MANILA, Philippines – Music lovers are counting down to Wanderland 2013, an outdoor music and arts festival debuting on May 18 at the newly-opened Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati.

With gates open at 11am, Wanderland is a whole-day event that promises to keep revellers regaled every minute with music from foreign and local acts.

Topping the line-up is Australian band The Temper Trap best known for their ethereal yet upbeat hit “Sweet Disposition,” the carrier single of their acclaimed first album “Conditions.” The song, which won Most Popular Australian Single at the 2010 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Music Awards, has been used in TV shows like “Skins” and “One Tree Hill,” and movies like “500 Days of Summer” and “Eat, Pray, Love.”

Watch the music video of ‘Sweet Disposition’ by The Temper Trap here:

The band followed it up with the danceable “Fader” (heard on “The Vampire Diaries”) and the pulsating “Love Lost” (“Pretty Little Liars”).

In May 2012, the group released an eponymous second album with the songs “Need Your Love” and “Trembling Hands.”

Another high-profile denizen of Wanderland is American alternative rock band Neon Trees who shot through charts with roadtripper hits “Animals,” “Everybody Talks,” and “1983.”

Nada Surf, the American ’90s rock band that made waves with songs like “Popular” and the poignant “Inside of Love” will also perform.

Watch the music video of ‘Animals’ by Neon Trees here:

Sonic playground

Further beefing up the line-up are home-brewed talents Up Dharma Down, Taken By Cars, Pulso, Yolanda Moon, and She’s Only Sixteen.

Watch the music video of “Oo” by Up Dharma Down:

Watch the music video of ‘This Is Our City’ by Taken By Cars:

Adding more goodness to this musical buffet are New Zealand-based folk group Avalanche City, Australian pop act Colour Coding, and Australian indie band Tully on Tully.

Wanderland 2013 seeks to live up to its description as “the ultimate sonic playground” by throwing in performances by live art artists Anjo Bolarda x Martojaks, Secret Fresh, and Thursday Room.

In the (unlikely) chance that Wanderland-goers will tire of the music, inflatable slides, bull rides, jousts, and a Velcro wall will be open to all.

Karpos Multimedia Inc, the team behind Wanderland, previously organized The Cranberries Live in Manila and We Are The In Crowd: This Century and Set Your Goals Live in Manila.

Music mecca in the making?

Along with the hugely successful Malasimbo Festival in Puerto Galera, Wanderland promises to add to the proliferation of world-class music festivals in the country.

If this keeps up, the Philippines might just find itself in the company of other Asian countries with music festivals attracting music-lovers from all over the world.

Japan has its Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic, South Korea makes waves with the Jisan Valley Music Festival and Pentaport Music Festival, and Singapore is a music mecca with Laneway Music Festival and Mosaic Music Festival. – Rappler.com

Wanderland tickets are priced at P4,800, available at TicketNet, TicketWorld, and SM Tickets. For more details, visit www.wanderland.ph or the Wanderland 2013 Facebook page.