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Hong Kong's music scene

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.
Terrible Baby at Eaton HK is throwing a Back to the Future party on New Year’s Eve. Photo: Handout
What to do in Hong Kong

The best New Year’s Eve countdown parties in Hong Kong for ringing in 2026

Highlights include DJ Willer at The Aubrey, DJ Anil Ahuja at The Trilogy, and South Korea’s DJ Drako at Gossip.

Hong Kong

How Cantopop created Hong Kong’s own Christmas soundtrack

Hong Kong celebrities and icons

Profile | The bold reinvention of 1990s Hong Kong sex symbol Veronica Yip

Performing arts in Hong Kong

Wicked songs in Cantonese? New online series champions Hong Kong talent

Songs like ‘Popular’ and ‘What Is This Feeling’ have been painstakingly translated for the ‘Wicked in Canto’ series on YouTube and Instagram.

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Singers Chloe Wong (left) and Marco Tang are part of the 17-person troupe responsible for “Wicked in Canto”, a series of videos featuring songs from the global musical phenomenon performed in Cantonese. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong celebrities and icons

Profile | Cantopop icon Alan Tam: from Leslie Cheung’s rival to fans smashing albums

‘Principal Tam’ ruled Cantopop in the late 1970s and ’80s but later vexed fans with his offstage actions. Still, he’s going strong today.

Hong Kong

Who to watch at Clockenflap 2025

Hong Kong’s favourite music spectacular is back from December 5 to 7 – here are our highlights to pencil into your festival diary.

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Music

Why Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos loves playing in Hong Kong

Franz Ferdinand are appearing at Hong Kong’s Clockenflap festival in December and vocalist Alex Kapranos is glad to be coming back.

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Franz Ferdinand’s lead vocalist and lead guitarist Alex Kapranos will return to Hong Kong in December with the band to perform at Clockenflap 2025. Photo: Clockenflap
Hong Kong

For Hong Kong’s outsiders, zines offer what the city doesn’t – space, dignity and voice

At workshops and festivals, some are embracing DIY publishing as a slower, more human way to find connection and tell their stories.

Performing arts in Hong Kong

Review | Jazz great Dianne Reeves brings the house down at Hong Kong return show

With her commanding stage presence, huge vocal range and some top-notch backing, Dianne Reeves delivered a soulful, polished performance.

On Our Radar

Slow mornings, island air and 30-plus acts: CT Music Fest rethinks the formula

CT Music Fest heads to the Saiyuen campsite for 3 days of close listening, community vibes and a Hong Kong-first artist lineup.

A band plays at last year’s CT Music Fest, which is back for its third edition. Photo: courtesy CT Music Fest
Music

The Hong Kong Cantopop drummer helping revive the genre with his DJ sets

Stephane Wong drummed for Cantopop stars Eason Chan and Joey Yung in the 2000s. Now, his DJ discos are helping Hongkongers reminisce.

Stephane Wong in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. The drummer-DJ fuses 1980s hits with electronic music at his Cantopop disco parties. Photo: Jonathan Wong
New Openings

Hong Kong new openings, from new music venue Tides to a pet club in West Kowloon

Italian pasticceria Cova reopens in Pacific Place, a new pickleball venue offers four indoor courts, and pets come first at WestK Pet Club.

My Life

He plays music with his elbows and brings skateboard tricks into his performances

Steve Hui Ngo-shan reflects on his journey from teen raver to Hong Kong’s leading sound artist. He even writes operas.

Hong Kong celebrities and icons

Profile | How actor Anthony Wong survived terrible films, ‘shut out’ by mainland China

From humble beginnings, Anthony Wong overcame adversity to become one of Hong Kong’s top actors and a man unafraid to speak out.

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Actor Anthony Wong stays active in local theatre and collaborates with filmmakers. Photo: Felix Wong
Your Perfect Week

The best things to do in Hong Kong, November 2-8

Enjoy cabaret at Maggie Choo’s, revel in a festival of jazz in West Kowloon or tuck into some prime beef at Carna.

Central bar Maggie Choo’s is bringing a fresh cabaret experience to Hong Kong. Photo: courtesy Maggie Choo’s
Music

The story of Lamma Fun Day, Hong Kong’s longest-running free music festival

Taking place this year on November 15 and featuring its biggest line-up, LFD raises money to support youth projects and initiatives in Nepal.

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Hong Kong celebrities and icons

Profile | How Shirley Kwan, Cantopop’s complex ‘queen of cool’, is a star like no other

Kwan experienced a meteoric rise followed by an artistic metamorphosis in the 1990s, before personal struggles began to take the spotlight.

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Why new documentary on Beyond’s Wong Ka-kui only tells part of the story

Because of You – Ka Kui, about the life of the Hong Kong frontman, is marred by the same issues that tore Beyond apart after his death.

Wong Ka-kui in a still from Because of You – Ka Kui. The new documentary tells the story – albeit an incomplete one – of the late frontman of Beyond, widely considered Hong Kong’s most influential band ever.
New Openings

Hong Kong’s newest openings, from Tempura Nagaoka to Bakehouse at The Peak

Tempura Nagaoka brings Fukuoka’s street-stall culture to Causeway Bay, while Bakehouse now offers cityscape views with your egg tart.

First Mention

When rumours swirled around the cause of Cantopop star Danny Chan’s death

Chow Yun-fat, Sally Yeh, Anita Mui and Pansy Ho attended his funeral. It was speculated that attempted suicide, Aids or a drug overdose caused his death.

Hong Kong economy

New Hong Kong concert venue 70% booked until year end

1,500-capacity Tides venue in Whampoa fills a demand gap for facilities of this size in city, operator says.

Local rapper Novel Fergus performs on the opening night of Tides. Photo: Eugene Lee
My Life

Andrew Tuason on his music career alongside Cantopop’s biggest stars

The record producer, composer and band leader discusses learning his craft from his father and working with Jacky Cheung and Andy Lau.

Andrew Tuason in his Hong Kong studio during rehearsals for his upcoming tour in San Francisco. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Performing arts in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Early Music Festival celebrates grand sounds of the Baroque

The October festival will feature four concerts and over 20 players, with fresh music and unusual crossovers between genres and cultures.

Hong Kong celebrities and icons

Profile | How Hong Kong’s ‘Fat Mama’ Maria Cordero went from Cantopop to controversy

The Macau-born singer, actor and TV chef was a beloved star from the 1980s to the 2000s, but more recently her politics have divided opinion.

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Centre Stage

This director of music wants you to listen differently

The Oakland native moved to Hong Kong in 2010 and started the XXX Gallery. Now he curates a listening experience for thoughtful Hongkongers.

James Acey in the Eaton HK radio booth. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Music

Meet the Hong Kong DJ collective bringing back Cantopop’s golden age

Beat Friday plays the ‘best of Cantopop’ for party-goers at Hong Kong venues big and small. The trio reflect on the genre’s enduring appeal.

(From left) Beat Friday members Zip Chow, INK and Ballshing at Bing Bing in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. The DJ collective reflects on the enduring appeal of Cantopop. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Hong Kong society

Meet the musician who turns Hong Kong’s noise pollution into urban symphonies

Laurie Lau, 27, who went viral for remixing city noises into songs, explains how curiosity led him to reimagine stressful sounds as harmonies.

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Hong Kong celebrities and icons

Profile | How ‘ugly’ Hong Kong star William So overcame scandal to return to the top

From taking Anita Mui’s fashion tip to rebuilding himself after drug charges, the bespectacled singer and actor’s story is one of resilience.

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