Hey there, neighbour! Wanderland Music & Artists Festival is back for its ninth edition, and this time, we're seeing a lot of love for homegrown acts and artists from across the region.

The theme this year is "neighbourhood", appropriately so since a huge chunk of the lineup this year features a lot of familiar faces from the Philippines and artists from neighbouring countries, including South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia. They say to love your neighbour, so it's time to get acquainted with them before they hit the Wanderland stage at the Filinvest Event Grounds in Muntinlupa City on 9 and 10 March.

From HWASA, Gabba, ena mori, Jose Miguel, Jeff Bernat, to Bosudong Cooler, get to know the Asian bands and artists who'll be performing at this year's edition of Wanderland below.

HWASA

There isn't a flame that burns as hot as HWASA. The bold and confident MAMAMOO rapper and vocalist made her solo debut in February 2019 with the release of her digital single 'Twit'. She has come a long way since then, signing with Psy's P NATION and dropping her self-confident anthem 'I Love My Body'.

GABBA

They say that all men are created equal, but the saying does not apply when you take a gander at Gabba. The Filipino multi-instrumentalist's first major solo release Recollections, which he released in 2023, traps listeners in a web spun through Gabba's rhythmic skills and technical capabilities. His audience at SXSW Sydney Music Festival last year witnessed it all firsthand as he represented the Philippines with his hypnotizing brand of math-rock.

Produced and arranged by Gabba himself, Recollections, named as one of Bandwagon's Top Albums of the Year, features 14 tracks, including previously released singles 'Coastline', 'Interim', 'Fridge Magnets', 'Overcurrent', and 'Puzzle'.

Bosudong Cooler

If you've never heard of Bosudong Cooler, then you're just about to find your next favourite indie folk-rock band. The Busan-based quartet have been making waves since 2017, materializing their first EP Yeah, I Don't Want in 2019 and their full-length album Sand in 2021.

BEENZINO

BEENZINO is no stranger to the music industry. Hailing from the South Korean rap scene, the rapper, producer, and singer-songwriter is known for his singles 'Dali, Van, Picasso', 'Aqua Man', and 'Boogie On & On'. 

ena mori

ena mori has been busy stealing hearts on every stage she ruled. From taking on SXSW in Austin, AXEAN Festival in Singapore, BiKN Shibuya and Gampeki Music Fest in Japan, to Sofar Sounds London, the Filipino-Japanese artist has been met with worldwide recognition. ena mori's vivid and colourful brand of pop music, seen on her record DON'T BLAME THE WILD ONE!, landed her the Album of the Year award at the 2023 Awit Awards. Her collab with Japanese producer tomggg, 'ICHIGO MIRUKU', has also been named as one of Bandwagon's Top Collaborations of 2023. 

Lola Amour

Playing Wanderland 2024 will be a full circle moment for Filipino rock act Lola Amour. They made their big break as the winners of Wanderband 2017, launching their exciting career that would lead them to release their chart-topping hit 'Raining in Manila', a festival stint in Singapore, and a once-in-a-lifetime shot to perform alongside Coldplay's Chris Martin at the Philippine Arena in front of tens of thousands of people.

Jeff Bernat

Jeff Bernat has been everywhere. The Filipino-American R&B, soul, and hip-hop artist made his debut in 2012 with his first album The Gentleman Approach and has since built a massive fan base in South Korea thanks to his track 'Call You Mine', which appeared in the 2014 Korean drama You Are My Destiny. He has also collaborated with the likes of IU, Dean, Zion.T, and Park Jin Young and teamed up with producers Teddy Park and Primary.

bird.

bird. have been on tour supporting their album Oshin since last year and will continue to promote it as they hit the Wanderland 2024 stage this March. The Filipino indie act comprise Carlos Calderon (bass), Hannah Jabla (drums), Eco del Rio (vocals and guitar), and Aaron Corvera (guitars).

Jose Miguel

Filipino singer-songwriter Jose Miguel is an "old soul living in the new," delivering timeless jazz standards to today's generation. His debut album, 5 Star Overthinker, is scheduled for release on 2 February 2024.

Cloudriver

Taiwanese guitarist and singer CLOUDRIVER has been cruising on clouds since 2018. His single 'SUNNY AFTERNOON' from his EP of the same title (though the artwork is neither sunny nor does it look like the afternoon) has garnered millions of plays on streaming platforms. These days he's been farthest thing from idle, busy working on new material at his home studio and is set to complete his album while on tour. 

Paolo Sandejas

If there was one artist who's been making rounds, it's got to be Paolo Sandejas. The Filipino neo-soul act first made his break into the scene back in 2018 with the release of 'My Girl', leading him to collaborate with the likes of Ysanygo and Martti Franca. He's even reached the radar of BTS' V, who played and sang along to Sandejas's crowd-favourite hit 'Sorry' on his vlog.

Dwta

Filipino singer-songwriter dwta will be the first Bicol-based artist to grace the Wanderland stage this March. With the use of her melodic universal harmonies and enchanting voice, she broke into the scene in 2021. She has since collaborated with Alamat on 'Kapit' for Coke Studio Season 7 and released her crowd-favourite singles 'Padaba Taka' and 'Santigwar'.

grentperez

Like many young artists, Filipino-Australian singer-songwriter grentperez started sharing music on his YouTube channel. Little did he know then that he would carry on to make his breakthrough in the midst of the pandemic in 2020, when his viral Sing You to Sleep series raked in millions of views. He went on to release his debut single 'Confusing Girl' in 2021 via Fast Friends. In June 2023, he released his fourth EP, titled When We Were Younger, a seven-track offering revolving around nostalgia.

Party Pace

Party Pace have a piece of wisdom to share: "Riding with no shoes is dangerous."

The Filipino supergroup, comprised of Raymund Marasigan, Badjao De Castro, John Apura, and Eco del Rio, was born out of a shared love for cycling. They call themselves an "accidental pandemic band", but have since released a full-length album, titled Nauseuous, offering listeners their brand of "beach music" to jam to at home, on the road, or with friends.

Wanderland Festival is happening on 9 and 10 March 2024 at the Filinvest Events Grounds. Get tickets here.