ZoukOut comes to Hong Kong, more mainstream and with an emphasis on live music

Singapore’s popular nightclub Zouk is finally coming to Hong Kong, for one night only. And it’s happening in the unlikeliest of locations: a racetrack.

That’s what the part of Hong Kong island from the Star Ferry pier to Tamar will become for a weekend in early October, when it plays host to the first ever Hong Kong ePrix on October 9, part of the Formula E series of electric-car events. And as part of the pre-race entertainment, on October 7 the purpose-built 50,000 sq ft Emotion Club at Central Harbourfront – actually the race’s converted hospitality tent – will host Live Edition by ZoukOut, a new iteration of Zouk’s famed ZoukOut outdoor-party brand, which in Singapore takes place on a beach. Topping the bill are US hip hop artist Nelly, R&B superstar Ne-Yo and Dutch house DJ and producer Nicky Romero.

Zouk opened its doors 25 years ago, at a time when dance music was very much a niche sound in Singapore. Famed for its three massive rooms, stylishly designed, maximalist interiors and high-tech projection-mapped visuals, the venue has attracted so much big-name DJ talent that DJ Mag placed it sixth in its most recent list of the best clubs in the world.

ZoukOut, the club’s outdoor festival, was launched in 2000. Its musical approach has always been even-handed, leavening a populist touch with more credible underground acts – so you have the likes of Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris, Afrojack, Chuckie and Avicii, but also the likes of Richie Hawtin, Sven Väth, Carl Cox, Masters at Work, Gilles Peterson and James Lavelle.

Zouk was given a major shake-up late last year, however, when it was bought by Genting Hong Kong, part of the giant Malaysian leisure group, and embarked on a programme of international expansion. ZoukOuts in the Philippines and Japan have followed, but Hong Kong is the first outing for the Live Edition concept.