As we’re winding down into late summer and early fall, Hong Kong’s music scene is about to end the season with a bang. The musical offerings this September are simply spectacular. Read on to see what’s in store.
How to Count to Ten (Photo: Yasuhiro Orii)
Hidden Agenda presents How to Count to Ten Live in Hong Kong
If you’re looking for a more experimental music experience and not a megastar concert, this event at Hidden Agenda should be right up your alley. Opening act Loveface is one of the many “does not subscribe to a specific genre” local indie bands. We say they kinda sound like Explosions in the Sky. Check out their song “Quiescent Turbulence.”
Headliners Japanese post-modern/math/pop rockers “How to Count to Ten” do a similar kind of strictly instrumental thing. They’re insistent their music is totally egoless and doesn’t have any kind of leading part. Their band description makes some comparison between their music and diving 2,000m into the sea, complete with time distortion and stuff. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ We’re not sure if that means they’re time benders or what, but it sounds cool.
When: 8pm Thursday, Sept. 3
Where: Hidden Agenda, 2A, Winful Industrial Building, 15-17 Tai Yip Street, Kwun Tong (Google Maps)
Price: HKD180
Tickets: Ticketflap
AIA Presents: Maroon 5 World Tour
Angeleno pop-rockers Maroon 5 are kicking off our star-studded September at AsiaWorld Expo. Regardless of your opinion of Adam Levine, dude can sing. Even critics that find fault in his songwriting admit the frontman can work a crowd. Here’s to hoping Adam sings “Sugar” shirtless like he did in Milan back in June.
When: 8pm Friday, Sept. 4
Where: AsiaWorld Expo (Google Maps)
Price: From HKD488
Tickets: HKTicketing
Tuxedo: Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One
Grammy-nominated neo soul Angeleno Mayer Hawthorne and Seattle hip-hop producer Jake One will be performing on the southside this month. The duo, known as Tuxedo, first bonded over their love of disco and funk and exchanged mixtapes with each other (awww!). Back in March, they released their critically acclaimed self-titled album. Given their friendship developed through the sharing of disco funk, we expect their set at Ovolo to be pretty epic.
Where: Ovolo Southside Hotel, G/F, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road, (Yip Fat Street Entrance), Wong Chuk Hang (Google Maps)
Price: HKD488
Tickets: Ticketflap
Alison Moyet
English contralto Alison Moyet is coming to Hong Kong to promote her album, “The Minutes”. It features music that both returns to her earlier days of synthpop and is more progressive, with some critics going as far as to declare this album the best of her career and a “contemporary classic”.
When: 8pm Sunday, Sept. 13
Where: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 5G, Wan Chai. (Google Maps)
Price: From HKD680
Tickets: HKTicketing
Irma: Face to Face Tour
Better grab those tickets fast, YouTube star Irma is coming back to Hong Kong. This French-Cameroonian folk-pop singer-songwriter performed to a sold out show in May.
Irma gained her fame by doing acoustic covers of popular songs, some in collaboration with other musicians. She’s a pretty big deal considering Will.I.Am collaborated with her on a cover of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.”
Highly recommended for those who like Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Bareilles and those singer-songwritery tracks from Skins.
Where: The Vine Centre, 29 Burrows Street, Wan Chai (Google Maps)
Price: HKD380 in advance, HKD430 at the door
Tickets: Ticketflap (use Coconuts Discount Code IRMAFF for 10% off)
Miriam Yeung – Let’s Begin World Tour 2015 in Macau
Local music diehards, 41-year-old Cantopop Queen Miriam Yeung is performing a set of her greatest hits at the Venetian in Macau. The award-winning (there’s a whole Wikipedia page dedicated to her achievements) singer/actress’ seven consecutive shows in Hong Kong sold out earlier this year, so you’ll have to cross a border to catch her this time.
When: 8pm Saturday, Sept. 19
Where: Cotai Arena, The Venetian, Macau (Google Maps)
Price: From HKD280
Tickets: HKTicketing
Imagine Peace Festival
The fourth annual Imagine Peace festival is back and (probably) bigger than ever! If you’ve ever entertained the idea of flying across the Pacific for Burning Man, Imagine Peace is a more low-key alternative right here in Hong Kong. Japanese genre-benders Cro-Magnon are sure to keep an upbeat tempo on Saturday night. Local talents Mitu’s Tribe, Gretchell Yaneza, and Twisted Donuts are also performing.
That said, there is a huge sustainability component you should be aware of. Imagine Peace subscribes to the Leave No Trace mentality, which means bringing your own cups, plates and utensils. Yup, you heard that right, there will be self-righteous vegetarians shaming you at every step. Oh yeah, and expect to eat vegetarian for the weekend, as well. More seriously, this year’s charity goal is to raise HKD60,000 for the Nepal Relief efforts.
When: 2pm Saturday, Sept. 19 – 5pm Sunday, Sept. 20
Where: Treasure Island Campsite, Pui O Beach, Lantau Island
Price: Weekend pass HKD380, single-day tickets HKD220; HKD450 and HKD250 at the door, respectively
Tickets: Ticketflap
House of Mercury presents Hiatus Kaiyote
As part of the Singleton Discovery Series, Ovolo Southisde Hotel is bringing Grammy-nominated artists Hiatus Kaiyote to Hong Kong. The group describes their music as “multi-dimensional, polyrhythmic gangster shit.” Seriously.
Others might call it neo/future soul, but their song “Nakamarra” (below) was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Performance. ¯We’re gonna go with “What the Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland would listen to on an intergalactic ferry.” These genre-bending Australians just released their sophomore album, Choose Your Weapon, on Flying Buddha/Sony Music Masterworks.
When: 8pm Wednesday, Sept. 23
Where: Ovolo Southside Hotel, G/F, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road, (Yip Fat Street Entrance), Wong Chuk Hang (Google Maps)
Price: HKD480 until September 1, HKD580 after
Tickets: Ticketflap
Bon Jovi Live in Macau
One of the few diamonds to emerge from the armpit of America, New Jersey’s Bon Jovi is coming to Macau with his brand new album, Burning Bridges. The album is their 13th and final album with Mercury Records. The title track hints at conflicts the band has had with its label and opens with a verse of goodbyes:
Adieu, good night, guten abend,
Here’s one last song you can sell
Lets call it burning bridges
It’s a sing along as well
Ciao, adieu, good nacht, guten abend
Play it for your friends in hell
Classy and subtle – just like New Jersey. But really – Bon Jovi is still kicking it and doing their triple platinum track “Livin’ on a Prayer” justice.
When: 8pm Friday & Saturday, Sept. 25, 26
Where: Cotai Arena, The Venetian, Macau (Google Maps)
Price: From HKD580
Tickets: HKTicketing
Muse Live in Hong Kong
English rockers Muse are coming to Hong Kong with their seventh studio album, Drones, which debuted this past June. Fans of Muse’s earlier work, circa Black Holes and Revelations, will be pleasantly surprised that the band has returned to a more classic rock sound with their trademark, yet updated, anthemic instrumental surge. Just what we all need for the late summer/early fall transition. The album’s themes of dehumanisation of modern warfare and the influence of modern technology add an extra layer of drama to the whole thing.
When: 8pm Monday Sept. 28
Where: AsiaWorld Expo (Google Maps)
Price: HKD780
Tickets: HKTicketing
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