For the first time ever, two of the country’s premium bands will go back-to-back in a concert at an exciting new venue in the metro.

South Border and True Faith, precursors of today’s local band scene, will perform at the new Skydome at SM North EDSA on Aug. 7 in a rare back-to-back performance. The two bands, while contemporaries in the music scene, have never performed together. This will be the first time, and it took Viva Concerts and Events – which has staged some of the biggest live musical events in the country – to pull it off. A second show is set for a still-undetermined date in September.

Billed “Back2Back Featuring South Border and True Faith,” the two-night concert will be a celebration of both bands’ hit songs. It will be a non-stop procession of hits, since South Border and True Faith are two of the most prolific bands in the local music scene with an unparalleled record when it comes to producing hit songs.

These hits include “May Pag-Ibig Pa Kaya,” “Kahit Kailan” (named 1996 Song of the Year and which became South Border’s first big hit), “Sa ‘Yo” (Record of the Year, Best Pop Song and Best R&B Song in the 1999 Katha Awards) and “Habang Atin Ang Gabi,” the theme song of the Rosanna Roces Diether Ocampo starrer “La Vida Rosa.” In 2003, South Border released “Rainbow,” which was used in Sharon Cuneta’s Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Crying Ladies.” The song became another big hit for the band, which has coasted to success mainly on the talent of bandleader Jay Durias. A gifted musician and arranger, Durias has helped South Border survive the membership changes that began with the departure of vocalist Brix Ferraris.

True Faith, with its blend of jazz, folk, pop and rock, is no less prolific. Powered by its lead singer and founder Medwin Marfil, the band is responsible for hits like “Perfect,” “Awit Para Sa Kanya,” “Dahil Ikaw,” “Alaala,” “Muntik Nang Maabot Ang Langit,” “Ambon,” “Kung OK Lang Sa ‘Yo” and “Kundi Rin Lang Ikaw.” To date, True Faith has released a dozen albums since 1993’s “Perfect.” The band’s breezy pop formula eventually matured into a sound that was edgier and more contemporary but which did not change the band’s appeal for its listeners.

The media partners of “Back2Back Featuring South Border and True Faith” are the Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star. Its radio partners are Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, Mellow 94.7, 99.5 RT and 103.5 Max FM. Present your Back2Back tickets and get a 10% discount in Padi’s Point, reusable in all branches.

Tickets are priced at P1575 (Gold) and P840 (Silver). Tickets are available at all SM Ticketnet outlets.