Clockenflap 2018 is happening soon! See who we’re excited to see
After catching an array of live performances this year, such as Snail Mail, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Beach Fossils and Sleep Party People, everyone is excited for Hong Kong’s largest music and arts festival Clockenflap. Taking place at Central Harbourfront, Clockenflap 2018 will return on 9-11 November for its 11th edition. Encompassing a wide range of genres, from post-punk to dream pop and neo-psychedelia, we recommend you to start listening to these bands as we dissect its very exciting first round of line-up.
WIN TICKETS TO CLOCKENFLAP 2018
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We have four double passes for the entire weekend at Clockenflap this November to giveaway. Simply fill in your details below and be in with a chance to win!
Terms and conditions: Competition closes at 11:59pm on Tuesday, 6 November, and all winners will be notified by e-mail. All entrants’ details will be added to the Honeycombers Hong Kong database.
Our top picks for Clockenflap 2018
Erykah Badu
We can’t even tell you how pumped we are that Clockenflap has added Erykah Badu to the lineup for 2018. The Queen of Neo Soul will be closing out the festival on the Sunday night, and we’re sure you’ll be able to expect to see all her classic musical stylings and electric attitude on stage. Somebody, Call Tyrone because, Miss Badu is about to light up Hong Kong!
Cigarettes After Sex
Most known for their ethereal soundscape and frontman Greg Gonzalez’s androgynous voice, American ambient pop band Cigarettes After Sex’s hit song Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby has got almost 80 million views on YouTube. Having just released their latest singles Crush and Sesame Syrup, the band will return to the stage of Hong Kong at Clockenflap 2018 as one of the headliners. This band is a must-see for those who are hopelessly romantic and sentimental.
Jarvis Cocker introducing JARV IS…
Jarvis Cocker introducing JARV IS… is the new band created by Jarvis Cocker, former lead singer of the legendary band Pulp. Having been making music for two-thirds of his life, this is definitely one of the most exciting news from the talented Jarvis Cocker since Pulp’s hiatus. Right now, we recommend you to revisit Cocker’s self-titled debut solo album released in 2006, which includes popular tracks like Black Magic and Baby’s Coming Back To Me.
Alvvays
When it comes to the best indie albums of 2017, Alvvays’ Antisocialites was a hit – think beautiful shoegaze reverbs and synth-driven dreamy melodies. Most known for their catchy single Archie, Marry Me!, Canadian indie darlings Alvvays manage to deliver a more sophisticated yet bubbly sound in their sophomore album, especially in tracks like In Undertow and Lollipop (Ode to Jim). Having caught their live performance once in Oakland, California earlier this year, I can assure you that they’re a ten out of ten.
Read our full interview with Alvvays here
The Vaccines
If you’re into bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain or Arctic Monkeys, then you can’t miss out on the much beloved English indie rock band The Vaccines. Their fourth album Combat Sports, released in 2018, quickly charted at no.4 in the UK upon release. And we’re so excited to see them perform in the city again!
Wu Tiao Ren
Looking for something interesting and different at Clockenflap 2018? Coming from southeastern Guangdong Province, Chinese folk band Wu Tiao Ren delivers some of the most heartfelt and lively tunes that will make you swoon. If you’re keen to learn more about the underground music scene in China, this is a good start.
Blue Hawaii
Based in Montreal, the Canadian electronic music duo crafts mesmerisingly tantalising sound like no other. Whether you’re into dream pop or dark electronica, Blue Hawaii is one to look out for.
Sunflower Bean
One band that we look forward to seeing the most at Clockenflap 2018 is Brooklyn-based neo-psychedelic indie rockers Sunflower Bean. Having recently released their second album Twentytwo in Blue, Sunflower Bean pair old-school jangle pop with alternative rock wonderfully. If you adore 90s bands like The Sundays, Sunflower Bean will definitely grow on you.
Anpu
Taiwanese singer-songwriter Anpu, formerly known as Deserts Chang, whose brilliant songwriting taps into themes like nature, politics and gender is another one to keep a look out for at Clockenflap 2018. Having been away for three years to reposition herself (even having shut down her own Facebook page), she’ll once again touch us in a unique way with her remarkable voice.
Wolf Alice
Having performed at Laneway Festival in Singapore back in January, British indie rock band Wolf Alice will finally be having their first debut show in Hong Kong at Clockenflap 2018. Their latest release Vision of a Life, featuring tracks like Space & Time and Planet Hunter, is an unabashedly honest and dynamic alternative rock album. If you’re into garage rock and post-grunge riffs, Wolf Alice will undoubtedly send you to a frenzy.
Interpol
Last but not least, you can’t miss out on one of the headliners – Interpol. Founded in 1997, the New York indie legends are known for crafting rich and uproarious post-punk sound, drawing comparisons to bands like Joy Division and The Chameleons. Having just released their sixth studio album, Marauder, in August, there can’t be a better timing to catch them in Hong Kong!
Now, let’s wait for the second round of line-ups, which will soon be released in early October!
Clockenflap 2018, Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road Central, Central District, Hong Kong, 中環海濱活動空間
Want to discover more cool artists and music? Check out our favourite Hong Kong bands, learn more about lo-fi music with Mellow Fellow or listen to dream pop band The Bilinda Butchers from San Francisco.
