Folk-pop band Ben&Ben is officially resuming the Philippine leg of their Traveller Across Dimensions tour this August, months after postponing several dates due to drummer Jam Villanueva’s wrist injury.
During the press conference, the band recalled the difficult decision to pause the tour after Jam sustained an injury.
“When Jam was first showing signs of wrist pain, she was really pushing to keep playing. She didn’t want to stop until we could see in her face that she was afraid it might ruin her wrist for the long term,” said Andrew de Pano, who plays percussion in the band.
The group emphasized that their concern was never about the show schedule, but about Jam’s well-being.
“We were really more worried about her health, her longevity with playing, because we know how much Jam embodies her love for drumming and how much it means to her. So it was like, how can we best help Jam? How can she best recover?” he told Manila Standard Entertainment.
Jam said that she is on her way to recovering and has been doing therapy.
“I’m on the road to recovery. I can move my wrist now, but I’m still working on the strength of it. The goal is to be able to play as soon as I can, in the healthiest way possible,” said Jam.
Despite the setback, the band credits their team and collaborators for making it possible to continue select shows. They also praised their production crew, sound team, and technical staff.
Reflecting on the experience, the group shared how it deepened their bond.
“It became very real to us how precious our bodies are, how important each one of us is. Even if we get different drummers, they won’t ever play the same way as Jam plays. We’re not invincible, we need to warm up, rest, and take care of ourselves,” Miguel Benjamin shared.
On the other hand, the group also announced the renewal of their partnership with Sony Music Philippines, marking a new chapter in their six-year collaboration with the label.
“We took a lot of time to reflect on the future of our music journey. Today, we’re very proud to announce that we are renewing our partnership with Sony Music Philippines,” Miguel continued.
Sony Music Philippines general manager Roslyn Pineda called Ben&Ben “one of the biggest artists on our roster,” recounting shared memories that included tours, a John Mayer encounter, and a surprise platinum award in Dubai.
“Their music has infused our country with hope and positivity,” she said.
The band also revealed that a concert film based on Traveller Across Dimensions is in the works, though no release date has been confirmed. They plan to expand the story of the album through stage visuals, social media content, and future performances.
The rescheduled shows will take place on Aug. 16 in Bacolod (University of St. La Salle Coliseum), Aug. 23 in Baguio (John Hay Convention Center), and Aug. 30 in Davao (Holy Cross of Davao College Gymnasium). The group’s next performance is scheduled for July 12 in Lincoln, California, before the tour continues in key cities across the Philippines in August.