Outtakes
Set a course for Happy Avenue
Faye Wong may be the internationally known face of female Chinese music, but on the mainland Wu Hongfei has been catching up with the diva as audiences and critics warm to her folk-influenced alternative rock.
Wu is the frontwoman of Happy Avenue, a band who came together in Beijing in 1999 and who are now undertaking their first China tour, which will take in Hong Kong early next month. The graduate of Tsinghua University is a member of the Dong ethnic minority from the southern province of Guangxi, and her vocal melodies betray the influence of Chinese folk singing.
The group's music is eclectic and has drawn comparisons to gothic rock and even avant-funk band Talking Heads.
But Wu has simply said: 'We never, ever let 'common taste' influence our music. We do what we like.'
Since their first performance at the Midi Modern Music Festival in Beijing in 2000, Wu and the Happy Avenue have enjoyed critical acclaim for their first two albums, and during the upcoming tour will be promoting their latest release, Rouge, which sees the band delve deeper into folk rock.
Wu and her band will appear alongside a number of like-minded local acts on June 1 at Club Cixi in Central, with advance tickets HK$100 (from Zoo Records and White Noise Records) or HK$120 at the door.
The Penelopes back for more
Hong Kong regularly attracts repeat visits by overseas acts, and another indie outfit who seem to have developed a taste for the city are Parisian electro-pop outfit the Penelopes, who caused a storm at HK Live! six months ago and are back in town to play tonight.
The duo of Axel Basquiat (above, right) and Vincent Tremel (above, left) don't categorise themselves as a rock band or dance band, but reveal that their music is influenced by post-punk and new-wave acts such as New Order, the Smiths, Depeche Mode and the Sisters of Mercy.
Before their last visit, Basquiat said: 'Because I am black, everyone assumes we are a dance act, but we really do come more from the white end of the music spectrum. Of course, we want our music to be danced to but we are more than just a dance act.'
Recently named as best discovery in the 2007 Qwarts Electronic Music Awards, the Penelopes put on a catchy show that utilises the melodrama of cabaret. Catch their show from 9.30pm tonight at Backstage, 1/F Somptueux Central, 52-54 Wellington Street, Central, tickets HK$150 at the door.
It's a Dunne deal
Speaking of returns to Hong Kong, British house music institution Hed Kandi is coming back for its sixth round in Hong Kong, this time featuring its most acclaimed DJ personality in the form of David Dunne, who has appeared on stage alongside stars such as the Spice Girls and Simply Red.
Dunne has just completed his 10th consecutive season in Ibiza, and performed at the closing party for this year's Winter Music Conference in Miami.
His press release describes him as 'a DJ with no ego and plenty to talk about', and during the next local Hed Kandi instalment on June 21 he will be backed up on electronic drums by Ian C, a percussionist who has been showcased on touring dance music events staged by Ministry of Sound and Gatecrasher.
The show will be held at Club JJ's in the Grand Hyatt, with tickets HK$280 in advance or HK$350 at the door.
