The Apo View Hotel

Hiphouse is excited to bring distinguished and multi-awarded musical ensemble HUMANFOLK to Davao City through HIPHOUSE HALO-HALO: A Monster Musical Treat! HUMANFOLK began as a collaboration between the guitarist-composer Johnny Alegre and percussionists Susie Ibarra and Roberto Juan Rodriguez, with the multi-instrumentalist Cynthia Alexander and electronica exponent Malek Lopez. Assembled in the summer of 2008, the introduction of Alegre, Ibarra and Rodriguez at the United States Embassy in Manila spurred a series of musical and social interactions. The impetus culminated in the recording sessions for the "Humanfolk Suite", a world music cycle composed by Alegre, for which Alexander and Lopez completed the seminal Humanfolk quintet. Towards October 2008, the threesome of Alegre, Alexander, and Lopez performed a live semi-improvised score for a short silent film by Sasha Palomares, entitled "Une Femme Andalouse", which was awarded the KODAK Best 16mm Experimental Film in that year by the Kodak Filmschool Competition. They were subsequently invited to perform at the 4th Philippine International Jazz & Ethnic Arts Festival in February 2009, and in a live collaborative performance with the Australian didgeredoo virtuoso William Barton in January 2010 that also introduced vocalist-keyboardist Abby Clutario as a new principal member of the group. These high profile appearances and many others that followed were milestones leading to the release by MCA Music (Universal Music Group) of Humanfolk's eponymous album in May 2011. In 2012, HUMANFOLK was conferred an Awit Award for the song, "Para Sa Tao", as Best World Music Recording by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI). Months hence, HUMANFOLK members have gone abroad (i.e., Susie and Roberto to New York, Cynthia to Seattle, and Malek to Singapore), thus bringing two of the Manila-based principal members, Johnny Alegre (guitarist-composer) and Abby Clutario (keyboardist-vocalist) to reinvigorate the band with new music as the “New Edition” HUMANFOLK (2013). Supported by members of the “Johnny Alegre Trio” (bassist Rodney Vidanes and drummer Zach Lucero) the group has found an unprecedented recognition from multi-national music aficionados. In recent months, they have graced the festival circuit such as the Philippine International Jazz Festival (Manila), the Mosaic Music Festival (Singapore), the Mindanao Summer Peace Festival (Zamboanga) and the 7th Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival (Malaysia) before warm and receptive audiences. This is a beautiful time to witness the latest compositions and musical arrangements of HUMANFOLK. HIPHOUSE HALO-HALO is made more awesome by the musical variety in it! Besides world music supergroup HUMANFOLK, we've rounded up six great local bands to join in this scrumptious sonic parade: Kwatro Medya (Dance Rock) The Sound of Go (Pop Punk) Jad Montenegro Music (Indie Sub Pop) We Ride Dynamite (Noise Rock) 8-A (Alternative) Tramonto (Indie Rock) Plus, the following partners are all working with Hiphouse to make HIPHOUSE HALO-HALO even yummier: Blue Room Alleycat Tea House LIEU Magazine NDFY.me The Booth We promise you HIPHOUSE HALO-HALO will be a sonic treat for your ears!