Missed Clockenflap? 7 Asian music festivals to book instead – from Japan’s Fuji Rock with Lewis Capaldi and Lizzo, to Kendrick Lamar at Summer Sonic and Creamfields with Tiësto in Hong Kong
If there was ever a year to travel to a festival in Asia, it’s 2023. While Europe and North America chose to embrace “normality” by hosting large-scale music events last summer, much of this region is now entering its first post-pandemic honeymoon – and naturally, after three-plus years of empty stages and silent fields, we couldn’t be hungrier.
5 artists putting East Asian culture on the main stage at Clockenflap 2023
Naturally there’s thousands of disappointed music fans who missed out – but the time for mourning is over. Now it’s our turn to travel – so dry those tears, and make your plan B with STYLE’s handy upcoming regional festival guide. We’re only featuring events now booking with a confirmed line-up, and skipping the plethora of annual Asian winter festivals that fall later in the year – because frankly, who can wait that long?
1. Wanderland
If you really can’t hold on another second (or want to make your Flapping followers well jell), then hop a Manila-bound plane and hit the two-day Wanderland, making its own very public “comeback” after years away. Helpfully, this unofficial sister festival shares many acts also playing up north in Clockenflap – Phoenix, FKJ, Men I Trust, HYBS and Balming Tiger – as well as bringing out its own exclusives Carly Rae Jepsen and Sunset Rollercoaster, and hometown hero ((( O ))).
March 4-5 at Filnivest City Events Grounds, Metro Manila, Philippines
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2. Pelupo
Missed Clockenflap? No problem, this brand new, day-long neighbouring festival hosted near Pattaya just a week later features an almost carbon copy of the ‘Flap line-up – with Phoenix, Kings of Convenience, Men I Trust, Ginger Root, Ezra Collective and Black Country, New Road all making the most of the trip out East and doubling (or tripling) up. It takes place on the same site as December’s notorious Wonderfruit festival, 141km – or exactly one hour 31 minutes, the website claims – from Bangkok.
March 11 at The Fields at Siam Country Club, Chonburi, Thailand
3. Creamfields Hong Kong and Taiwan
Originally founded in the UK in 1998, a quarter century later and the world’s best-known electronic music happening has grown outshoots in as many countries as years it’s existed. For 2023, its young branches are back in both Hong Kong and Taiwan, simultaneously hosting almost all the same acts in two places. So we can thank our new-found quarantine-free travel for the fact that perennial party-starters Calvin Harris, Above & Beyond, The Chainsmokers and Tiësto are the top draws for this epic two-night audio assault.
April 1-2 at Central Harbourfront Events Space, Hong Kong and Dajia Riverside Park, Taipei City, Taiwan
4. S20
April 13-15 at Live Park, Bangkok, Thailand
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5. Good Vibes
Celebrating 10 years in existence this summer, Malaysia’s appropriately named indie fest is shaping up to host a killer bill, with indie icons of competing eras The Strokes and The 1975 in attendance, as well as fresher sounds from Dhruv, Rini and The Kid Laroi – and many more names promised. Located in, er, a former Formula One racing circuit, the site is conveniently set up with two main stages sitting right next to each other and on rotation – saving your legs (but offering you no escape from acts you want to skip). The fest is an easy 50km/50 minutes from KL, with trains running back to the city until just after midnight, making this an easy one for city slickers craving the comfort of a hotel.
21-23 July at Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
6. Fuji Rock
As ever, the three-dayer is hosted in the idyllic Naeba Ski Resort – some 300km north of Fuji mountain – where the weather is notoriously erratic and neighbourhood accommodation sells out quick. Oh, and prime camping spots are at a premium, so we advise arriving early on July 27 to minimise your commute.
July 28-30, Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata, Japan
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7. Summer Sonic
August 19-20 at Zozo Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe, Tokyo and Maishima Sonic Park, Maishima Sports Island, Osaka
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Clockenflap 2023 … part two?
Hong Kong’s only truly international indie festival was always hosted in November. The city’s sudden rollback in travel restrictions – and the fact Arctic Monkeys are touring the region – conspired to compel promoters Magnetic Asia to stage a one-off in March, and we’re super glad about it. But there’s every reason to believe the festival will reclaim its (presumably strategic) early-November slot later this year. After all, the Rugby Sevens did the same thing – staging a one-off November 2022 event before taking back its spring slot six months later.
So if you missed out this time, there’s every chance we’ll see Clockenflap back by the harbourfront before the year is out – just don’t leave it so long buying tickets next time.
UPDATE: A second edition of Clockenflap this year has been confirmed for December 1-3.
- If you’re kicking yourself because you missed out on Clockenflap, don’t worry: not only is it tipped to return in November, but there are some brilliant alternatives in the meantime
- From pop-indie legends The 1975, The Strokes and Blur popping up in Japan and Malaysia this summer, to big name DJs Calvin Harris and Tiësto in Hong Kong in April, now’s the time to grab tickets