Coldplay is one of the most popular and successful bands in the world, known for hit songs like “Yellow”, “The Scientist”, and “Viva La Vida”. The British rock band was formed in 1996 and has since released 9 studio albums, won numerous awards including 7 Grammy Awards, and sold over 100 million records worldwide.
With their global fame and enormous fanbase, Coldplay has toured across 6 continents and played in major stadiums around the world. However, the band has never performed in the Philippines despite having a considerable Filipino fanbase begging for a Coldplay concert. This begs the question – will Coldplay ever come to the Philippines?
Coldplay’s Asia/Southeast Asia Tour History
Coldplay has toured extensively around the world, but their appearances in Asia have been limited. Here is a quick overview of their Asia tour history:
Year | Tour | Asian Countries Visited |
---|---|---|
2005 | Twisted Logic Tour | Japan, Hong Kong |
2012 | Mylo Xyloto Tour | Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong |
2016 | A Head Full of Dreams Tour | Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia |
2019 | A Head Full of Dreams Tour (Asia Leg) | Singapore, Japan, South Korea |
As seen above, Coldplay has performed limited shows in Asia over the years, visiting major markets like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Their only Southeast Asia tour was in 2016 for the A Head Full of Dreams tour. Out of Southeast Asia, Coldplay has only performed in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand so far. They have yet to hold concerts in Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc.
Did Coldplay include Philippines on their 2016 Tour?
Yes, the Philippines was one of the 7 Asian countries Coldplay visited during their 2016 A Head Full of Dreams tour. They performed at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Manila on April 4, 2017 in front of over 50,000 ecstatic Filipino fans.
This was their first and only concert in the Philippines so far. During the concert, lead singer Chris Martin promised they would return to the Philippines soon. He even shouted “Mahal ko kayo!” (I love you all) to the crowd in Tagalog.
What did Coldplay say about returning to Philippines?
During their 2017 Manila concert, Coldplay made it quite clear they had an amazing time performing for their Filipino fans for the first time.
Here are some key things Coldplay said about the Philippines:
– Chris Martin told the crowd: “Thank you for such an incredible night Manila. It’s our first time here in Manila and it’s the best welcome ever. We’ll be back real soon.”
– On social media, the band tweeted after the show: “Philippines. What an incredible first night in Manila! Thank you for being so brilliant, loud and happy.”
– In multiple interviews around the concert, Coldplay band members expressed enthusiasm about the passionate Filipino fans. They said they were overwhelmed by the love and wanted to return.
– During the concert, Chris Martin said “I hope it’s not our last gig here…” hinting they do plan on coming back.
So clearly, Coldplay themselves loved their experience in the Philippines and have openly stated desires to return and hold more concerts.
Have Coldplay made tour plans for Philippines or Asia recently?
There have been no definitive tour announcements by Coldplay for Asia or the Philippines in the past few years. Their last international tour was the A Head Full of Dreams Tour which ended in 2018.
Some key updates:
– In 2019, Coldplay announced they will not go on a traditional tour for their upcoming album Everyday Life, releasing vague environmental concerns. This put large Asia/Philippines tour plans in doubt.
– In late 2021, Coldplay announced their Music of The Spheres world tour for 2022-2023. However, no Asia or Philippines dates were include in the initial batch of tour dates.
– Most recently in mid-2022, Coldplay announced a special 6-city tour in Brazil focusing on sustainability initiatives. Again, no mention of Asia or Philippines.
So as of now, Coldplay has not officially announced any concrete tour plans for Asia or a return Philippines concert as part of their upcoming tours. But there is still hope they may add Asian/Philippines legs later.
What are the Chances Coldplay will add Philippines tour dates?
Though there is no guarantee of Coldplay returning to the Philippines or Asia, there are some positive signs:
– As mentioned earlier, Coldplay has expressed strong interest in returning to the Philippines based on their past statements. They clearly enjoyed their Manila concert experience.
– Coldplay’s tour schedules often leave large gaps between legs – they may strategically add Philippines/Asia legs in those gaps later on.
– With sustainability a priority, Coldplay may plan limited Asia concerts in clusters rather than a full-fledged continent-wide tour. Philippines could be a potential Asian hub for them.
– Coldplay has added additional tour dates in various regions after initial announcements. So Philippines or other Southeast Asian countries may be added.
– Their huge Asian fanbase and proven Philippines concert success will be major incentives for returning. Asia offers significant revenue potential despite logistical challenges.
– Promoters and fans have launched petitions and social media campaigns asking Coldplay to return to Philippines and Asia. This public demand may help influence their decision.
What needs to happen for Coldplay to add Philippines tour dates?
For Coldplay to seriously consider adding tour dates in the Philippines, some key things need to align:
– **Venue Availability:** SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds remains the prime 50,000+ capacity venue suitable for Coldplay in Manila. The venue needs to have availability on dates that work for Coldplay’s touring schedule.
– **Logistics:** Coldplay travels with massive production, equipment and crew for their concerts. Smooth logistics planning and execution will need to be guaranteed by local promoters.
– **FanDemand:** Strong ongoing fan enthusiasm and demand for a Coldplay return to the Philippines will help convince the band and promoters. Petitions, social media trends and ticket pre-sale demand can help.
– **Sponsorships:** Top sponsors need to be secured by local promoters to guarantee the multi-million dollar budget required to bring Coldplay to the Philippines. Government sponsorships also often help.
– **Scheduling:** Coldplay will need to have a suitable gap in their 2022/2023 tour schedule to accommodate a Philippines/Asia leg.
– **CovidSituation:** Though improving, the Covid-19 pandemic may still affect large concert feasibility in the Philippines during Coldplay’s tour window.
If these key factors line up positively, the chances of Coldplay finally returning for an epic Philippines concert increase significantly.
How soon could Coldplay come to the Philippines?
It’s hard to predict definitively when Coldplay will next perform in the Philippines. But here is an estimated timeline:
– **2022** – Unlikely for this year. Coldplay’s tour schedule already announced and packed through October 2022. Venues may also be booked up.
– **2023** – More probable. Coldplay has tour legs scheduled till July 2023 so far. They may add Asia/Philippines between July-October 2023 gap. Local promoters also have more time to prepare.
– **2024** – Possible. If 2023 doesn’t work out due to schedule constraints, early 2024 is an option before Coldplay moves on to their next album cycle. But that’s a longer wait for fans.
– **Later** – Can’t rule out 2025 or beyond either. But the longer the wait, the higher the risk of losing fan momentum and demand. So 2023 seems like the realistic sweet spot.
In conclusion, a Coldplay Philippines concert return in 2023 seems the most plausible scenario based on their tour plans and historic frequency of visits. The band’s strong Philippine fanbase is keeping their hopes up for a huge stadium comeback within the next year or two!
Conclusion
To summarize – Coldplay has a special affinity for the Philippines after their first incredible concert in Manila in 2017. The band has openly expressed a strong desire to return based on the passion of their Filipino fans. However, no official Philippines tour dates have been announced by Coldplay yet amidst their ongoing 2022-2023 tour plans.
The good news is Coldplay has left their tour schedule flexible, and they often add new legs later on based on demand. Given the huge appetite for their return amongst Filipino fans, the chances of them adding Manila and other Southeast Asian cities to their tour remains highly likely in 2023. Coldplay’s Philippine followers are hopeful the timing aligns perfectly for the band’s much-awaited comeback!