After two months of searching for a new band member, Rivermaya is all set to welcome the latest addition to their group during the grand finals night of Rivermaya: Bagong Liwanag (The Audition Specials) on October 24 at the Music Museum.
The group decided to look for a new member when Rico Blanco, the former front man of Rivermaya, left the group on the eve of the band's second Asian album launch. After he left, many thought that the famous rock band was set to finally disband.
However, the three remaining Rivermaya members—Mark Escueta, Japs Sergio, and Mike Elgar—announced that they would continue sharing their music. The group went on to release not just a EP titled Bagong Liwanag, which features song that were written and sung by its members, they also launched a TV show with the same title on Studio 23.
Around 500 aspirants auditioned but only around 80 of them passed. The number was then narrowed down to 12 finalists who competed with each other to replace the position that Rico had left.
The judges who screened these finalists were The Dawn's guitarist and NU 107 In the Raw host Francis Reyes, Razorback's bassist Louie Talan, and Rivermaya's manager, Lizza Nakpil.
Right now, there are four remaining finalist who are still competing for a spot in Rivermaya—Miche Magnaye, Mike Salzseider, Hans Dimayuga, and Jayson Fernandez. From these four contenders, two finalists will be chosen this Sunday, October 21.
Rivermaya fanatics may start voting for their choice of the next band member after the final two has been announced on Sunday at 9 p.m. and it will run until October 24 at 12 noon. Simply text VOTE (space) Finalist Code Number and send to 2910.
Other known bands will be performing in the grand finals night. These are The Dawn, Stonefree, Imago, Callalily, and Spongecola. Meanwhile, MYX veejays Sanya Smith and Drei will host the said event.
The Bagong Liwanag grand finals night will be broadcast in a 2-hour special on October 28, Sunday, at 9:15 p.m. on Studio 23.