Clockenflap, Hong Kong’s biggest music and arts festival, has unveiled a host of thrilling new acts and on-site experiences with the announcement of the complete lineup for this year’s 10th anniversary event. Taking place November 17-19 at Central Harbourfront, Clockenflap 2017 will feature more than 100 international, regional and local acts – including MASSIVE ATTACK, THE PRODIGY and the newly announced KAISER CHIEFS – on five stages, as well as an intriguing array of interactive experiences for all the family.
Other new acts just added to the lineup include UK grime MC STORMZY, LA rapper KID INK, French Hip-hop beatmaker ONRA, Californian DJ/producer TOKIMONSTA, Taiwanese funk-pop trio COSMOS PEOPLE and Hong Kong indie heroes CHOCHUKMO.
Topping the bill at Clockenflap this year are three huge acts that have graced the headline slots at some of the world’s biggest festivals: Friday night will see British indie maestros KAISER CHIEFS take the stage, followed on Saturday night by raucous electro-punk hellraisers THE PRODIGY. Sunday night will see the legendary MASSIVE ATTACK closing the festival with their dazzling full live show – featuring Mercury Prize-winning Hip-hop act Young Fathers. Also in the not-to-be- missed category are record-breaking Fab Four tribute act THE BOOTLEG BEATLES, who will lead what’s sure to be the biggest singalong of the weekend on Saturday afternoon.
INDIE & ALT-ROCK MAVERICKS: PUT YOUR FAITH IN A LOUD GUITAR
As well as indie-pop goddess and sometime vocalist for alternative-rock super-group Broken Social Scene FEIST and Portland alt-rock survivors THE DANDY WARHOLS, the band responsible for the global smashes Bohemian Like You and Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth, this year’s stellar lineup features UK punk provocateurs SLAVES, infectious Manchester indie-rockers BLOSSOMS and offbeat French quartet TOTORRO. Psychedelic rock fans, meanwhile, will be salivating over the chance to see Australian space rock maestros POND and UK mindbenders TEMPLES.
GREAT ACTS TO EXPLORE: INNOVATORS UPPING THE MUSICAL ANTE
Clockenflap prides itself on broadening fans’ musical horizons, and this year’s lineup is no exception. Malian world-music mavericks TINARIWEN are sure to win legions of new fans with their hypnotic live show, as will British neo-soul heroes JUNGLE and fast-rising Danish electropop chanteuse MØ. Blending disco, post-punk, electro and West-African funk, IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE cook up a sound that’s as eclectic as it is infectious, while HVOB & WINSTON MARSHALL sees the Austrian electronic production duo team up with Mumford & Sons’ guitarist to create an emotionally charged take on dance music. LEWIS CAPALDI, a young Scotsman tipped for big things, and acclaimed Japanese-American indie-rock chanteuse MITSKI, meanwhile, are two bold new voices in the singer-songwriter genre.
ELECTRONIC KINGS: CUTTING-EDGE SOUNDS FROM TOP DJS & ELECTRONIC ACTS
From woozy downtempo beats to full-on dancefloor insanity, Clockenflap serves up some of the best electronic music this side of Berlin. Among the highlights for 2017 are British dubstep titan SKREAM, Michigan techno trailblazer SETH TROXLER and in-demand Norwegian DJ/producer CASHMERE CAT, while fêted Canadian duo BOB MOSES, East London DJ YETI OUT and South London genre-blender SUBCOAT will also be jetting in to bring the party vibes.
ASIA’S FINEST: THE HOTTEST ACTS FROM AROUND THE REGION
Continuing the festival’s mission to showcase the best and brightest acts from Asia, Clockenflap 2017 welcomes a stellar lineup from across the region. South Korean future R&B star DEAN will deliver an Asian-festival-exclusive show, while Chengdu rappers HIGHER BROTHERS, J-Pop giants WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA and Taiwanese alt-indie band HELLO NICO are among the other highlights. Also making their Clockenflap debuts are Taiwan indie-funksters COSMOS PEOPLE, Thai tropical popsters GYM AND SWIM, and Manila live favourites PEDICAB and CHEATS.
Local indie legends FAN HUNG A are reforming for a special appearance at Clockenflap, while Cantopop heroes SUPPER MOMENT are sure to attract a huge crowd, as will indie kings CHOCHUKMO. The growing strength of Hong Kong’s band scene will also be showcased by post-punk act DAVID BORING, indie-rockers TEENAGE RIOT, bittersweet indie duo PER SE, acoustic folksters NEW YOUTH BARBERSHOP, ska revivalists THE RED STRIPES and – fresh from their European tour – alt-rockers ANWIYCTI. On the electronic side, local DJs MISS YELLOW and RE:FLEX, as well as the ROBOT crew, will be cutting it up on the decks.
As well as discovering your new favourite bands on different stages and making new friends all over, exploring the Clockenflap festival site means encountering a weird and wonderful cast of characters that are equal parts living art installations and otherworldly beings. These include Shigeki Matsuyama’s mesmerising ‘dazzle camouflage’ NARCISSISM: DAZZLEROOM, a mobile optical illusion that you can’t take your eyes off; Spanish body artist ellebannA’s QUANTUM, a continually morphing performance piece that was a big hit with fans at last year’s Clockenflap.
