Countless songs. Endless feels. Eighteen years of love.
This February 28, 2026 (Saturday) OPM band Gracenote will celebrate a milestone that feels less like a number and more like a story still being written. Happening at The Sanctuary Bar and Cafe, Maginhawa, Quezon City, the band marks their 18th Anniversary with a special unplugged show, an intimate night dedicated to their music, memories, and the people who made their journey possible.
The band was formed on February 8, 2008, and Gracenote has always chosen to celebrate their milestones at the end of February and this year, the date holds even deeper meaning.
“May sentimental value sa’min. May meaning sa’min yung Feb. 28…actually Feb. 29 talaga,” shares Eunice, the band’s main vocalist. Two consecutive February 29 releases “Transparent and Small World” turned leap day into something sacred for the band. 2026 doesn’t have February 29, the band chose February 28 as the closest way to honor the tradition, making it even more meaningful as they celebrate their symbolic “debut” year.
When asked why they chose an unplugged format, bassist and supporting vocalist Jazz says that “Ibang approach rin kasi yung acoustic eh. Mas mapaparamdam namin yung mismong kaluluwa ng kanta. Pag hinubaran mo yung kanta at na-eenjoy mo pa rin, ibig sabihin it’s good.”
For Gracenote, stripping down the sound is not about doing less; it’s about revealing more. The rawness. The jamming vibe. The genuine connection. The kind of night where it feels like you’re not just watching a band perform, but sitting with them as they tell you their story.
Jazz shares how absorbing different genres—both Western and Asian influences, alongside emerging OPM acts helped shape their musical growth. Each new sound, each new inspiration became part of their evolution. But growth didn’t stop with instrumentation.
“Sa lyrics naman, mas nagiging socially aware kami the more we mature,” Eunice explains. Their songwriting has shifted from personal narratives to broader stories reflecting lived experiences, shared struggles, and realities that resonate with listeners.
Opening the celebration are Jem and James Lagadia, setting the tone for an evening built on authenticity, connection, and gratitude. As Gracenote steps into their 18th year, the unplugged anniversary show becomes more than a performance, it becomes a reunion between the band and the hearts that grew with their music.
And if 18 years can be summed up in one word, it’s this: Love.
