Is this the return of the boyband era?
The promoter of boyband Westlife’s Manila concert announced last night that they’ll be adding another date to the Philippine leg of the group’s tour.
That’s right! Instead of a one-night concert, promoter Wilbros Live will be staging two shows, one on July 29 and another on the concert’s first publicized date, July 30. According to the promoter’s post, they added another date because the tickets to the July 30 show sold out.
Who knew that Westlife is still super hot in Manila?
Both shows will be held at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. Tickets start from PHP1,575 (US$30.06) for general admission tickets while the most expensive ones are worth PHP13,650 (US$260.54) for VIP seats. The shows are part of Westlife’s “The Twenty Tour,” a celebration of the Irish group’s 20th anniversary.
Unfortunately, the promoter’s announcement was met with a lot of negative reactions online. Some people who bought tickets to the July 30 show felt disappointed that other Filipinos will get to watch the boyband before they do.
Someone said they should have added another show after July 30, and not prior to it.
Regina Yap complained: “You have no respect for those who bought tickets for the July 30 show. Sure, a lot of people have requested [for another show] but is this all about money? You didn’t respect those who bought first, lined up, and waited to get a ticket.”
VJ Ricalde wrote: “Seriously? We have already bought our tickets [for July 30] but suddenly it will just become the second day? This is so unfair! The selling of the tickets was on a first come, first served basis. Justice for us!”
Filipinos are passionate Westlife fans, but they’re not alone. The group is also wildly popular in Myanmar, a topic that Coconuts dove deep into in this feature story.
There appears to be a reignited love for boybands because aside from Westlife, American boyband Backstreet Boys will also be heading to the Philippines for a concert in October.
Westlife is best known for its hits “My Love,” “Swear It Again,” “If I Let You Go,” “Flying Without Wings,” and “Seasons in the Sun,” and its covers of songs such as “Mandy” and the bop “Uptown Girl.” The group is currently composed of Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne, and Marcus Feehily. Former member Brian McFadden left the band in 2004.
Westlife will also perform in Coconuts cities Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
