Aurora Music Festival

Aurora Music Festival
GenreIndie, pop, rock and others
DatesClark: Summer (2-consecutive days)
Davao: either October or November
Location(s)Clark: Clark Global City, Pampanga, Philippines
Davao: Crocodile Park Concert Ground, Davao City, Philippines
Inaugurated2020
Websiteclarkaurorafest.com

The AURORA Music Festival (also referred to as the Clark Hot Air Balloon Music, Arts and Food Festival) is an annual music and arts festival featuring live music, food, art installations, and hot air balloons held in Clark Global City in Pampanga, Philippines over the course of two days.[1][2] The festival was later expanded into Cebu (later cancelled) and Davao. It is organized by Epic Events.

Background

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First edition and COVID-19 pandemic

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The inaugural Aurora Music Festival, originally scheduled for the summer of 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] It eventually took place from June 10–11, 2022. The festival featured hot air balloon displays and performances by local artists and bands. Tickets purchased for the original date remained valid for the rescheduled event.[4]

Confusion with the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF)

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The Aurora Music Festival is held in Clark Global City, inside the Clark Freeport Zone where the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF) is also held since 1994 before they moved to Carmona, Cavite for its 2020 edition. When the music festival was announced, it created a confusion with it being held at the same place and involved hot air balloon.[5]

On April 13, 2022, the organizing committee of PIHABF released a statement to clarify that their event is different from the Clark Hot Air Balloon Music, Arts and Food Festival (AURORA Music Festival), and that they do not have any association with the organization and the management of the said event.[6]

Lineups

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Year Date Notable Acts Reference
2022 June 10–11, 2022 Skusta Clee, Kiyo, Al James, Because, Allison Shore, Michael Pangilinan, ALLMO$T, Ronnie Alonte [2]
Ben&Ben, December Avenue, Arthur Nery, Unique Salonga
2023 April 15–16, 2023 Ben&Ben, December Avenue, Arthur Nery, Adie, MRLD, Lola Amour [7]
Ely Buendia, Parokya Ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Sponge Cola, Silent Sanctuary, Mayonnaise
2024 April 6–7, 2024 SB19, Juan Karlos, Adie, Cup of Joe, December Avenue, Moira dela Torre [8]
Rico Blanco, Parokya Ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Orange and Lemons, The Itchyworms, Andrew E

Davao leg

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The festival made its expansion to two other cities. As of now, the Davao leg of the festival tour was only organized and is held at the Crocodile Park Concert Ground.

Year Date Notable Acts Reference
2023 October 28, 2023 [9]
2024 November 30, 2024 [10]

References

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  1. ^ "Here are the biggest concerts and music festivals to catch in Southeast Asia in 2022". NME. April 27, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "A guide to concerts and festivals happening in the Philippines this 2022 — Avril Lavigne, All Time Low, SB19, The Maine, and more". A guide to concerts and festivals happening in the Philippines this 2022 — Avril Lavigne, All Time Low, SB19, The Maine, and more | Bandwagon | Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. March 30, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "Aurora 2020 featuring December Avenue, IV of Spades, Ben&Ben, Unique Salonga, and more has been postponed". Bandwagon Asia. March 10, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "Up, up, and away! Clark's Hot Air Balloon Festival to return on these dates". Rappler. March 23, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  5. ^ De La Cruz, Christa I. (April 6, 2022). "Ben & Ben, December Avenue + More to Play at Clark's Hot Air Balloon Fest". SPOT.ph.
  6. ^ "Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta official statement". Facebook.
  7. ^ "Clark Aurora Music Festival Close to Getting Sold Out". ABS-CBN News. April 9, 2023.
  8. ^ Bonifacio, Mark (April 4, 2024). "Elevated Aurora Festival 2024 comes to Clark". The Manila Times. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  9. ^ Magdaraog, Christian (August 16, 2023). "Aurora Music Festival heads to Davao this October". Philstar Life. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  10. ^ "2024 Aurora Music Festival Davao". EPIC Events.