A GRAND songwriting showcase awaits Cebuanos at the 29th Cebu Pop Music Festival tonight, starting 8 p.m. at the New Cebu Coliseum.
Hosting the event will be Sam Costanilla together with guest co-host, Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) scholar, Apple Abarquez.
“The difference with this year’s event from prior years is that we will be utilizing minus-one for the accompaniments rather than having a live orchestration. But, production-wise, it’s still going to be a show,†said Costanilla.
“Minus one†is a musical jargon coined in the early 1980s to describe an accompaniment track of a song, which are used by artists for solo live performances.
The last time the Cebu Pop Music Festival used minus one was in 1989, when Vicor Music Corp. sponsored the event’s technical needs.
This year, Soundtraxx Production Studio took charge. The change after 20 years was a result from requests made by some people.
“We’re addressing complaints from composers, as in regards to the risks of mistakes committed by a particular band member during a number,†Executive Project Director Philogene Florita explains how one bad note can affect the outcome of a potentially good song.
“With minus one, there are lesser risks with the live accompaniment. But with the minus one, the greatest risk is brownout,†Florita said in jest. “But we’re taking care of it,†he said.
The winners will be declared right after the night. P150,000 is reserved for the grand prize winner. The second and third prize winners will get P100,000 and P50,000 respectively. Also, five images of the Señor Sto. Niño will be given to randomly selected patrons during the night. The best interpreter will go home with P 10,000.
The annual event is organized by the Cebu Arts Foundation Inc. headed by Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu Province, 1st district). (Sun.Star Cebu)
