A Cozy Noontime Hangout with Tilly Birds
Thai alternative rock trio Tilly Birds transformed a Makati nightclub into an intimate noontime hangout.
Words Rebelyn Beyong
Photos courtesy of Mirrorball Asia
April 27, 2026
Thai rock act Tilly Birds recently proved that you do not need the midnight hours to make a nightclub come alive.
Kicking off the highly anticipated Manila leg of their I'll Remember To Forget You: Through Layered Walls tour, the Bangkok-based alternative band completely transformed the typical concert experience.
Club transformation at noon
Instead of a late-night, high-decibel show, the acclaimed trio—composed of Third on vocals, Billy on guitars, and Milo on drums—opted to host a uniquely intimate acoustic set at noon. Held at Nokal Manila in Makati City, the popular basement nightclub was cleverly converted into a cozy daytime hangout.
Welcoming just a hundred lucky fans under the soft glow of ambient disco lights, the afternoon event immediately fostered a deeply personal atmosphere.
Upon entering the venue, attendees were greeted by an interactive postcard-making table, allowing them to customize their own personal keepsakes using special tour stamps and markers.
Acoustic debuts and fan connections
The self-proclaimed "nerdy school friends" treated the audience to a specially curated seven-song acoustic setlist. Known for seamlessly blending musical influences ranging from punk to prog rock to pop, the band used this stripped-down performance to highlight tracks from their newly released third full-length and first English-language record, I'll Remember To Forget You.
This album wonderfully sees the band revisit their grunge and alt-rock roots, solidly incorporating them with the indie pop-rock groove and earnest songwriting they have become known for. Most notably, the fans in attendance were treated to the live acoustic debut of "Heaven," their highly anticipated collaboration with the beloved Filipino folk-pop act Ben&Ben.
The intimate nature of the afternoon allowed the band to easily show off their electrifying chemistry, cracking jokes and answering fan questions that were collected prior to the show. In return, the dedicated crowd surprised the trio with a special commemorative cake to celebrate their new album's release.
A weekend of global music triumphs
This unique, up-close gathering served as a beautiful capstone to a massive weekend for the band in the Philippines. Just days prior, on April 19, Tilly Birds commanded a massive stage as performers for the second day of the ROUND Festival 2026 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Following these back-to-back Manila triumphs, the band—whose massive hits like 'Same Page?' and 'Just Being Friendly' have burst far beyond Thai borders —wrapped up the Nokal event by signing tour posters and postcards for everyone in attendance. As fans finally ascended back to the real world beneath the afternoon sun, they carried with them the memory of a truly unforgettable musical detour. The tour will continue its Asian trek in Singapore at Swee Lee Clarke Quay on May 17, 2026.
