What if you could do something to help to cure blindness?

Black Night, a special fund-raiser for the ORBIS charity, will take place this Wednesday, June 24th. The angle for the event is somewhat unique. The Black Night is no ordinary event, but one that seeks to temporarily replicate the experience of blindness.

ORBIS seems like a worthy cause. On their website they point out that of the 45 million people around the world who are blind — 80 percent suffer needlessly. That’s a very strong and sad statistic.

The event takes place at Cliq. Experience something new and help prevent blindness in developing countries while you’re at it. “All net contributions will be donated to ORBIS”

For more information about ORBIS have a look at their website.

The Black Night
Wednesday, June 24th
9pm – 1am
Cliq
2/F, On Hing Building, 1 On Hing Terrace (at the intersection of Wyndham and Wellington Street)
Central, Hong Kong

Dress code: Black
$200 HKD advance, $250 at the door
Please email: theblacknight2009@gmail.com for more information

The Apostrophe gallery is back with a new urban art exhibition titled CCTV.

The show is based on the controversial topic of using cameras to monitor society and potentially prevent crime. (The theme is very timely as Hong Kong struggles with how to cope with a serial criminal who has thrown corrosive liquid down at shoppers on a busy pedestrian street.)

The exhibition highlights urban art from Italy and America including work by Geometric Bang, Matthew Rodriguez, Claudius Phaedrus, Doodles and DEM.

Texas based artist Matthew Rodriguez will be in town for the exhibition which takes place in an abandoned office space on Wyndham Street.

For a glimpse of Matthew Rodriguez’s work, check out his Flickr account.

The show runs from June 19th until July 3rd.

For more information about the Apostrophe Gallery go here. To RSVP for the opening, email May Wong at: maymwong@gmail.com

CCTV: Urban Art Show
Fom June 19th until July 3rd
Room 2702
40-44 Wyndham Street
Central

DJ A-Trak headlines the new Hype Nasty party at Volar this Thursday, May 21st. Hype Nasty is organized by the same people behind Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy.

In the sea of d.j.s playing multiple genres of dance music, there are a few clear standouts and A-Trak is one of them. A former world champion turntablist, A-Trak has always been a step ahead of other d.j.s.. While some turntablists are technically creative, A-Trak has that rare combination of being both musically and technically gifted.

A-Trak’s approached music in a very open way and integrated multiple genres into his repertoire before it became trendy. His foresight has paid off, landing him the title of Kanye West’s d.j., as well as personal collaborations with many of today’s top dance music acts including Digitalism, MSTRKRFT and Boys Noize.

When it comes to catching a d.j. in a club, top turntablist skills mixed with good music sense are a deadly combination! This is one performance not to be missed!

For the night, A-Trak will be supported by D.J. Enso and Miss Yellow.

The following night A-Trak will also be performing at Cubic in Macau.

Recommended!

DJ A-Trak
Volar
Basement 38-44 D’Aguilar Street
Lan Kwai Fong
Central, Hong Kong

Free for Volar members, non-members $250HKD cover charge includes one drink.

Cut and Paste, the digital design competition held in major cities around the world is back in Hong Kong for its second year. This time it will be held in the Exhibition Center in Wanchai. Last year the turnout was very strong. (Check out photos from Cut and Paste 2008 here!)

The 2009 edition of the design battle includes 2D, 3D, and motion graphics categories. With a more centralized location, the turnout should be even bigger this year.

Tickets for the event go for $100 HKD and are available at HKTicketing.com, or $120 HKD at the door. Various discounts are available for students and groups.

H.K. Ticketing outlets include the Fringe Club, Tom Lee Music stores, the Convention Centre and the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.

Cut & Paste Hong Kong
Digital Design Tournament
Friday, May 15th, 2009
Doors open at 7pm
Hong Kong Exhibition Centre (not the Convention Centre!)
China Resources Building
26 Harbour Road, Wanchai

The opening of Consequences, a five artist show is taking place Thursday, April 23rd at The Economist Gallery inside the Fringe Club, just above Lan Kwai Fong.

The five woman show features new work by a diverse group of artist / designers. The theme of the show is “raunchy tales and wild concoctions” relating to a girls’ night out.

The exhibition features Sum-Sum Tse, Kate Barnett, Danielle Huthart, Emily Eldridge and Kim Van Gennip. (What, did you have to have a weird last name to join the show?)

Consequences art exhibition
Opening night, Thursday, April 23rd, 7pm
The Fringe Club
2 Lower Albert Road
Central, Hong Kong

The exhibition runs from April 23rd until May 11th.
Opening hours are Monday to Saturday, twelve noon until 10pm.

Members of Japan’s top B-Boy group, Found Nation Crew will be performing at Dragon-i on Saturday night. These guys are no joke!

Check out the second half of this video which shows them in action.

Crew members Shuvan, 2Goo, Afrock, and Wing Zero will be busting their moves for the audience on Saturday. From the look of the video, these guys specialize in doing complex combinations of tough break dance moves. They’ve honed their skills by competing in international B-Boy battles.

Found Nation Crew
Saturday, April 18th
Dragon-i
Upper ground floor, 60 Wyndham Street
Central, Hong Kong

$300 HKD cover charge

Annie Lennox, the powerful voice behind the Eurythmics dance floor classic “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This,” will be playing a special unplugged set at the MO Bar on April 28th. The occasion is a fund-raiser for the SING campaign which is a charity she founded in 1997 to help HIV/AIDS infected women and children in South Africa.

MO Bar is small, cozy lounge on the ground floor of the newish Landmark Mandarin Oriental attached to the Landmark shopping center in Central. A minimum donation of $2000 HKD is required to receive an invitation to the event. All proceeds will be donated to the SING charity.

For more information about donations and ticketing, you may contact Elsie Leung from the Mandarin Oriental between 11pm and 5pm. Her email address is eleung@mohg.com or you may call 2132-0123.

On the night of the 28th, doors open at 7pm and close sharply at 8pm. No one will be admitted after the concert has begun.

On Saturday, March 28th, Cubic will host The Bumblebeez performing a special d.j. set. The Bumblebeez are label mates on Modular Records with top contemporary acts such as New Young Pony Club, the Klaxons and Cut Copy.

Cubic, Macau’s newest club is quickly establishing itself as the casino town’s most sophisticated, high-end nightlife venue. By bringing cutting-edge dance d.j.s. from around the world, Cubic is showcasing talent that’s on par with Hong Kong’s best clubs.

For a sample of The Bumblebeez music, check out their website and MySpace page.

Recommended!

Cubic
202 2/F AIA Tower
Nos. 251A -301 Avenida Comercial De Macau
Macau

Friday night marks the tenth edition of Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy, a monthly night at Cliq showcasing contemporary underground club music. D.J. Miss Yellow, a frequent guest d.j. for the party, will be performing as well as celebrating her birthday during this installment.

D.J.’s Kid Fresh and Enso, the organizers of the night, will also throw down sets in the main room.

A special added attraction, the night’s event will be a two-room extravaganza featuring DJs in both sides of the club. DJ Ryan Li and friends will be holding down the Hip Hop room. It should be an exciting night with some great H.K. based talent.

Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy X
Friday, March 20th, 2009
CLIQ
2/F On Hing Building (at the intersection of Wyndham and Wellington Streets)
1 On Hing Terrace
Central, Hong Kong
10.30 pm – 5 am
Cover charge of $200 HKD includes one drink

Lovefoxxx, the fashionable lead singer of Brazilian Indie-Electro Rock band CSS hits Hong Kong for a special DJ set at Volar on Saturday, March 14th.

The music of CSS (which stands for Cansei de Ser Sexy) is at the intersection of Indie Rock and Electro, right in line with what’s been happening in cool circles the last three years. If she d.j.s the type of music she makes, you can expect catchy songs and great energy.

There is also the potential for dance floor frenzy as Lovefoxxx is known to body-surf the crowd! I’m there!

For a sample of Cansei de Ser Sexy’s (CSS’s) music, check out their MySpace page.

Have a look at this video of Lovefoxx at home. Her creativity is apparent!

Lovefoxxx of CSS DJ set
Saturday, March 14th
Volar
Basement, 38-44 D’Aguilar Street (in Lan Kwai Fong)
Central, Hong Kong
Free entry for members, $250 HKD cover charge for non-members (includes one drink.)