Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
INDIES based around Metro Manila, especially those gigging around Quezon City, may have likely been to Freedom Bar to perform their original songs in front of their fan base, friends, or patrons just chilling out, or maybe scouting for cool music from still-unknown but promising acts.
Yes, that one on Anonas Street in Project 2, not really far from the arguably more famous 70s Bistro which can also be found along the same street.
Partly because the pandemic lockdown of 2020 that literally put the gig scene on hold made things a bit complicated, Freedom Bar is no longer there. But thanks to a bunch of fine people, or businessmen and artists who care about live music, the beloved bar, eyeing a new, just-right location, is being celebrated with an anniversary gig on August 23.
Some 27 years ago, Freedom Bar opened on the day that commemorated the centenary of the Cry of Pugad Lawin where the Andres Bonifacio-led Katipuneros tore up cedulas “in defiance of their allegiance to Spain.” It was an act that birthed the Philippine Revolution against an empire that colonized the country for 300 long years. Two years later, on June 12, 1898, the Philippines marked its Independence Day.
The Freedom Bar anniversary, presented by The Guild and Laking Aircon Productions, is happening at Unknown13 Pub on Katipunan Avenue, in Blue Ridge A, also in Quezon City.
The featured artists are led by P.O.T, the band behind the classic cover “Yugyugan Na,” and now fronted by Red Dela Pena, a singer whom the surviving members see as deserving of the spot vacated by the late great Karl Roy.
Both Vie, a band that music bar business expert McQueen de Guzman has long vouched for, and Caren Tevanny, of General Luna fame, are joining the pool along with Gen-Z performers Calle Onse and Moontide as well as bar regulars Babaylan and Aftermath. These artists have dedicated fan support, something that makes them known and respected in the gig circuit. In other words, they may be a big hit song away from becoming household names.
Rounding up the line-up is LC De Leon and the Frustrations — should we say the dark horse as their past midnight set will accommodate an open jam.
Roldan “Bong” Baluyot, the main man behind the staging of the event and essentially Freedom Bar’s torchbearer, prefers to include the whole musical landscape, not just rock bands, to speak about the significance of bars like Freedom, or Club Dredd, which he also helped resurrect, and how the current scenario is giving Filipino live acts a major boost.
He shared, “I must say we’re experiencing the golden era of the Philippine music scene. There’s EZ Mil whom Eminem and Dr. Dre signed. We have SB19 that’s enjoying international success. Maraming artists who can fill up bars, like those from reality TV contests. We have bands like Ben & Ben that are not even rock bands in the first place. The bar scene is healthy.”
That’s saying much about diversity winning the day, which echoes the very nature of freedom wherein you can be whoever you are and play the kind of music that defines you right in front of appreciative audiences. — Yugel Losorata
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Credit belongs to : www.manilastandard.net
