Na Ba? and Manghuhula.

The Circus-Minstrels reunion started out some years ago as a fun project for the members who had gone on to other careers but still wanted to perform. To their surprise, the concerts, that have also since then featured Celeste Legaspi and Joey Albert, became annual events that sold out every time. Now to accommodate the requests of their fans, the reunion group is doing it again and taking the show to Kia Theater for the first time.

For details, check Ticketnet 911-5555 or Viva Live 687-7236 for tickets. Prices are VIP P3,300; Orchestra P2,500; Loge P2,000; and Balcony P1,500.

Still on entertainment at the Araneta Center. Grammy-winning artist Nate Ruess will be performing at the Kia Theater on Jan. 19. Ruess was the lead singer and songwriter of the group fun. with the big hits We Are Young, Some Nights and Carry On. He is also the guy who sings with Pink in Just Give Me A Reason. I still have to hear his solo album Grand Romantic but Nate has one of the best voices I have ever heard and that is a good enough reason to want to watch him sing live.

A day later and a few steps away at the Araneta Coliseum will be the classic pop band Chicago on Jan. 20. The Grammy-winning, multiple Platinum group is responsible for some of the biggest-selling songs of the ‘70s and ‘80s. If You Leave Me Now, Hard To Say I’m Sorry, Look Away, You’re The Inspiration, Hard Habit To Break, 25 or 6 to 4, Saturday In The Park, Colour My World, Beginnings, Just You ‘N’ Me, I Don’t Wanna Live Without Your Love, Baby What A Big Surprise, What Kind of Man Would I Be? and others. They will definitely give the audience a romantic, nostalgic, hit-filled, most entertaining evening.

Nate Ruess and Chicago are presented by Wilbros Live. Tickets to both shows are available at TicketNet.com.ph or at 911-5555 or 374-9999.