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Hong Kong's music scene

Sheng player Loo Sze-wang, conductor Luke Dollman and didgeridoo player William Barton, at the Australian Residence, Hong Kong, ahead of a performance of Dylan Crismani’s concerto for Sheng and Didgeridoo, Coming Together. Photo: Eugene Chan

Sheng vs didgeridoo? When 2 of the world’s oldest wind instruments went head to head

What happens when you put 2 traditional wind instruments from different corners of the globe next to a Western classical orchestra? Dylan Crismani’s concerto for Sheng and Didgeridoo, Coming Together, attempts to answer that sonic conundrum.

What happens when you put 2 traditional wind instruments from different corners of the globe next to a Western classical orchestra? Dylan Crismani’s concerto for Sheng and Didgeridoo, Coming Together, attempts to answer that sonic conundrum

Profile | Why Cantopop stars from Faye Wong to Eason Chan love lyricist Albert Leung

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Hypefest to debut in Hong Kong in November, with electronic band Justice to headline

HK Phil’s new season kicks off with 24-year-old Tarmo Peltokoski

Named the orchestra’s music director from 2026-27, the young Finnish conductor begins a new season with a programme of Sibelius and Bruckner

Tarmo Peltokoski has already been named as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s music director from 2026/27. Ahead of that milestone, the young Finnish conductor kicks off the 2024/25 season with a programme of Sibelius and Bruckner on September 5 and 6. Photo: Peter Rigaud

Crash Adams to play their healing pop at YouTube Music Night in Hong Kong

Pop duo Crash Adams, who found fame on YouTube and TikTok, are returning to Hong Kong to play a selection of their hit songs at the YouTube Music Night at Harbour City on August 25.

Musician Olivier Cong’s latest album, Tropical Church, is an ode to Hong Kong

Oliver Cong went from a brooding songwriter to an acolyte of the late Ryuichi Sakamoto; his new album pays tribute to Hong Kong via experimental sounds

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Then & Now | How Hong Kong’s Diamond Records gave birth to Cantopop

Cantopop didn’t begin with Anita Mui or Jacky Cheung, but with the humble studios of post-war Hong Kong

Popular 60s soul band The Mystics are among the formatitive Hong Kong artists that cut their demo discs with Diamond Records, an incubator for what would become Cantopop. Photos: SCMP Archive

Can this new Hong Kong music venue fill a hole left by Kitec?

The 1,500-person-capacity AXA Dreamland at Go Park Sai Sha in Ma On Shan could soften the blow of the loss of Kitec’s 600-seat Music Zone, where bands including Mirror launched their careers.

Jazz star Ambrose Akinmusire is finding beauty in troubled times

Following his recent Hong Kong debut, the acclaimed trumpeter talks about influential mentors Wayne Shorter and Roy Hargrove, quitting the world’s biggest jazz label, and his fears for the coming US election

How Frances Yip helped put Cantopop on the map, seen in a new exhibition

Yip is in Hong Kong to give 2 concerts and to attend the exhibition ‘Soundtrack of Our Lives: Joseph Koo x James Wong x the Rise of Cantopop’ held at Tai Kwun, where she was once an auxiliary policewoman

Singer Frances Yip today, at the “Soundtrack of Our Lives” exhibition that traces the importance of her collaboration with songwriters James Wong and Joseph Woo in the rise of Cantopop. Photo: Abdela Igmirien

Music festival to photo exhibition, 5 weekend arts events in Hong Kong

View images of Leslie Cheung, Anita Mui and Maggie Cheung among other works at Sam Wong’s photo exhibition, or take your kids to Sho-Chan Playful Studio featuring the Japanese cartoon character.

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Sam Wong’s portrait of Maggie Cheung is among the works on show at the Hong Kong photographer’s solo exhibition at the Hong Kong Design Institute. Photo: Sam Wong

‘Cantopop is so unhealthy!’: the story of Hong Kong’s new Freespace Noise Fest

The inaugural Freespace Noise Fest is Hong Kong’s largest experimental music event to date, offering a loud rebuttal to the city’s syruppy pop sounds, says curator Kung Chi-shing

Summer 2024 fun in Hong Kong – 6 events from Mamma Mia! to anime convention

Want to turn up the fun in Hong Kong this summer? We have you covered, including a book fair, Doraemon exhibitions, a pop-up water park and the Unheard Sound and Music Festival.

Ambrose Akinmusire: Hong Kong’s most unmissable jazz gig of the year

From free-jazz freak-outs to working with rappers Kendrick Lamar and Kool A.D., the American trumpeter’s career has been one of 21st century music’s greatest surprises

American jazz musician and composer Ambrose Akinmusire, who performs at Hong Kong’s Xiqu Centre in July 2024, has been celebrated as one of the most influential jazz musicians of recent decades thanks to acclaimed albums including When the Heart Emerges Glistening (2011), Origami Harvest (2018) and Beauty is Enough (2023). Photo: Michael Wilson

‘Black people know the feeling’: R&B singer in Hong Kong on being fetishised

Singer Wesley Jamison grew up an introvert but came out of his shell in Hong Kong, tackling a lack of black representation along the way.

Singer Wesley Jamison, who moved to Hong Kong 10 years ago, grew up an introvert but came out of his shell in Hong Kong, tackling a lack of black representation along the way. Photo: John David Dela Peri

Hong Kong jazz club owner on ‘connecting people’, upcoming music festival

Joe Lung talks of his pride in forging a musical and artistic community centred on his jazz club Chez Trente in Hong Kong’s Central district, and the upcoming Chez Trente Music Fest.

Hong Kong weatherman, 74, turns to rap music to warn about wasteful fast fashion

Former Observatory director Lam Chiu-ying teams up with singer-songwriter Luna Lee for rap song with environmental message.

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‘No air con’: Hong Kong weatherman’s hip hop

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Hong Kong’s H2 Festival returns packed with local musicians – and it’s free

Hong Kong’s H2 Festival returns to The Wanch this summer with a huge line-up of local bands and artists. Organiser Keith Goodman wants you to see as many as possible. Why not? It’s free.

Hongkongers 8km from festival complain about noise although levels within limits

S2O Hong Kong Songkran Music Festival was held at the weekend at the Central harbourfront.

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Revellers soak up S2O Hong Kong Songkran Music Festival, ‘world’s wettest party’

‘World’s wettest party’ combines elements of Thailand’s Songkran water festival with a roster of international artists.

The festival is among 210 designated mega events being rolled out this year. Photo: Edmond So

Like Leslie Cheung, but for rap: Haysen Cheng on his rise to the top

Having made his name in mainland China, Hong Kong rapper Haysen Cheng wants to channel his journey from cash-strapped youth to established artist and inspire the people of his home city.

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Haysen Cheng wants to represent hope for the youth of Hong Kong. Photo: Haysen Cheng

Waterbomb Hong Kong music festival slammed after Saturday queues chaos

Chaos at Waterbomb Hong Kong music festival after long queues caused by delayed start and hours-long wait to retrieve bags from cloakroom after event ends.

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Cantopop diva Sandy Lam thrills crowd at Hong Kong Phil anniversary shows

Sandy Lam was star guest at the HK Phil’s three 50th anniversary shows, shining in her 75-minute sets. She was joined by singer-songwriter Anthony Lun and Cantopop legends Frances Yip and Elisa Chan.

Profile | Who is Jan Lamb? One half of Cantopop duo Softhard – and a whole lot more

Jan Lamb of Cantopop duo Softhard is nothing if not versatile. The Hong Kong entertainer has been an actor, graphic designer, rapper, stand-up comedian, popular radio host, dramatist, and film director.

Jan Lamb pictured in 2014. Photo: SCMP

Rapper Oddisee is busy making music, and he’s coming back to Hong Kong

Oddisee, who was in Hong Kong for Clockenflap 2018, is back for an intimate gig, playing music from his catalogue, including his latest album To What End, and coming EP And Yet Still.

Oddisee, who was in Hong Kong for Clockenflap 2018, is back for an intimate gig, playing music from his catalogue, including his latest album To What End and coming EP And Yet Still. Photo: Lawrence Miller

‘Zen vibe’: Hong Kong post-punk rockers Nan Yang Pai Dui on their new album

Hong Kong indie band Nan Yang Pai Dui, aka NYPD, reveal the smoking inspiration behind their latest album, Easy Lighter, and why they loved messing around with AI for their next release.

Profile | ‘Something we could be proud of’: DJ covers Anita Mui, other Cantopop songs

Techno DJ Olivia Dawn Mok, aka Xiaolin, is releasing contemporary takes on some Cantopop classics to remind the world of Hong Kong’s musical influence in the 1980s and 90s.

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Hong Kong's music scene
From boy band Mirror to the city's indie scene, get the latest musical updates from Hong Kong right here.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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