Asia’s premier music and arts festival sets the scene for the best weekend of the year with the release of its full lineup and on-site experiences for the 10th anniversary edition
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.
MUSIC: FROM GLOBAL SUPERSTARS AND LOCAL HEROES TO THE BEST NEW MUSIC – LIVE!
Whatever you’re into, Clockenflap has you covered with a music lineup that spans a variety of genres, settings and sounds. With five stages to choose from, including the Harbourflap Stage, FWD Stage, YourMum Stage by Red Bull, Acorn/Robot Stage and Silent Disco powered by FWD MAX, as well as a diverse lineup of music legends and up-and-coming acts from around the world – including 14 acts making their Hong Kong debuts, 6 Asia-exclusives and 2 Clockenflap-exclusive sets – Clockenflap is your ticket to a voyage of sonic discovery.
THE UNMISSABLES: CLOCKENFLAP’S MUST-SEE LEGENDS
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-bemissed 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.
LORDS OF HIP-HOP: TURNTABLE MASTERS & RAZOR-SHARP MCS
Hip-hop fans are spoiled for choice this year, with a lineup featuring London grime sensation STORMZY, Edinburgh-based alternative Hip-hoppers YOUNG FATHERS and breakout LA rapper KID INK, while French producer ONRA and Californian DJ TOKIMONSTA will be serving up the freshest cuts from behind the decks.
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.
MADE IN HK: LOCAL FAVOURITES FLYING THE FLAG FOR HONG KONG
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.
CLOCKENFLAP EXPERIENCES: INTERACTIVE DELIGHTS FOR ALL THE FAMILY
Clockenflap is about much more than music, and the festival site is filled with unique interactive experiences and Instagram-worthy landmarks. Among the attractions custom-designed for capturing memorable moments are: FOOTPRINTS, an intriguing mirrored cavern that demands to be explored; BALLOON CHAIN, a gigantic constantly changing sculpture made of helium-filled balloons that has been a fan-favourite at the Coachella and Burning Man festivals over the past decade; #HOLY TECH, an electro-glyph-enhanced Mayan temple designed by Marc & Chantal and Brainrental; CAVE OF DENIAL, an ingenious installation constructed from discarded materials found on the streets of Hong Kong; There are also two cave-like installations created by architectural students from CUHK, called BOUND and WAVEY WEAVEY, which explore the theme of myth through parametric design and provide an offbeat space for chilling out. Last but not least, Cathay Pacific will deliver unforgettable interactive experience that is sure to surprise and delight every Clockenflap festival goer.
EXPLORE & DISCOVER: ART COMES ALIVE WITH CLOCKENFLAP’S WANDERING WONDERS
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.
RECHARGE & RELAX: EAT, DRINK & CHILL OUT WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY
Everyone needs to recharge now and then, and there are plenty of shaded spots around the festival site to grab a drink, a bite to eat or to simply chill out in relaxed surroundings. At FOOD BAZAAR, fans can chow down on an extensive selection of delicious food from around the world, from various Asian and European cuisines to South American and Middle Eastern, while CAMPER Café by Kuuchi offers a laidback picnic vibe in which to enjoy a coffee and a cupcake. Alternatively, revive your senses at the Red Bull Bar with a signature Red Bull mixed drink.
The PayMe Chill & Change area is the best place to recharge yourself and your phone. Grab a bite or a drink from the surrounding stalls and come relax with your friends, while listening to some great tunes. If you need to split a bill or pay back a friend for a wristband top-up, you can do it with PayMe App. Handmade Hong Kong, meanwhile, return to host the popular CRAFT MARKET, which will feature over 30 different stalls, and the Acorn/Robot Stage at FUTURE FIELDS will once again host a range of family-friendly activities throughout the day, including performances from local children’s entertainment favourites RUMPLE & FRIENDS and muchloved UK children’s songs performer NICK COPE.
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS & AWESOME ACTIVITIES: LEARN, GET PLAYFUL & HAVE FUN!
Clockenflap abounds with offbeat attractions that allow attendees to upgrade their festival look, learn a new skill or get their groove on. FWD Passionland is home to a fascinating assortment of quirky activities for attendees, including getting a temporary tattoo using the new Prinker digital printer, glittering & UV body painting, the chance to try Slacklining, and sunglasses and ear defenders giveaways – because it’s cool to be protected! FWD Passionland will also feature LED dancers in the evenings and the much-loved Silent Disco powered by FWD MAX, where free-to-loan headphones give revellers volume and channel control of the music, which is mixed live by top-class DJs.
Elsewhere, the Facesss beYOUty Station will have free touch-ups from professional makeup and hair artists to give attendees striking new festival looks; initial The Unusual Experience will give the audience the chance to try the spectacular art of body marbling on their hands and arms courtesy of Japan’s Dirty Workers Studio; Kiehl’s The Ultimate Experience offers the unique opportunity to try DIY silkscreening on tote bags; and Levi’s® Tailor Shop has an exhibition of trucker jackets in the much-hyped airstream, a polished aluminium coachers; a calligrapher who will write festivalgoers’ selected Cantonese lyrics on their favourite Levi’s items; and a tailor workshop experience – all for the hip and trendy. At adidas Originals in the Mix, attendees can learn to DJ and join in with a digital band under the guidance of DJ instructors from Sol Passion Music. And last but not least, there will be a selection of Kids Workshops to get the whole family in the festival spirit.
CLOCKENFLAP RECYCLES: THE FESTIVAL’S SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES
Clockenflap has invested considerable time and money over the years to reduce waste, and to find solutions to recycle as much waste as possible, and Clockenflap 2017 aims to achieve a previously unreached level of recycling for an event in Hong Kong. First and foremost, the festival encourages festivalgoers to take ownership of their waste, and to put plastic cups into the recycling stations provided. The festival will have recycling stations throughout the site with clear signage and dedicated staff to help festivalgoers separate their waste into the correct bins, and Clockenflap has collaborate with WWF-Hong Kong for on-site recycling education. Every cup and container handed out at the festival will be 100% recyclable, and the festival doesn’t allow plastic straws, stirrers or landfill-generating gimmicks from our sponsors, while food suppliers are restricted from using plastic packaging and cutlery too. The festival will also encourage everyone to stay hydrated through free water stations and reusable bottles sponsored by Life Solutions and BottLess.
