Culture & Cool from Asia's most dynamic city
Featuring names like Major Lazer, Diplo, Skrillex, Cashmere Cat, and CL, it’s hard to think of another event that has the same star power as the upcoming Mad Decent Hong Kong party on Saturday, December 12th. The funny thing is that a few short years ago, only DJs would have known their names. Fast forward to 2015, and Major Lazer’s song “Lean On” has nearly 1,000,000,000 views on YouTube. Has the world started to catch up?
The Clockenflap 2015 lineup is more diverse than ever before, and anticipation around Hong Kong this year is intense! Taking place Friday, November 27th, through Sunday the 29th, there are few finer experiences than sitting on the harbor front grass watching the world’s top bands perform.
K-Pop superstars Big Bang held an official after-party at Macau’s club Cubic following their sold out concert on Saturday night. The party, which included a dj set by group member Seungri, created a line to get in like nothing we’ve ever seen before!
The annual House of Vans event is a smorgasbord of music, art, skateboarding and creativity. Taking place October 16th through 18th, the party follows events in Xi’An, Guangzhou, Beijing and Seoul, and reinforces Vans reputation as a new powerhouse in the sneaker world.
If you say you love House music and don’t come to check out the trio of Louie Vega, David Morales, and Tony Humphries playing at Tazmania Ballroom on Wednesday, then we simply don’t believe you! Any one of these DJs is enough to get excited about, but the combination of three of them together is reason to take Thursday morning off.
“Nakamarra,” the first single by Hiatus Kaiyote was a runner-up for a Grammy award and brought the Australian band endorsements from music legends including Prince, Eryka Badu, Gilles Peterson and Questlove. The versatile and soulful quartet are making their Hong Kong debut Wednesday in an intimate show that should not be missed!
Japanese band Cro-Magnon will hit the Woobar at W Hotel on Friday, September 18th, showcasing a talented trio of musicians who trained at the illustrious Berklee College of music. The band is centered around Soul music, but plays everything in their live sets from Disco and Jazz, to Electronic Funk and House.
M.C. Webber, widely recognized as China’s top M.C., will be landing in Hong Kong on Friday, September 11th to perform a Reggae set under his pseudonym Raddam Ras at indie club XXX. The versatile M.C. was barred from competing in China’s freestyle championship after winning for countless years in a row.
The Do-Over, L.A.’s daytime party that’s known for blissful beats, BBQ, and booze, is happening Sunday, September 6th, in the middle of Causeway Bay. The last time The Do-Over came to town in 2013, it packed an empty warehouse in Sai Ying Pun with over 1200 people!
The Open Sesame music festival, which takes place on August 15th and 16th, is a good example of just how much Hong Kong has recently changed. The city has gone from only one annual outdoor music festival – Clockenflap, to outdoor events of different sizes happening seemingly every week.
The H&M Loves Music series is coming to Hong Kong on Wednesday, July 15th. The headliners include alternative R&B singer Blood Orange, L.A. girl beatmaker TOKiMONSTA, and local DJ crew The Living Discoheads.
Justin Bieber, the pop wunderkind threw down an impressive set at a recent Calvin Klein event in Hong Kong. The high-profile party, which also featured Korean-American singer Jay Park, was attended by big names from American gossip columns like Kendall Jenner, in addition to a select group from Hong Kong.
Free The Robots, set to headline a party organized by BOOM Magazine on Thursday, June 25th, is part of a small circle of L.A. based musicians at the heart of a thriving beatmakers movement.
On Saturday, June 13th, Macau is set to get a taste of the excitement that is the Ultra Music Festival. The Road to Ultra Macau is a mini version of the mega music festival that began in Miami and has made its way around the world. Catch 2manydjs, Nicky Romero, Porter Robinson, and DVBBS Saturday!
Kanye West protege Big Sean, and YouTube dance sensation Les Twins, were just two of the big name acts making their Hong Kong debut at the splashy Ports 1961 event held last Tuesday.
DJ Sliink is a top name in the dance genre known as Jersey Club music. Similar to Brazilian Funk, most Jersey Club songs utilize the same underlying beat and then go on to re-work popular songs in inventive ways.
Nightclubs that become legendary are few and far between. Rarer still are clubs that spawn the kind of memories that incite people to get together after 30 years. Yet this is exactly the case with the Canton Disco 30th anniversary set to take place on May 8th.
Gorillaz Sound System fronted by Remi Kabaka will be taking over Zuma on Thursday, April 30th. The Gorillaz, who have had hits like “Feel Good Inc” and “Clint Eastwood,” are a concept group started by Damon Albarn (from Blur) and Jamie Hewlett.
The wild, champagne soaked Cubic anniversary party typically features a major performer, a trip to an early morning dim sum restaurant, and a terrible hangover. (Luckily, we avoided the hangover this year!)
Japanese Punk Rock legends The Jet Boys take the stage at Hidden Agenda on Friday, April 17th. Formed in the late 80’s, The Jet Boys are veteran rockers who give a show filled with wild antics and fast-paced songs.
Hotshot Hong Kong, a new beach-front restaurant in Repulse Bay, threw a concert series during Art Basel week that included sets by DJ Spinna and 90’s Hip Hop sensation, Naughty By Nature.
One week after joining Kanye West on stage for his surprise show in London, Grime kingpins, Skepta and JME threw down at Art Basel Hong Kong.
Hip Hop purist Jay Electronica performs at FLY on Friday, March 20th. The well regarded M.C. creates Hip Hop steeped in the ways of the genre’s golden era.
Adidas kicked off a new campaign for their classic “Superstar” sneaker, holding a large event at their Causeway Bay flagship featuring the new Pharrell Williams produced artist, BIA.
A decade is a long time in club-land, and VOLAR, Hong Kong’s legendary nightspot has hosted DJs that would make any venue jealous.
A two-day music extravaganza featuring twenty-five acts takes place this Friday and Saturday at Hidden Agenda Live House.
At the climax of Converse Rubber Tracks – Hong Kong, the lead singer of Trash Talk hung upside down from the ceiling and belted out a song.
Sitting on the grass viewing Hong Kong’s skyline, while listening to a band with thousands of people dancing around you, is one of the most magical experiences of contemporary Hong Kong.
Legendary Hong Kong club Dragon-i has a month long line up of big acts for their 12th anniversary celebration. The festivities began last Friday with DJ Seth Troxler and continue on Tuesday with SOUL II SOUL, Louie Vega, and Luis Quintero – and that’s just the beginning!
Cult label Stones Throw Records is taking over FLY on Saturday night featuring performances from three artists on the California imprint: Mndsgn, Knxwledge, and Pyramid Vritra. You can expect heavy sounds, abstract rhymes, and head nodding music.