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

Acclaimed OPM singer-songwriter Ebe Dancel is returning to the big stage with a major solo concert.

Titled Ebe Dancel with The Manila String Machine: The Repeat Concert, the highly anticipated show will be staged on Nov. 15, 2025, at the New Frontier Theater.

The event follows the success of his sold-out first run and marks his 25th year in the music industry.

The night will feature timeless hits, new songs, and sweeping orchestral arrangements that bring fresh life to his celebrated catalog.

Dancel will be joined by a 20-piece orchestra led by Chino David, with Paolo Valenciano once again directing the production.

The concert highlights his legacy as both a solo artist and as the frontman and principal songwriter of pop-rock band Sugarfree.

“I’ve had a long love affair with orchestras, dating back to my days with Sugarfree,” Dancel said.

“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,” he added.

“To be back onstage with them now, with fans in front of me, feels like a full circle moment,” he said.

The setlist will balance nostalgia and discovery with a mix of Sugarfree classics and new 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,” Dancel said.

He added that the repeat concert is also about working again 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,” Dancel said.

“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,” he added.

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

From his early days with Sugarfree to his acclaimed solo career, Dancel has built a legacy of sincerity, emotional depth, and artistry that continues to inspire generations of OPM fans.