Orianthi shreds her way across Manila’s music scene

Orianthi posted on Facebook this photo of herself playing at the Hard Rock Cafe with this message: “Thank you so much Manila .. I had a blast ! Leaving today with great energy from you all … I’ll be back really soon with Richie Sambora .. Peace and love to you all.” (Photo credit : Ferdie Alquero)

MANILA, Philippines – You may know her as the attractive, blond, female guitar player shredding riffs on stage with the late, great Michel Jackson as he practiced in 2009 for what would have been his comeback concert tour. She goes by the name Orianthi, and she recently wowed music lovers and guitar aficionados across the Metro with her skills on the strings.

The Australian singer-songwriter-musician, best known for her acumen on guitar, held a string of intimate concerts in Manila to promote her latest single Every Road Leads Home To You.

The first show was a band charity concert, in which Orianthi was a guest musician, held in Resorts World Manila on August 20. Then, she showcased her prowess at Chef & Brewer in Ortigas Center on August 22. A stellar performance at 19 East in Sucat followed on August 25, and she capped her Manila shows off at the Hard Rock Café in Makati on August 27.

“It’s my first time here and I find that people are very nice,” she said at a press conference held at the Hard Rpck Café.

Orianthi, who was catapulted to almost instant guitar-goddess stature when Michael Jackson featured her incredible talent on guitar in the making of what would have been the This Is It concert series, expressed her gratitude to the King of Pop.

“I’m very grateful to have worked with MJ. It was a crazy time, especially that we did not go beyond rehearsing. But we had a good time. I’m a huge fan and being with him on stage was surreal. I learned so much from him,” she said.

In 2009, Orianthi released her major label debut album, Believe, from which came the platinum single According To You. Her newest hit single, Better With You, which was written by Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi fame, is already making its mark on the music charts. She performed with Sambora in Korea and in Japan, where she also released the Best of Orianthi album.

In 2013, she worked with producer Dave Stewart, the man behind the Eurythmics, to come out with Heaven In This Hell.

Aside from Jackson and Sambora, Orianthi has worked with guitar legends Steve Vai and Carlos Santana; iconic singers Steven Tyler, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, and Prince; pop sensations Michael Bolton, John Mayer, Adam Lambert, and Carrie Underwood..

“I’ve learned something valuable from all the artists I have had the privilege to work with,” she said.

Orianthi’s Every Road promotional tour in Manila was produced in local collaboration with Primeline Management & Production, Incorporated.