Ebe Dancel returns with 20-piece orchestra for 25th anniversary concert

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The iconic singer-songwriter brings timeless hits and new songs to life with The Manila String Machine in a monumental repeat concert directed by Paolo Valenciano

Good news for OPM fans: acclaimed singer-songwriter Ebe Dancel returns to the big stage with another major solo concert.

Titled Ebe Dancel with The Manila String Machine: The Repeat Concert, the highly anticipated eve will take place on November 15, 2025, at the New Frontier Theater.nt

Following the success of his sold-out first run, Dancel celebrates his 25th year in music with a night of timeless songwriting, powerful storytelling, and sweeping orchestral arrangements that breathe new life into his storied catalog.

For the second staging of his monumental concert, Ebe will be joined by a 20-piece orchestra led by Chino David, with Paolo Valenciano directing the whole show. The concert promises to be a showcase of his legacy both as a solo artist and as the lead singer/principal songwriter behind pop-rock powerhouse Sugarfree.

“I’ve had a long love affair with orchestras, dating back to my days with Sugarfree,” Dancel shares. “As a solo performer, I did a show with the Manila String Machine exactly two weeks before our government announced the lockdown due to Covid. To be back onstage with them now, with fans in front of me, feels like a full circle moment.”

The setlist, he reveals, will strike a careful balance between nostalgia and discovery. “I want it to be a mix of old and newer songs. I thought of my audience mainly when I chose songs from the Sugarfree catalog, but I also want them to experience the new songs with an orchestra.”

The repeat concert also is Ebe’s way of deepening his connections further with trusted collaborators. “Paolo [Valenciano] is a dear friend. I have so much respect for him as a concert director, so he was my only choice to do this show again. For me to work on something this big, I need to be able to fully trust the guys running the show. Hence Paolo Valenciano, and as musical director, Chino David.”

Tickets for Ebe Dancel with The Machine String Machine: The Repeat Concert go on sale this August 30, 2025, at 12 pm via Ticketnet online and all authorized Ticketnet outlets nationwide.

Ebe Dancel stands as one of OPM’s most enduring voices. From his early days as frontman of Sugarfree to his acclaimed solo career, he has built a body of work defined by sincerity, emotional depth, and artistry. With multiple hit songs, award-winning albums, and sold-out shows, his legacy continues to inspire generations of listeners—young and old, and everything in between.