Saturday night, Vans hosted a screening of the recent documentary No Room For Rockstars. The film was followed by a performance by local band Hardpack, who began their set with a cover of the Beastie Boy’s hit “Sabotage” in honor of MCA’s death last week.

Here’s the beginning of Hardpack’s cover of Sabotage:

No Room For Rockstars gives a behind-the-scenes look at The Warped Tour, an American concert series. The documentary details the struggle, and not-so-glamorous life, of months on the road performing music.

The venue for the screening and band show was the newly relocated Hidden Agenda. The space, which contains a largish open area and a simple stage, is one of the only venues in the city dedicated to live music.

Housed in the former factory district of Ngau Tau Kok, it is indeed hidden!

Getting to Hidden Agenda isn’t actually that difficult. It’s about a five block walk from Ngau Tau Kok MTR station exit B6.

The entrance looks exactly as you would imagine, a warehouse with a small metal gate that’s open after-hours.

Vans did a great job decorating the space for the screening. There were posters everywhere.

The event was well attended, with faces from the band scene mingling together with artists and other indie cliques.

Vans No Room For Rockstars is definitely worth a look and it’s currently at the top of the iTunes documentaries chart.

If you miss checking out live indie bands in a gritty no-frills setting, Hidden Agenda is worth the trip. Have a look at their site and see who’s performing next!

Hidden Agenda
2A, Wing Fu Industrial Building
15-17 Tai Yip Street
Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Close to the Ngau Tau Kok MTR station

Address in Chinese:
香港牛頭角大業街15-17號永富工業大廈2樓A室

Let’s face it, waking up to the typical iPhone alarm sounds can be painful. Likewise, if you use the same sound for the alarm clock as your ringtone, it can be extremely jarring in the morning!

Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo has come up with a better idea and has just released a special app called Uniqlo Wake Up.

The app aims to make getting started in the morning both more efficient and more humane!

They began by commissioning two top musicians: Cornelius, who is known for his organic and experimental sounds (in addition to producing the likes of Pizzicato Five and UNKLE;) as well as enlisting heavyweight composer Yoko Kanno, who wrote music for numerous Japanese manga soundtracks including Cowboy Bebop and Ghost In the Shell!

Not only is the music interesting and less abrupt than hearing a typical ringtone, but the app also tells you something very useful in planning out your day – the weather.

In addition to screen artwork symbolizing the weather, the music composed for the app actually changes according to the current conditions. Check out the movie in the sidebar for a quick demo. (Click on the speaker icon to hear the sound.)

The free app is available in both iPhone and Android versions and can be made social via Facebook, Twitter and Weibo. If you’re interested in trying it out, just mouse-over the movie and links to the two versions will appear.

Around six months ago I was bored with my usual nightlife routine and happened to take a chance, heading over to a venue I don’t normally go.

Descending down a flight of stairs I was greeted by a small bar, a dimly lit space, and one of the best dj sets I’ve heard in years! The party was The Getup, and the dj, visiting from London, was Eric Lau.

Looking around the room, not a single person in the venue was fiddling with their phone, or standing around a table apathetically. Instead, everyone in the cozy club was dancing and having fun.

The cover charge was a mere $100 HKD, and for that I was treated to several hours of amazing songs, spanning everything from Soul, Disco, Jazz, and Hip-Hop, to Broken Beat, and House.

Though I didn’t know anything about Eric Lau at the time, the music spoke for itself! He didn’t jump up and down or high-five the crowd, instead, his music was all he needed to get people moving.

I was wowed enough to do some research when I got home.

In addition to being a talented dj, Eric Lau is also an accomplished producer, with several releases under his belt on London’s Ubiquity Records.

As a producer he has collaborated with heavyweights such as Lupe Fiasco, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Chris “Daddy” Dave, Dudley Perkins, Guilty Simpson, Oddisee, Muhsinah, and Tanya Morgan. As a dj he has performed on tour with acts like Erykah Badu and Questlove from The Roots.

Back for his second appearance in Hong Kong, Eric Lau will be manning the turntables at Insenses once again on Friday, May 4th.

You could easily pay three times the price and hear boring mainstream music all night, OR you could try something new, support a rising talent, and actually have a fun time.

Recommended!

Eric Lau at The Getup! Also featuring DJ K-Melo, Mr. NRVS, and Rolec
Friday, May 4th, 2012
Insenses
Lower basement, 13 Lyndhurst Terrace
Central, Hong Kong
(look for a basement entrance near the old Paisano’s!)

From 11pm til late!

$100 HKD cover charge

Reading the bio of James Lavelle is like taking a trip through the cultural movements that have shaped the past thirty years. Most well known as the founder of the visionary record label Mo’ Wax and as a member of the super-group U.N.K.L.E., he’s always been a champion of the arts with an uncanny ability to spot talent.

Frequently a step or two ahead, James Lavelle has never seen music as a stand-alone art, divorced from the culture that surrounds it. His Mo’ Wax label was famous not only for its pioneering sounds, but also for its lavish accompanying artwork.

So it comes as no shock that James Lavelle would make an excellent curator for an exhibition that runs the gamut from installations and paintings, to fashion, music, sculpture and film. Get ready Hong Kong!

“Daydreaming with…” opening in Hong Kong on Friday, May 4th, is a curatorial collaboration between Lavelle and artist Simon Birch, set in the 20,000 square foot ArtisTree space in Quarry Bay.

The two have brought together regional talents as well as international figures who have created artwork as a response to, or in dialog with music by UNKLE.

The artists participating in “Daydreaming with…” include: Cang Xin, Prodip Leung, Huang Rui, Doug Foster, Wing Shya, Futura, Kai and Sunny, Jamie Shovlin, Emma Richardson, Azzi Glasser, Ian Monroe, Li Wei, Polly Borland, Oswaldo Macia, Warren Du Preez & Nick Thornton-Jones, 3D, Jayne Dyer, Dan Glasser, Cyrcle, Clarke & Reilly, Shynola, Nathan Coley, Laurent Segretier, John Nolan, Simon Birch, and the Black Dog Film Room featuring Toby Dye, Jonas Akerlund, Sophie Muller, and Factory 15.

The show takes place in the same venue that housed the Vivienne Westwood retrospective, as well as Simon Birch’s sprawling Hope & Glory exhibition in 2010.

In town for the opening, James Lavelle will grace the decks at FLY for a special DJ set on Saturday, May 5th.

For more information, have a look at the “Daydreaming with” official blog, or check out the curators’ in-depth interview on Hypebeast.

Details regarding exhibition hours and dates follow below.

Recommended!

Daydreaming with…
Curated by James Lavelle and Simon Birch
ArtisTree Art Space by Swire Properties
1/F, Cornwall House, Taikoo Place, Island East
22 Westlands Road (Just take a taxi to Island East, go up the escalator, and you’ll find it!)
Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

Invite only on Friday, May 4th, open to the public from May 5th until June 7th, 2012
Opening times: 10:30am – 7pm, daily

Free!

To get there by MTR, take the train to Quarry Bay station, exit A

James Lavelle DJ set
Saturday, May 5th, 2012
FLY
24-30, Ice House Street
Central, Hong Kong

Before 11:30, $150 HKD includes one drink
After 11:30, $200 HKD includes one drink

Uptown Rockers, the d.j. super-group comprised of Sean The Prawn, Simon Pang, and Drafus, will be taking over the brand new Midnight & Co. for a special session on Monday night. The trio’s previous sets at Yumla, which used to occupy the same location, are legendary.

What makes The Uptown Rockers special?

The three d.j.s are all music fanatics, each with a diverse repertoire. When they get together, it’s a night of genre-defying, dancefloor madness that leaves party-goers often gasping for more. Expect amazing songs you haven’t heard in a decade mixed with beats that will become dance floor classics next year.

Uptown Rockers got their start at Yumla, playing marathon sets that lasted til dawn. They only perform together a few times per year, usually at Hong Kong music festivals. Here’s a short clip from their set at Clockenflap last December.

Tuesday is a public holiday in Hong Kong, making it the perfect occasion to check out Uptown Rockers on the new sound system at Midnight & Co.!

Highly recommended!

Uptown Rockers
Monday, April 30th, 2012
Midnight & Co. (the new Yumla!)
Lower basement, Harilela House, just below the intersection of Wyndham Street with Pottinger Street (next to the park.)

Free!

Doors open at 9pm

Ground-Zero label founders, Eri and Philip Chu, celebrated their most recent collaboration with D-mop at the J-01 pop-up space in Central on Thursday night.

The two brothers founded Ground Zero in 2003, and the fashionable girls brand has since gained both a local and international following.

Often integrating elements from Pop culture into their prints, the latest collection is no exception. The new Ground-Zero x D-mop series features cartoon characters that you will recognize and transforms them into colorful, vibrant patterns.

Models Lina and Elva, as well as the m.c. wearing pieces from the collaboration:

The launch event was well attended and the crowd spilled out onto Wellington Street.

A mixture of fashion insiders, models, and local “artists” packed the shop.

The same space was previously used for the Jeremy Scott pop-up last month.

Congratulations to Eri, Philip and the D-mop gang!

Ground-Zero X D-mop
J-01 pop-up space
G/F, 56-58 Wellington Street
Central, Hong Kong (just up the street from Yung Kee restaurant)

It’s been four months since the last time True Skool took over the rooftop above Star Ferry pier. After such a prolonged absence, this Friday, April 27th, might bring their biggest turnout yet.

The Pier 7 Bar has a large rooftop that allows partygoers to soak up Hong Kong’s skyline as they enjoy True Skool’s djs playing Old School Hip Hop and Reggae.

The rooftop Reggae parties draw a diverse crowd that are genuinely there for the music. The outdoor location somehow facilitates mingling, and it’s easy to make new friends. The party is inexpensive, relaxed and friendly – a stark contrast to Central’s other rooftop options.

This installment, titled Boom Shake Da Roof Vol.3, features special appearances by guest Djs Yeodie and Bravo, in addition to sets by DJ Shabaga, DJ NYC, Blooddunza, and DJ Dark Energy.

If you enjoy drinking outdoors to quality music with a great view, this event is for you! Check out the True Skool Facebook page for more details.

Recommended!

True Skool’s Boom Shake Da Roof! Vol.3
Rooftop of Pier 7 Cafe and Bar (above Star Ferry and Watermark)
Central, Hong Kong

$100 HKD includes 1 drink!
From 10pm til late

Hong Kong’s interest in the arts has risen dramatically over the past ten years. This weekend, the city will host Liberatum, a festival dedicated to celebrating creativity in all its many forms.

Liberatum aims to help highlight and stimulate the arts by mixing local talents with international powerhouses. The participants assembled span the fields of music, film, fashion, architecture, design and literature.

Big names that headline the fest include Pharrell Williams, filmmakers Paul Schrader and Mike Figgis; actress Rossy de Palma, Nobel Laureate Sir V.S. Naipaul, musicians William Orbit and Rosey Chan; and architect David Gianotten. Local talents include actor Daniel Wu, photographer Wing Shya, designer Andre Fu, filmmaker Nansun Shi and singer Khalil Fong.

Liberatum events and screenings take place over the weekend at the Lane Crawford Group’s facilities in One Island South, which is just a short ride through the Aberdeen Tunnel.

The festival begins on Friday afternoon at 3pm, with the last events being held on Sunday. Liberatum is free, and attendance to the programs are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For more information and a brief rundown of the festivities go here.

Complementing the special workshops and discussions will be exhibitions, films, and music on-site.

Getting there

The location of Liberatum Hong Kong is a medium-sized vacant space on the ground floor of One Island South. It’s just to the left of the main entrance on Heung Yip Road.

If you’re looking for transportation options, it’s possible to get there by bus. The bus stop is called ‘Aberdeen Sports Ground’. (It’s typically the second stop after the Aberdeen Tunnel)

From the bus stop you’ll be able to look up and see One Island South which is a brand new office tower. Simply proceed along the sidewalk that cuts through the sports ground to the building. It’s a 3 minute walk! The entrance to Liberatum is on the ground floor of the building on Heung Yip Road.

Recommended!

Liberatum Hong Kong
April 27th to 29th, 2012
Ground floor, One Island South
2 Heung Yip Road
Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong (on the way to Aberdeen)

Free!

Volar has two exciting nights back-to-back. Thursday, it’s the dynamic duo from Belgium otherwise known as 2manydjs. These guys are famous for their creative remixes and amazing live shows. We’ve covered them before on multiple occasions, and they are a must see!

Friday, it’s a showdown between Hype Nasty (featuring DJs Kid Fresh, Miss Yellow, Yao and Enso,) versus the dudes from Disco Stepchild (Drafus and Ben Ku.)

Both nights feature the best in underground dance music and should be a real smorgasbord of quality beats.

Dust off your dancing shoes! Thursday AND Friday nights are highly recommended!

2manydjs
Thursday, April 19th, 2012
$350 includes 2 drinks

Hype Nasty X Disco Stepchild
Friday, April 20th, 2012
$300 includes 2 drinks

Volar
Basement, 38-44 D’Aguilar Street (Lan Kwai Fong)
Central, Hong Kong

It’s safe to say that Hip Hop music wouldn’t exist as it does today without Grandmaster Flash. His legendary parties, his mixing prowess, his innovations in mixer design, and of course, his group, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, were instrumental in shaping Hip Hop’s formative years.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were a super group of their time, featuring the best DJ, the top rappers, the most slick live performance, and the coolest outfits. By the time they moved from playgrounds to making records, they were already seasoned performers. Yet Hip Hop music in those days was shunned by the industry, and couldn’t even be played on the radio in his home town of New York.

From its humble beginnings, few people could have guessed that Hip Hop would continue to have such an enormous impact on music, fashion, and style around the world even today.

Catching Grandmaster Flash on Saturday night at Hyde is your chance to bear witness to that lineage and support an originator, who without, there would be no Jay Z, Kanye West, or Lil Wayne.

Recommended!

Hyde has been stepping up their game over the last few months, bringing more big-name DJs to perform. Next Saturday, April 28th, they will be hosting DJ Qbert, the masterful West Coast turntablist.

DJ Grandmaster Flash
supported by DJ Dim Sum
Saturday, April 21st, 2012
Hyde
2/F, 3/F, 1 Lyndhurst Terrace
Central, Hong Kong

$250 advance, $350 door, tickets available from HK Ticketing and Tom Lee Music stores

From 10pm til late