Attending a music festival and going to a theme park are two of the things we couldn't do for a couple of years. And then comes Salo-Salo Fest, presenting the opportunity to do just those things in the span of three fantastical days.

Looking back, Karpos Multimedia made sure that the event lived up to its name: it was a salo-salo indeed. At music festivals, it was a rare sight to see your parents and toddlers but this was not that kind of music festival. Purposefully made to cater to the entire family, there was something for everyone to do and you could see people of all ages just vibing and having a good time.

Not only was it a great reminder of how beautiful live music is, but it was also a good gauge of how the artists we know and love have grown and evolved. We're positive that a lot of fans were glad to see the likes of Ely Buendia, Ebe Dancel, Barbie Almalbis, and Parokya Ni Edgar performing live again. 

We at Bandwagon go through the rollercoaster of highs and lows at the Philippines' first theme park music festival:

The stage was lit

There was not a day, and maybe even performance, where we weren’t stunned by the lighting. Regardless of whether it was the main stage or the Parol stage, you could always count on one of us saying, “Wow, the lights”. From Unique’s monochromatic lights beautifully catered to each song to Rico Blanco’s pulsing lights that matched the rise in our energy, the lighting design made every performance just as visually pleasing as it was sonically.

No walk in the park

It will always be exciting to explore a theme park with all its sights and sounds, but shuffling back and forth to get to three stages can be tiring. With stages far away from each other, it was easy to get distracted by rides and attractions along the way to the Salo-Salo Fest stage, the Parol stage, and the Goody Dance Shoes tent.

Ysanygo

The sibling duo was the first to perform on the Parol stage, and what a way that was to open a show. Ysanygo have once again brought warmth and charmed the audience with their great stage presence and undeniable musical talent. Seeing them with a live band also proves that they're ready for festival stages—and we do hope to see the two on more of them in the future.

Rico Blanco

We've said it once and we'll say it again: Rico Blanco has never done anything in halves. His performance at Salo-Salo Fest is a testament to this, from the green suit he chose to don (despite the sweltering heat) to the stellar performance the audience surely enjoyed. Seeing Blanco rock it out onstage was indeed a great way to end the first day of the festival.

Lola Amour

Lola Amour are always a treat to watch live, but them at Salo-Salo Fest was a different beast. Fresh from their mall tours around the country and new virality on TikTok, the funk-rock band drew a pleasantly unexpected large crowd and you could tell they were feeding off the energy.

Just before their set time, we got to catch them for an interview backstage where they raved about the great sound on stage, adding that it was the best they’ve ever sounded and they were not wrong. Lola Amour and all their complex layers and sonic elements worked in perfect harmony, making their performance a delightful and refreshing treat on that especially hot day. 

Clara Benin

Clara Benin had gathered quite a crowd even before stepping onstage. Eager attendees plopped themselves on the floor, perhaps expecting a chill, relaxing set. Well, she did deliver but she also gave so much more.

While onstage, Benin exuded an air of confidence despite her soft-spoken disposition. This, weaved with the music she performed with Gabba, produced a fresher, fuller sound we can get used to hearing from the singer-songwriter. And when she played 'Affable Dork,' her song whose music video was shot in the same theme park, it felt like she has come full circle.

Mayonnaise

With the backdrop of a beautiful burnt orange sunset, Mayonnaise brought so much energy and fun to the last day of Salo-Salo. There was not a single person that wasn’t swaying, jumping, or singing along to the band’s Rolodex of hits. ‘Jopay’ was, as you’d expect, a crowd favourite, uniting the entire crowd as everyone sang along to every single word of the OPM classic. 

Unique

Ever so elusive and mysterious, Unique truly knows how to draw in a crowd. Barely saying a word his entire set, except for wishing everyone a good evening, the singer-songwriter had his music speak for itself, and boy, did it talk. 

Unique was captivating, holding your attention with every movement. You particularly have to note his stripped-back rendition of ‘Mundo’ where half the song was sung back to him by the crowd. It was the kind of performance you couldn’t shut up about even until the next day (we’re speaking from experience, haha).

Two instead of three

Salo-Salo Fest had no shortage of amazing acts, from icons of the Filipino music scene that left us in awe to up-and-comers that were so exciting to watch for the first time. While we absolutely can’t get enough of live music and all the thrilling rides, it did feel a little too much as the festival went on. 

The magic was there, indeed

For most of the festival, we spent our time either watching a performance or going on rides in the little free time we had between sets; but when we finally got to combine the two, it was magical.

There was something remarkable about seeing people discover new music or a new act for the first time. We had the privilege to see a little man no older than five listen to Gabba's music and liking it, dancing to every strum of his guitar. 

At Salo-salo Fest, we realize that we're all about these little moments we get to take home with us: finding joy in being on a carousel again, eating ice cream while waiting for the next act to come onstage, taking selfie videos with friends while singing along to the artist performing. As Urbandub took the stage, we were on a roller coaster inching our way up the biggest drop the amusement park had to offer. It felt as if the music on stage was cueing our descent, the drums increasing in intensity as our hearts raced in anticipation. 

There were so many experiences we lived and relived, the kind you'd only ever really get at a theme park music festival.