Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably already know that the iconic rock band U2 is bringing the epic Joshua Tree tour to the Philippines this December. If you’ve already got your tickets, good on you. If you haven’t, don’t despair. You might be able to get them for free! More on that later, but first, here’s a little refresher on why we’re so psyched for the U2 in Manila concert.

Their music is iconic

Sure, U2 isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but you can’t argue with the fact that their music resonates with a vast amount of people from all over the world. Bono’s simple yet catchy melodies paired with Edge’s electric hooks result in pure magic, so that U2 songs aren’t just songs, they’re anthems.

With songs that evoke such strong emotions, it’s no wonder they’re still relevant after all this time. Which brings us to our next point…

Their staying power speaks for itself

Not many musical acts can say that their popularity has endured the test of time. After forming in the ’70s and skyrocketing into worldwide fame in the ’80s, U2 has seen musical trends shift and change, with rock music falling in and out of favor, yet they’ve managed to stick around. Though they’ve experimented (and continue to experiment) with different genres and collaborated with all kinds of artists (ranging from Pavarotti to Paul McCartney to Jay Z), their sound is still recognizably theirs.

They got political before “woke” was a thing

Bono is famously political (so much so that it’s turned some people off). Whether or not you agree with his politics and method, no one can deny that the U2 frontman is one of the few artists who has consistently used his power and influence to make the world better.

They’re hailed as the world’s greatest stadium rock band

And it’s no accident. U2’s music was designed to be listened to live, in sold-out stadiums packing tens of thousands of screaming/crying fans. They know what works for huge concerts, and write accordingly. “We’re very wary of writing ‘interesting’ material because ‘interesting’ material doesn’t play well in stadiums,” Bono once told GQ.

The concert’s bound to be epic

Haters gonna hate, but no other band does concerts like U2. When they do concerts, they totally commit to it. Their stage designer Willie Williams is considered one of the best in his field, and it shows. Think eye-popping visuals paired with surprising moments of vulnerability and impeccable storytelling. Simply put, they deliver a fantastic show.

It’s U2’s first time in the Philippines

U2’s Pinoy fans have been clamoring for the band to come to the Philippines, and now it’s finally happening. The tour also marks the band’s first time in Southeast Asia, so it’s a very, very big deal.

It’ll let fans get up close and personal with the band

This tour is unique in that it will let fans the opportunity to get up close to U2. The VIP Standing tickets closest to the stage cost just P5,250 (including service fees). Though the VIP Standing tickets got completely snapped up in no time (unsurprisingly), the show hasn’t completely sold out yet. You can still get tickets that range from P4,449 to P20,499.

Here’s your chance to snag FREE tickets

You could also get the chance to win two free tickets to the U2 Joshua Tree Tour with Smart’s new MVP Rewards Program. Here’s all you have to do:

1. Download the MVP Rewards app in the App Store or Play Store and register your details.
2. Enroll your Smart account to start earning stars (open to all Smart subscribers, prepaid and postpaid).
3. Click on your stars to visit the Marketplace to click on the U2 raffle icon and participate for FREE. All Customers who click on the U2 raffle icon will only have one (1) e-raffle ticket for the entire promo duration.

The promo will run from November 5, 2019 to December 5, 2019. Winners will be drawn on December 6, 2019 and each Smart subscriber can only win once. The winners will also get access to the Smart Music Live VIP Lounge during the concert proper. Give it a shot and you could find yourself watching the biggest concert of 2019!

Get U2 in Manila free tickets to catch U2’s The Joshua Tree tour on December 11, 2019 at the Philippine Arena, or visit SM Tickets.