Clockenflap Hong Kong: from The Prodigy to Stormzy, the Saturday festival acts you have to see
If you thought Friday night’s line-up was good, the second day of the festival ramps up the excitement even more. To make sure you catch the best bands, here’s a list of the ones not to miss
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We advise getting in early to catch some fantastic Hong Kong bands, but be sure to save some energy for the high-octane headline acts playing in the evening.
These are the must-see acts playing on the Saturday of Hong Kong’s biggest music festival.
Teenage Riot
Inspired by the garage and dream-pop bands of the 1990s, Teenage Riot count members of influential Hong Kong bands such as 22 Cats and False Alarm as members, and churn out a noisy brand of psychedelic rock. They started out as a Sonic Youth covers band, so will appeal to fans of those New York noisemakers, as well as shoegazey acts such as My Bloody Valentine.
Where and when: 12.45pm, Harbourflap stage
The Red Stripes
Not that they have much competition, but the Red Stripes are undoubtedly Hong Kong’s top ska band. During the past five years, this 11-piece outfit have become festival favourites, bringing their ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul sounds to audiences all across Asia.
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The Red Stripes were last seen at Clockenflap in 2014 playing with the son of ska legend Prince Buster, Sultan Ali.
Where and when: 2pm, Harbourflap stage
Gym and Swim
This tropical-pop quintet from Thailand are hotly tipped by the Clockenflap organisers and could be one of the breakout acts of the festival. Gym and Swim are made up of members of various other Bangkok bands, but together produce an infectious, summery sound that’s the aural equivalent of a Mai Tai on a hot afternoon.
Where and when: 2.45pm, YourMum stage
Fan Hung A
Clockenflap will see the first live show in more than 10 years by these Hong Kong indie icons.
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Although they only released three albums of Britpop-influenced sounds after forming in 1999, Fan Hung A influenced a new generation of Hong Kong musicians, and they’ll be taking their followers on a trip down memory lane at Clockenflap.
Where and when: 3.45pm, FWD stage
David Boring
This nihilistic, aggressive Hong Kong band take their cues from the No Wave movement of the late 1970s (which spawned the likes of Sonic Youth and Swans), and are led by a female singer who has drawn comparisons with punk singer Poly Styrene from British band X-Ray Spex. They normally play secret gigs in industrial buildings, so this is your chance to catch them on a large stage.
Where and when: 4pm, YourMum stage
Hello Nico
Hello Nico are one of the most hotly tipped bands to emerge from Taiwan in recent years and won acclaim – and thousands of new fans – with their performance at the South by Southwest festival in Texas earlier this year. The four-piece band always put on an emotional performance, with singer Zhan Yuting’s beautiful voice rising over an ocean of synth and feedback.
Where and when: 5.15pm, YourMum stage
Tinariwen
These Grammy-winning musicians from the Sahara Desert have a long, incredible story, with some members having fought in their Tuareg ethnic group’s rebellion against the Malian government in the early 1990s. Now the band described as “music’s true rebels” by NPR tour the world with a message of peace entwined through their West African-influenced tunes.
Where and when: 5.30pm, Harbourflap stage
Slaves
Bringing a heavy dose of British punk attitude to Hong Kong are Slaves, a two-man outfit who revive the snarling sounds of the Seventies. The duo have enjoyed a lot more success than many of their punk forebears, landing an album in the British top 10 and collaborating with Mike D of the Beastie Boys.
Where and when: 6.30pm, YourMum stage
Stormzy
The addition of Stormzy has given Clockenflap its strongest line-up of urban/bass artists ever. Born Michael Omari, Stormzy is one of the biggest names in the breakout UK grime movement, and has emerged as a crossover star in the past year with appearances on the British reality shows The X Factor and Love Island.
Where and when: 7.15pm, Harbourflap stage
Onra
This globetrotting French producer has become a festival favourite in Europe, blowing minds with his live performances of tracks such as his Chinoiseries releases, which are made up of samples of Chinese picked up during travels through Asia. It’s hip hop but not as we know it, with Onra throwing everything from jazz, funk, soul and R&B into a musical blender.
Where and when: 7.45pm, YourMum stage
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Blossoms
The English indie-poppers from Greater Manchester are one of the most exciting young international bands on the Clockenflap line-up and have been described by NME as “this year’s biggest guitar-pop shooting stars”. Blossoms combine retro synths and guitar riffage with a whiff of psychedelia, and their set at Clockenflap will be their only show in Asia this year.
Where and when: 8pm, FWD stage
The Prodigy
These veteran electro-punks hardly need any introduction, having maintained their status as one of Britain’s biggest bands for almost three decades. Clockenflappers can expect The Prodigy to bring the Saturday night to an explosive climax as they run through an influential back catalogue containing heavy-duty dance numbers such as Firestarter, Out of Space and Smack My Bitch Up.
Where and when: 9pm, Harbourflap stage
