It's been in the rumour mill for weeks, but we can now confirm that Avril Lavigne will be playing Hong Kong in March. She's just one of a handful of hot acts heading here in the next few months. Lavigne's gig will mark her Hong Kong debut. Famous for her heavy eye-liner and angst-ridden lyrics, the Canadian wild child spent her free time camping and fishing before she rose to fame in 2002 after releasing her debut album Let Go aged just 17. Lavigne will play at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on March 25. Tickets will go on sale at the end of this month ($780, $680, $480 and $320). Sting was in Hong Kong just over a year ago to promote his album Sacred Love. And he's back this Wednesday to give a live performance of those tracks. Sting has been around a long time. He started off life as Gordon Sumner but picked up the name Sting when, in his 20s, he played a gig wearing a bee-like yellow-and-black striped jersey. In 1977, he started singing and playing guitar with The Police, and he left to start his solo career at the height of their fame. Ask your parents if they remember his chart-topping hits like English Man in New York and Fragile. And he's just as famous for saving the planet. In 1989, he founded the Rainforest Foundation to protect the world's rainforests and their indigenous people. (HKCEC, $998, $798, $458) Also heading this way in two weeks is k.d. lang. She might not be a big name in Hong Kong - yet - but she sure made headlines in the late 1980s with her androgynous looks and by later coming out as lesbian. Like Sting, she is a social activist and is fiercely vegetarian. You can't doubt her musical talent. Her smash hit Constant Craving won her a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance. (February 2, HKCEC, $980 and $590) Next up is Norah Jones in March. The 25-year-old sultry vocalist and pianist already has eight Grammys under her belt. She has sold more than 37 million records in less than three years since her debut Come Away with Me. Her unique blend of music which crosses jazz, soul and pop is a treat. (March 11, HKCEC, $550, $450 and $350) Hong Kong is lucky enough to be R.E.M.'s only Southeast Asian stop on their world tour. This is another band that has been doing the rounds. They formed in 1980 with frontman Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills. They will perform hits ranging from ballads to rock numbers (hopefully including Losing my Religion), as well as tracks from their latest album Around the Sun. Shaven-headed Stipe's mumbled voice is addictive. (March 20, HKCEC, Tickets: $888, $688, $488 and $388) If you are into jazz, you'll be happy to hear Diana Krall will be here in March. As one of the most commercially successful jazz musicians, fans are hoping for all the favourites plus those of her equally famous husband Elvis Costello. (March 29, HKCEC, Tickets: $888, $588, $388) And not forgetting our local talent. We've got rock band Beyond (Thursday to Feb 1) and Canto-pop legend Sam Hui Koon-kit (Feb 8-13). Both at the Hong Kong Coliseum ($100 to $400). All tickets for overseas acts available through HK Ticketing on 31 288 288. For local acts, tickets available through Urbtix on 2734 9009.
