Asia rocks!
Music festival season is upon us and Asia is on the map for this year's biggest live acts. While Hongkongers have to wait until November for Clockenflap, there are plenty of names from The xx to Linkin Park stopping by en route to other festivals. Here's the 48 Hours guide to the hottest gatherings. By Dave Bannister
HONG KONG
July 31, 7pm
Star Hall, Kitec
Winners of the 2010 Mercury Music Prize, The xx are those rare creatures who see the value in playing Hong Kong and Asia while their career is still in its ascendancy. The indie-pop band from London followed up their award-winning debut with the sophomore album, Coexist, late last year, which led to them being nominated for best band at the 2013 Brit awards. In between, they’ve translated their seductive sound to film soundtracks including The Great Gatsby.
Not to be missed.
Tickets: sold out, hkticketing.com
August 13, 8pm
AsiaWorld-Expo
Grunge stalwarts The Smashing Pumpkins celebrate their 25th anniversary in the only way they know how – with a wall of noise.
Frontman Billy Corgan reassembled the Chicago band in 2007 after nearly a decade between records, and their most recent release, last year’s Oceania, saw them return to their psychedelic, shoegazing roots without ditching their embrace of electronica to create epic atmospheric soundscapes.
Tickets: HK$580-HK$780, hkticketing.com
August 15, 8pm
AsiaWorld-Expo
Chester Bennington and his hard-rocking crew return for some melodic screaming mixed with rap to promote the band’s Living Things album, which topped the charts in 20 countries. The Grammy-winning rockers can boast about being the biggest band on Facebook, with more than 52 million fans, which means you can expect younger fans in the audience besides their diehard followers.
Tickets: HK$288-HK$888, hkticketing.com
September 13, 8pm
CotaiArena,
The Venetian Macao
Diamonds diva Rihanna gets her bling on in the glitziest place in Asia. The headlinegrabbing Barbadian star is arguably the hottest and hardest-working woman in pop, fuelled by a procession of dance-friendly hits and her raunchy stage act. She doesn’t come cheap, and VIP tickets are likely to rise in value for the chance to get up close with the singer.
Tickets: HK$280-HK$1,780, hkticketing.com
Suede
September 29, 8pm
AsiaWorld-Expo
The androgynous Brett Anderson will reignite many an old flame when Suede return to Hong Kong. The band holds a special place on the bedroom walls of Hongkongers for their multiple visits to the city during their 1990s heyday. The concert will most likely feature classics such as Animal Nitrate along with tracks from their new album Bloodsports, a return to musings on love, life and loss.
The band reformed in 2010 after a seven-year hiatus.
Tickets: HK$580-HK$780, hkticketing.com
Clockenflap
November 29-December 1
West Kowloon
Hong Kong’s homegrown music festival really hit its stride last year on the West Kowloon waterfront. The blend of local band and DJ talent with a creative pick of overseas performers makes it the one weekend of the year you don’t want to miss. This year’s line-up will begin to be released later in the summer.