As the weather begins thinking about dipping downwards, we start dreaming about music festivals and gigs where we’re not bathing in sweat, and Hong Kong’s favourite outdoor international music festival Clockenflap gears up for its annual return. They dropped their first lineup earlier in May, and have just released the second wave of artist announcements.
J-pop fans will be glad to know that pop-rock superstar Vaundy will be headlining on Friday! This will be his one and only Asian show outside of Japan this year – in fact, it’ll be his first-ever public performance outside Japan, and we can’t wait to experience his smooth melodic hooks and genre-bending arrangements live.

Friday will also see American art-pop legends Sparks playing Hong Kong for the first time ever, while French nu-disco act L’Impératrice will take their 70s and 90s influences to Saturday’s stage, and veteran Japanese rockers Ellegarden are on the bill for Sunday along with singer-songwriter Jeremy Zucker.
Other newly announced artists include the DJ duo of Johnny Takigero and Pesky Azabu Punks, techno legend Dave Clarke, Hong Kong shoegaze band Chung’s Astrology, Japanese duo Rikon, Belgian synthpop artist Bolis Pupul, Taiwanese funk act Robot Swing, and more.

These artists join the initial lineup consisting of names such as Indonesian rap star Rich Brian, legendary Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, British singer-songwriter Jacob Collier, indie folk singer Passenger, and former Portishead frontwoman Beth Gibbons. Artists from closer to home include Taiwanese star Yoga Lin, Hong Kong’s own Panther Chan, Japanese indie pop group Chilli Beans, and Thai indie singer Phum Viphurit – as well as the return of local mythical post-punk legends, Bitter Tea of General Yeng, after 40 years away from the stage!
Tickets are now on sale exclusively on Ticketflap, with three-day passes priced at $1,990 and single-day tickets at $1,280. Clockenflappers under 18 years old can enjoy a special price of $1,590 for three days or $880 for single-day entry.
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