Cebu music acts blow us away every single time.

From singing along to the hits of Urandub to head banging to FRANCO, Cebuanos—as well as musicians who hail from different regions in the country—have given the local music scene a different flavor and feel. They still do, with new blood coming and taking over from the likes of Shiela and the Insects and more. And we are fortunate to relish in their musicality, showmanship and overall talent on the regular. 

Today, we at Bandwagon put a spotlight on these acts from the southern part of the Philippines that are worth listening to beyond Sinulog season. As one singer from the region has put it, they're more than a summertime lover.

Dom Guyot

Dom Guyot is not a new (fabulous) face in music: since 2019, the singer-songwriter has been releasing songs that aim to "rep the gays and gals through fashion, face, beauty, and talent." Serving songs that can go from chill and soulful to upbeat and sexy, the Nation's Bestie's refreshing take on RnB goes beyond audio tracks and into his music videos (Exhibit A above).

Listen to Dom Guyot:

The Sundown

In a way, The Sundown is a supergroup: members Vincent Eco (guitars), Gino Rosales (guitars), Alden Panes (drums), Luigi Balazo (bass), and Aaron Domingo (vocals) have been working on their own music for years—they claim to be fans of each other's work even.  But what started as Eco looking for others who want to enjoy music with him has led to a new wave, indie pop sound beautiful and loud enough to land this band a spot at the PLUS63 Festival and on the Wanderland stage this year.

Listen to The Sundown here:

Sansette

There's just something endearing about an island-borne group that makes light, bask-in-the-sun music...and loves the sunflower emoji. Sansette hasn't released a full-length album yet, but the tracks we've heard so far are very promising. (We also love the fact that they've collaborated with Ely Buendia and Ysanygo's Ysa Ferraz!)

Listen to Sansette here:

Jolianne

We first discovered Jolianne in Dom Guyot's 'Ambitions' but after a deep dive into what she has to offer, it's easy to see her as a rising RnB-pop act of her own. Aside from the silky smooth voice she has shared with the country in a singing contest as a kid, we laud this singer-songwriter for her lyrics which are said to be drawn from both her experiences and imagination.

Listen to Jolianne here:

Sepia Times

Chill synths, alt-pop melodies and heartfelt lyrics—it's easy to see why Sepia Times called themselves as such. The duo paints pictures of their lives through music that marries the nostalgia of the past (Coffee brewed from all of our past regrets, they croon in 'Fade to Black') and the sound of today (Is this gonna be who I am for the rest of my life, they ask in 'BreakFast').

Listen to Sepia Times here:

Wonggoys

If you haven't listened to Wonggoys before today, you are most definitely missing out. The trio has been around since 2010, combining different genres of music over the years with their playful and carefree personalities. The evolution of this Cebu-based act is amazing, and something you can see for yourself in the documentary they put together.

Listen to Wonggoys here:

Mandaue Nights

Mandaue Nights create music that sounds inspired by alternative rock from the local scene (see the video above) and by 80s synth pop (listen to their eponymous single). The duality makes sense, though we don't know why and how. Listening to them, we wonder how much of their music fits into the literal nights in their city south of the country (we hope it's a lot).

Listen to Mandaue Nights here:

Three Legged Men

Encountering an individual with more than the usual limb count may cause shock, panic, or discomfort—everything that the music of Three Legged Men won't make you feel. Think jazzy rhythms, smooth runs and funky riffs. The band gives the perfect soundtrack to a chill night after a hard day's work.

Listen to Three Legged Men here: