There are a number of reasons why summer is one of the most anticipated seasons: vacation leaves, beach outings, international trips, and the allure of freedom. Filipinos have another reason to anticipate this dry, sultry season. An annual music festival, Closeup Forever Summer has become the country’s biggest summer party.

Last year, Closeup gave the crowd complete control over the direction of the festival. They were able to create-their-own festival as they responded to crucial questions like what music genre they preferred and the activities they wanted. It was such a huge success that they did it again this year. Though last year focused on the electronic dance music (EDM) scene, this year, instead of choosing one, Closeup gave into both requests with a lineup that included indie and EDM.

Blending two genres can be a challenging thing if not planned well, but they were able to pull it off. Manila’s hot, hot afternoon became the backdrop for indie musical acts. As the sun went down, the concert grounds transitioned into a rave.

The Mall of Asia Open Grounds was a venue that could handle the indie and EDM crowd. At the end of the night, it was one big dance party. Revelers experienced local tastemakers Autotelic, Sinyma, BP Valenzuela, Nix Dam P and Motherbass as well as international influencers Angus & Julia Stone, Eva Shaw and Martin Garrix. As always, it’s great to see more local talent share the stage with international artists—even outnumbering foreign acts.

Aside from the multi-genre lineup, the crowd could hang out at the art village to create DIY shirts, visit the Magnum booth, enjoy colorful fireworks, dance in the company of Universo robots or play with beach-themed inflatables!

Closeup ignited and instilled emotions of joy and awe. Not even a technical glitch during Martin Garrix’s set fizzled the ecstatic electricity in the air.

Revelers eagerly anticipate this annual music festival because of the good vibes that leave them on a summer high!

By Izzy Matias