Hong Kong Covid live-music ban creates depression, debt and doubt for city’s independent musicians
- Musicians who used to make a living playing shows and events have to diversify as ban on playing live in bars and restaurants to curb Covid-19 spread drags on
- The ban has ‘devastated Hong Kong’s live music scene’, with an exodus of talent and venue closures, but one promoter is doing what she can to help
Tears flow as Hong Kong musician Kylie Chow Kit-yee talks about how the government’s ban on live music in bars and restaurants is hurting her emotionally and financially.
A bass player with her events band The Clover, and Indie band Logo, Chow has gone through her savings and sold her double bass and a keyboard to stay afloat.
“It’s been more than two years and we all thought the ban would have been lifted by now,” Chow says of the social distancing rules imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19. “People are leaving – our Logo drummer left for the UK recently.”
Despite the challenges, Chow remains positive and motivated. During the ban she embarked on a business degree and became a certified ukulele player.
To help pay her bills and the rent on her flat, she sold pet food and worked in online marketing for a beauty brand. More recently she became a part-time art and music tutor.