Ed Sheeran shares spotlight with Ben & Ben in Manila concert
OPM bad Ben&Ben is over the moon after opening Ed Sheeran's Mathematics Tour concert on Saturday, March 9, at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City.
The pop-folk band took the stage after British singer-songwriter Calum Scott, setting the mood for the main event. During their set, the nine-member group performed seven of their hit songs including “Sa Susunod na Buhay,” which was the theme song of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera-starrer Rewind; “Pagtingin;” and “Paninindigan Kita.”
Performing as a front act to Ed Sheeran is one of the best moments for Ben&Ben's music career as one of their first covers uploaded on YouTube was his hit song “Perfect."
So, on their Instagram, Ben&Ben proudly shared some of the photos taken during their set. In its caption, the group thanked the British singer-songwriter and said, “Still so surreal.”
Meanwhile, in the middle of his show, Ed Sheeran called Ben&Ben frontmen, Paolo and Miguel Benjamin, to join him. He then started to play the group's other hit song “Maybe the Night.”
In his Instagram post, the award-winning international music artist said, “Got to have the fantastic @benandbenmusic open up the Manila show yesterday then sing one of their biggest hits with both their lead singers in the show.”
The group reposted Sheeran's Instagram Reel and said, “Ma, bloody brilliant daw kami [crying emoji].
Aside from doing the front act, the local band also got the chance to do karaoke with Sheeran and Scott.
Meanwhile, Sheeran also recalled his first visit to the Philippines in 2015, which he described as the “most crazy fun gig” he has ever had.
He said, “I remember coming here in 2015, and I never felt that sort of fandom. Like, I arrived at the airport and there's tens of thousands of people [waiting]. I remember the gig, thinking at the time like, this is the most crazy fun gig that I've ever had. The first time I was here, I think it was at the MOA, it's like an arena, and I believe the excitement in that room was so great. I'm so happy to be back here playing again.”
The singer-songwriter also described Filipino fans as the “loudest.”
During his more than two-hour show, Sheeran included his hits, which seemed to have become an anthem to Pinoy fans, such as “Perfect” and “Thinking Out Loud.”
After Manila, Ed Sheeran continues his Mathematics Tour in Mumbai, India, on March 16