The three day Music and Arts Festival Clockenflap just wrapped up its seventh edition in Hong Kong and we were there to bring you exclusive Australian coverage! Throughout the week you’ll read more reviews, see more photo galleries and watch more interviews from the event – but to kick things off, I’ve picked my five favourite performances from the festival, including a bit of a Hong Kong discovery…
5. Travis
Turns out Travis are no only still touring, but they’re HUGE in Asia – attracting the biggest crowd of the weekend here in Hong Kong. Having never seen them live before, the Scottish band whose albums The Man Who and The Invisible Band were difficult to avoid in the late 90s and earlier 00s, had the crowd singing along from start to finish with hits like “Sing” and “Why Does It Always Rain On Me?”, among many others. A very bearded Fran Healy proves the excellent frontman, and the band prove a tight outfit.
4. Noughts and Exes
While there were a tonne of Hong Kong bands who played the event, one band stood out amongst the rest as an impressively polished indie folk pop outfit with huge international potential. The four piece had evolved into a live six piece on stage, and it seemed their layered music needed it, with violin, keys and plenty of percussion helping the band make some beautiful music.
3. Jagwar Ma
The Sydney trio killed it at Clockenflap, delivering a tight, hypnotic set that had the crowd moving from start to finish. It’s been great to see the band’s success around the world over the last couple of years from afar, but it’s even better to witness it in person.
2. The Vaccines
With more than a year off the road now behind them, The Vaccines are returning to the stage with more energy than I’ve ever seen from them. The older tracks couldn’t sound better (and I almost forgot how much I knew of their material…) and the three new tracks they previewed were all excellent. Definitely a new flavour, but still The Vaccines… all signs are strong for their 2015 return…
1. Dan Deacon
There ain’t no party like a Dan Deacon party. When it comes to a live Dan Deacon experience, few even come close. An easy pick for best set of the festival – though it’s not so much to do with his music (which though excellent in its own right, without the interactive experience wouldn’t have quite the same effect), as it is to do with his ability to get the crowd to participate in ways that no one else has the balls to attempt. Watch the set in action from SXSW back in 2012. I think you might even be able to see me amongst it there… though this does remind me that I was slightly disappointed he didn’t have any live drummers at the Hong Kong show…
