‘Brightest’ OPM stars, hot air balloons set to light up Aurora music fest

In the upcoming Aurora Music Festival, some of the country’s enduring icons and young hitmakers will take the stage amid a backdrop of colorful hot air balloons.Set on April 6 and 7 at the Clark Global City, Pampanga, the event’s first day is expected to hype up the Gen Z crowd with such music acts as SB19, Moira dela Torre, Juan Karlos, Adie, December Avenue and Cup of Joe leading the lineup.

The second day, meanwhile, caters more toward the “titos and titas,” featuring 1990s pop rock and hip-hop sounds from the likes of Rico Blanco, Parokya ni Edgar, Andrew E, Kamikazee, Itchyworms, and Orange and Lemons.

The lineup for both days will also feature a number of dance sets from various DJs. Visit www.ticket.epiceventsph.com

“We wanted to gather the brightest OPM stars … the artists who are most requested and have the most streams. It’s all about what the fans want,” Louie Alcantara, Epic Events head and festival organizers, said at a press conference.

More than 20 hot air balloons around the venue will be tethered and illuminated for the afternoon (4 p.m.) and evening (6:30 p.m.) “glow displays.”

Fireworks, food“Clark is known for hot air balloon [festivals] … But I thought it would be redundant if people get to see only hot air balloons every year. We wanted to do something different, so we thought of bringing in music artists,” Alcantara said of the Aurora fest, which is now on its third year.

“Hot air balloons will fill the skies. And usually, toward the end or during the headliners’ set, there’s a fireworks display. We will also check if it’s possible to do a drone show,” he told the Inquirer.

Aside from the music and the hot air balloon display, the event will also feature more than a hundred food merchants. “Pampanga is known as a food capital. There will be merchants selling local specialties like sisig and other treats. It’s going be a music and food trip all in one,” Alcantara said.

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Moira dela Torre [Epic Events]

Juan Karlos [Epic Events]

Rico Blanco [Epic Events]

SB19 [Epic Events]

Worthwhile

For this year’s edition, Epic Events teamed up with the pan-Asian life insurance company FWD Philippines which launched a new product for musicians and fans alike called “The One for Music Lovers,” which covers hearing problems and loss of speech among others.

According to FWD’s Roche Vandenberghe, policyholders can upgrade their regular silver, gold and SVIP Aurora ticket into an “orange ticket,” which will entitle them to free merchandise, early entry and access to an express lane.

But regardless of ticket tier, Alcantara said the event aims to give every concertgoer a worthwhile experience.

“We try to make it better every year. We try to anticipate possible problems or bottlenecks and address them. We always want to come up with something new to give fans a memorable experience,” he said. INQ