Vocalist is HK's only shining star

Home-field advantage didn't help Hong Kong's indie rock bands too much at this year's Yamaha Asian Beat competition. The regional contest's grand finale was held on February 28 in the Jockey Club Auditorium at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, in front of a capacity crowd. The audience included a number of local rockers, such as Ryan Hui Wai-yan, Tai Chi's Joey Tang Kin-ming and Patrick Lui Yau-fai, and some former members of Lamkei, which won the grand prize for Hong Kong in 2000-01.

Unfortunately, our two rock representatives this year failed to land in the top three placings. The groups, Grin and Summer Junkiez, were beaten by bands from the Philippines (Pancake 80, third place), Malaysia (Atashinchi, second) and South Korea (Broken Valentine, first place).

However, the lead singer of Summer Junkiez, Anthony Yang Barry, was named best vocalist in the competition's individual awards. He is pictured (above, left) being presented with the prize by local producer Mark Lui Chung-tak. He won a US$1,000 Yamaha gift certificate.