DAY 1
The highly anticipated Wanderland Festival 2025 kicked off its 10th anniversary with a bang as local band ALYSON took the stage, igniting the crowd with their opening song, ‘Kiliti.’
Early bird pass holders wasted no time matching the band’s energy, singing along and vibing as ALYSON kept the momentum going with a high-energy performance of ‘Summer Nights,’ setting the perfect tone for the festival.
Next up, Thailand’s rising star Varis—a singer, songwriter, and producer—kept the excitement alive with an electrifying set. His mix of beats and melodies had the audience on their feet, making his debut performance outside Bangkok a memorable one for both him and the Filipino crowd.
Singaporean singer-songwriter Regina Song followed with a breathtaking performance of ‘Venus,’ her soulful vocals captivating the audience. She also treated fans to a heartfelt rendition of her debut song, ‘Cutest Pair’, marking another standout moment.
The festival continued its musical roller coaster with back-to-back performances from an impressive lineup of both local and international artists, including Waiian, Toneejay, and 92914.
Filipino music pride was in full force as legendary local band Mayonnaise took the stage, delivering an electrifying set that had the crowd singing at the top of their lungs.
This energy carried on with SINOSIKAT, another beloved local act, who kept the vibe alive with her soulful and groovy performance.
As the night deepened, the festival reached new heights with powerhouse performances from Australian artist Chet Faker and American indie sensation DAYGLOW. In a fun and unexpected moment, Dayglow’s frontman Sloan Struble thrilled the crowd by rocking a Jollibee crew outfit to Filipino culture in celebration of the band’s first-ever performance in the Philippines. Their infectious high-energy stage presence had the entire audience dancing and singing along, making for an unforgettable moment.
Finally, the night culminated with the highly anticipated Day 1 headliner, Daniel Caesar. With his smooth vocals and heartfelt lyrics, he delivered a soul-stirring performance that had the entire audience swaying, singing, and soaking in every moment. His set was nothing short of magical, making it an unforgettable experience for Wanderland Festival 2025’s first day.
DAY 2
As the festival gates opened for the second time around, the crowd was greeted with the same set of interactive booths, food stalls, and the Wander market which featured various local businesses. Wanderland’s Goody Dance Shoes, a DJ stage equally attracted the crowd to its stage and dance floor throughout the day.
Panning back to the festival’s main stages, day two’s opening act featured Filipino indie-alternative band Nameless Kids. They also got the opportunity to debut their new single ‘Kuha Mo Na’ on the Wanderland stage. The group shared that playing at the renowned festival was a dream come true for them. Later on in the night, American band Plain White T’s praised the band for their striking set and performance.
Independent Thai singer-songwriter Mindfreakkk later stepped on stage with her synth-pop musical style, among them was her 2021 single ‘Have You Ever.’ She was followed by indie-rock duo PRVYT who serenaded the crowd with one of their hit songs ‘if it’s not you.’
Filipino rock band Dilaw took the crowd’s energy up a notch with their upbeat music. Their lead vocalist, Dilaw Obero expressed their gratitude to the audiences and to Wanderland for the opportunity to share and perform their music on the festival’s stage. They capped off their performance with their megahit song ‘Uhaw,’ to which the crowd spiritedly sang along. Dilaw also made sure to capture the moment with a quick photo session with the audience as their backdrop.
Amid the breezy golden hour, Chinese-Canadian artist Yung Kai spun the afternoon into a romantic jamming session most especially with his renowned single ‘Blue’ which has now reached over 89 million views on YouTube, and the lucky Wanderland crowd got to witness it live.
Hailing all the way from Australia, The Paper Kites was the perfect company to get the night started with their soothing musical set, one of which stirred nostalgic memories when they played ‘Bloom’ which was released way back in 2010. The band shared that they are glad to be back and perform again in Manila, 11 years since. Toward the end of their set, they surprised the crowd with a special appearance from Filipino singer-songwriter, Moira Dela Torre with a duet performance of ‘Nothing More Than That.’
Filipino rock band Urbandub then hyped up the night with their enlivened musical set, one of which was ‘The Fight Is Over.’
Riding the highs of the energetic performance of Urbandub, American pop-rock band Plain White T’s further livened the crowd and got them to sing along. The band performed one of their hit singles and a fan favorite even way back in 2000s ‘Hey There Delilah.’ They band shared that it was their first time performing in Manila and that flying for almost 20 hours was definitely “worth it.”
The Wanderland grounds soon turned into a huge dance floor which attracted the crowd’s attention when Australian electronic hip-hop duo Hermitude dropped exhilarating beats in the middle of the night. With hands up in the air and drinks in hand, the crowd slowly built up around Hermitude’s stage.
The much-awaited Wanderland Day 2 headliners, HONNE, drew the majority of the crowd even before they started performing. The Australian duo generously made use of their time to perform one hit song after another such as ‘Location Unknown,’ ‘Good Together,’ and ‘Free Love’ among many others in their set list. The audiences loudly sang along with the lyrics which was telling of how loved HONNE was in the Philippines. After a few songs, Andy Clutterbuck and James Hatcher distributed a couple of disposable cameras in the crowd for them to take their own photos during the duo’s performances.
Clutterbuck and Hatcher further livened the crowd as they spoke a few Filipino words which were right on trend such as “Sobrang Latina” and “Monyeka.” HONNE’s performance was truly memorable as Clutterbuck noticed a proposal during their set, which was definitely an easy “Yes.” The duo closed the night with ‘Day 1’ as confetti filled the stage and a crowd who sang their hearts out.
This year’s edition of Wanderland left fans and loyal festival goers with various communal experiences bound by the love for music and artistry. The tenth anniversary of Wanderland will definitely set the bar for what’s in store for the coming years.
This event was made possible by Karpos.