Clockenflap co-founder and head of music Justin Sweeting says the Hong Kong promoter has had its strongest year yet in terms of headline shows as it prepares for the return of its flagship festival next month.

The Magnetic Asia MD, who organises regular touring concerts in the region under the Clockenflap Presents banner, credits regional Asian talent with leading the charge, but notes to IQ there has been a cooling of the market from its post-Covid boom period.

“That peak has dipped now and we do see a general correction happening in recent times. So we’re very conscious, and as ever, highly selective about what we take on,” he says. “Hong Kong has always been a city in transition, and recent demographic shifts along with the general economic outlook and rising cost of living does for sure have knock on effects on our business.”

Sweeting lists shows by the likes of Slowdive, Ado, Girl In Red, Zutomayo, Parcels, Travis Japan, Explosions In The Sky, Yussef Dayes, Domi and JD Beck as 2024 highlights. However, the sector suffered a blow with the closure of the KITEC (Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre) earlier this year. The complex housed the 3,600-cap Music Zone, which hosted acts such as Tom Odell and Laufey.

“The major challenge of late has been venue availability, with a key venue hub – KITEC – closing down and leaving a void of spaces across various scales, which has yet to be filled. But there are new venues coming next year, along with the Kai Tak Sports Park, which will include stadium and arena options, all of which will provide much needed options and should put HK back on the map again for artists of various profiles.”

Kai Tak Sports Park, which will be operated by ASM Global, will be a new landmark for large-scale sports and entertainment in Hong Kong, featuring the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium with a retractable roof, the 10,000-cap Kai Tak Arena and the  5,000-cap Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground.

Coldplay will play three sold-out nights at the stadium – their first shows in Hong Kong since 2009 – next April as part of the Asia leg of their 2025 Music of the Spheres World Tour.

“We have a slew of fantastic headline shows coming in the next few months”

Live Nation acquired a majority stake in Clockenflap and its flagship music and arts festival last year.

Founded in 2008, the three-day, 30,000-cap event is one of Asia’s best-known festival brands. Its 2024 edition is set for Hong Kong’s Central Harbourfront from 29 November to 1 December, headlined by Jack White – who will be making his debut performance in Hong Kong – Air and Central Cee.

Also on the bill are the likes of St Vincent, Jamie xx, Suede, Glass Animals, Banks, Wisp, Serrini, Carl Wong And The Hats On Band ft Jer Lau, The Black Skirts, Misi Ke, Hiperson, Ena Mori and Turtle Island, Mother Mother, Porter Robinson, Fat Dog, A-Trak, Sim0ne, Partiboi69 and Dave Clarke.

“We’ve just announced our full lineup so it’s full steam ahead,” says Sweeting. “We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone through our gates come 29 November for another three days of solid gold goodness under the city’s neon skyline.”

Outside of the festival, Sweeting says the firm has “much more in the pipeline”.

“We have a slew of fantastic headline shows coming in the next few months: Yoasobi, Hyukoh & Sunset Rollercoaster, Cigarettes After Sex, Milet, Aurora, Mogwai and a collaboration between Ichiko Aoba and the HK Philharmonic, to name but a few.”

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A second 2023 edition of Clockenflap, Hong Kong’s biggest international outdoor music and arts festival, is planned for December.

The 30,000-capacity festival returned to Central Harbourfront Event Space between 3–5 March with a line-up including Arctic Monkeys, Balming Tiger and Bombay Bicycle Club – and sold out for the first time in its 15-year history.

It was the first time the festival had taken place since 2018, with the final pre-coronavirus edition (2019) cancelled at the last minute due to pro-democracy protests. The 2020 and 2021 editions were both cancelled due to strict restrictions on large-scale outdoor events.

Making up for lost time, the organisers of the festival – which was acquired by Live Nation soon after the March event – have planned a second 2023 instalment.

“I’ve always wanted Clockenflap to be one of the very best city-based festival experiences in the world, and that won’t change”

Pulp, Joji and Yoasobi will headline the 1–3 December affair at the Central Harbourfront. Idles, Caroline Polachek, No Party For Cao Dong, D4vd, BBNO$, Alex G, Novo Amor, Yard Act, Atarashii Gakko!, Kamaal Williams and Otoboke Beaver are also due to perform.

Ticket prices for the second 2023 edition have risen almost 23% to HK$1,990 for a 3-day pass, following the buy-out by Live Nation.

Clockenflap co-founder and music director Justin Sweeting told IQ he believes the new partnership with Live Nation will help cement its worldwide reputation.

“I’ve always wanted Clockenflap to be one of the very best city-based festival experiences in the world, and that won’t change,” he said, the day after the acquisition. “We’ll always look to continuously improve as we evolve.”

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Magnetic Asia’s Justin Sweeting tells IQ the Hong Kong market is enjoying a boom period, amid Clockenflap’s acquisition by Live Nation.

Live Nation announced yesterday that it had acquired a majority stake in the Hong Kong-based promoter and its flagship music and arts festival, with the Clockenflap team to continue to curate, manage and produce its events. Clockenflap also organises regular touring concerts in Hong Kong under the Clockenflap Presents banner.

Clockenflap 2023 was held from 3-5 March in Central Harbourfront Event Space with a line-up including Arctic Monkeys, Balming Tiger, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Cardigans and Wu-Tang Clan. Due to the pandemic, it was the 30,000-cap festival’s first edition since 2018 (its 2019 event was cancelled due to the Hong Kong protests) and came just days after the city finally lifted its mask mandate, which began in June 2020.

Sweeting, co-founder and music director, hails Clockenflap’s return, which coincided with a buoyant period for Hong Kong’s live music sector, as “incredible”.

“Many stars aligned both within and outside our control, including the mask mandate being lifted the week of the event, absolutely glorious weather and some truly sublime performances,” he says, speaking to IQ. “The audience at Clockenflap is already a very positive and open-minded one, though that was even more amplified this time. It was like the whole city had just been collectively let out into the wild, and it genuinely felt like the kick-off event for Hong Kong opening up to the world again.

“We’re in a period of boom at present, though am very conscious to take heed of the lessons learnt from watching the rest of the world open up before us, especially in terms of peaks and dips in demand levels.”

“I’ve always wanted Clockenflap to be one of the very best city-based festival experiences in the world, and that won’t change”

Sweeting says that demand was “strong”, with all ticket types for the festival, which was founded in 2008, selling out across the whole weekend for the first time.

“A combination of aggressive timelines, rising production costs and shifting goalposts related to the pandemic were consistent challenges,” he says. “Still, we were more than happy to face these each day as it ultimately meant that we could finally get back to the fun stuff too.

“There were so many magic moments, and honestly, just the fact that we were able to be back on again without any restrictions in play was the overriding highlight for me. I can’t really overstate what a great feeling it was to be fully back.”

With Clockenflap’s next edition confirmed for 1-3 December 2023, Sweeting is convinced its new partnership with Live Nation will help cement its worldwide reputation.

“I’ve always wanted Clockenflap to be one of the very best city-based festival experiences in the world, and that won’t change,” he adds, speaking before yesterday’s announcement. “We’ll always look to continuously improve as we evolve.”

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Live Nation has acquired a majority stake in Hong Kong-based promoter Clockenflap and its flagship music and arts festival.

One of Asia’s best-known festival brands, Clockenflap made its return in early March after a four-year hiatus, featuring artists including Arctic Monkeys, Balming Tiger, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Cardigans and Wu-Tang Clan.

The Clockenflap team will continue to curate, manage and produce its events, with co-founder and music director Justin Sweeting confident that Live Nation’s support and resources will help cement its status internationally.

“It was a wonderful feeling seeing a capacity crowd at the festival last weekend – Clockenflap has one of the most positive and open minded audiences in the world,” he says. “The Live Nation team share our vision for Clockenflap being one of the best city festivals in the world, and with Live Nation’s support and resources, I’m excited for the future of the festival.”

Founded in 2008, the three-day, 30,000-cap festival takes place at Hong Kong’s Central Harbourfront Event Space. Its next edition has been confirmed for 1-3 December 2023.

“By joining forces with Live Nation, we can continue to grow the festival and expand our event activities in Hong Kong and regionally”

Clockenflap also organises regular touring concerts in Hong Kong under the Clockenflap Presents banner, with recent sold-out shows announced for Cigarettes After Sex and Honne, and its partnership with Live Nation comes at a time events in the region are seeing a bloom in activity.

“Over the last 15 years we have grown Clockenflap into a world-class three-day festival,” says Clockenflap co-founder and MD Mike Hill. “By joining forces with the global leaders in entertainment, Live Nation, we can continue to grow the festival and expand our event activities in Hong Kong and regionally.”

“Partnering with Clockenflap further demonstrates that Live Nation is committed to bringing world-class festivals and live entertainment experiences to Hong Kong fans,” adds Live Nation APAC president Roger Field. “Our team is dedicated to supporting Mike, Justin and their team’s exceptional skills and capabilities, and through Live Nation’s global network we will enhance and grow the Clockenflap brand and deliver new and exciting live opportunities to the region.”

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Industry executives in Asia are sceptical about what’s in store for 2022, warning that the ‘groundhog day’ caused by enduring restrictions could long continue.

Speaking in the new issue of IQ, Michael Hosking of Midas Promotions – a leading promoter in South East Asia –  has predicted “another fruitless first three quarters in Asia”.

“But I’m hoping that we can have some shows in the final quarter of 2022… as long as we don’t get hit by the variant,” adds Hosking.

Justin Sweeting, co-founder of Hong Kong’s biggest music festival Clockenflap, shared a similar outlook on the year ahead.

“Stop. Start. Stop. Start. The stuttering groundhog day roundabout continues. I just hope we can get the proper opportunity to show that not only can events take place, in many senses, they’re actually the safest places to be in the city with testing and precautions in place,” he says.

Clockenflap Music and Arts Festival last took place in 2018, with the final pre-coronavirus edition (2019) cancelled at the last minute due to pro-democracy protests in the former British territory, which has been a special administrative region of communist China since 1997.

The 2020 and 2021 editions were both cancelled due to strict restrictions on large-scale outdoor events.

“I’m guessing it will be five or six years before attending two concerts a month will be back on the agenda for most people”

In the absence of the flagship festival, the Clockenflap Presents team organised a one-day festival, Long Time No See, last August in Mongkok.

Sweeting says that returning to live was his biggest highlight of 2021: “Seeing what live returns can look like in real life and that it is possible to hold events, both large and small, within a pandemic if the suitable precautions and steps are taken.”

He hastens to point out that one of the biggest challenges the market currently faces is navigating the patchwork of restrictions and requirements across the region.

“If an artist is up for spending quarantine time, there’s a captured market available! Otherwise, a challenge we face across Asia as a region is that different countries are opening up at different times and rates with different requirements,” he explains.

With that in mind, Hosking says it could take half a decade for the industry to return to 2019 levels of activity.

“I’m guessing that following the ‘dead cat bounce’ it will be five or six years before attending two concerts a month will be back on the agenda for most people – especially those who’ve not earned and saved on full salaries these past two years. I hope I’m WRONG!” he says.

“The pandemic is both dynamic and endemic and so isn’t going to just disappear any time,” adds Sweeting.

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Magnetic Asia announced today (Friday 15 November) that the recent worsening of the situation in Hong Kong has made it “impossible” for Clockenflap festival to go ahead as planned next weekend.

The Clockenflap promoter had previously stated its commitment to putting on the festival, despite the cancellation of other high-profile events due to continuing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Mumford and Sons, Babymetal, Halsey, Metronomy and Bombay Bicyle Club were among acts billed to play the 60,000-capacity festival from 22 to 24 November.

However, due to “the escalation in the crisis this week, and the uncertainty this creates for the coming weeks” the event has now been cancelled.

“We still believe in bringing people together in positive ways, and will continue to unite people through the power of music and arts”

“While it pains every one of us at Magnetic Asia to cancel Clockenflap 2019, we still believe in bringing people together in positive ways, and will continue to unite people through the power of music and arts,” reads the statement from organisers.

Full refunds will be issued to all those who purchased tickets through official channels.

Fans have shown support for Magnetic Asia on Facebook, thanking the team for their efforts and sympathising with what was evidently a “difficult decision”.

Positivity and determination have characterised the live music community in Hong Kong since unrest began in June. Clockenflap music director and Magnetic Asia co-founder Justin Sweeting has been especially vocal in iterating the potential of music and the arts to bring Hongkongers together in positive ways during difficult times.

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The final line-up for Hong Kong’s Clockenflap festival was released last week, as the event’s organisers state the importance of bringing people together “in positive ways” amid continuing unrest.

Bombay Bicycle Club, Metronomy and Nick Murphy are among the final additions to the Clockenflap line-up, which features previously announced acts including Halsey, Baby Metal, Lil Pump and Mumford and Sons.

The final line-up release, confirmation that the festival will go ahead as planned from 22 to 24 November, comes after the cancellation of Live Nation’s inaugural Rolling Loud Hong Kong last month.

The hip-hop festival is one of an array of live music events to be cancelled or postponed since anti-government protests began in June, initiated by the introduction of a controversial extradition bill. The proposal has since been withdrawn but protests for democratic reform in the special administrative region (SAR) of China have continued.

“This is precisely why we feel it is so important for Clockenflap to happen this year, more than ever, and to bring people together in kinship and collective creative inspiration,” Justin Sweeting, co-founder and music director of Clockenflap organiser Magnetic Asia told the South China Morning Post.

“We are 100 percent committed on our side, as are the artists, so now it’s up to the people to get behind us.”

“It has always been our aim to bring Hongkongers together in positive ways, and this mission has never been more relevant”

The organisers state that all artists and their teams have been monitoring the situation and are “fully aware” of what is going on. No acts have dropped out due to the protests. Artists will be allowed to “express themselves fully” at the festival, whatever their political leaning.

Safety of fans is another top priority, with thorough assessments and checks with “relevant local and international parties” taking place to ensure a safe environment.

Speaking to IQ in August, Sweeting noted that Clockenflap sales were up 17 percent from the same period in 2018 and that feedback on the initial line-up announcement was the “most positive yet”, despite many other events struggling in the city.

Sweeting and other Hong Kong-based promoters that IQ consulted at the time referenced the positive relief that live music was providing to a “hurting” city, a sentiment that continues almost three months on.

“It has always been our aim to bring Hongkongers together in positive ways, and this mission has never been more relevant,” comments Magnetic Asia co-founder and CEO Mike Hill. “With the ongoing situation in the city, and with many other events choosing to cancel, we feel that it is particularly important that Hongkongers have a fun and inspiring home-grown event to look forward to.”

Clockenflap 2019 is taking place at Hong Kong’s Central Harbourfront Event Space from 22 to 24 November. Tickets for the event are available here with a three-day pass priced at HK$1,490 (US$190).

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As weeks of anti-government protests continue in Hong Kong, the city’s live music scene is a tale of mixed fortunes.

Millions of Hong Kong citizens have participated in ten weeks of protests, sparked by the introduction of a controversial extradition bill. The proposal has since been retracted, but protests for democratic reform continue.

One Hong Kong live music industry insider, who asked to remain anonymous, tells IQ that venues in the vicinity of the protests have been temporarily shut down, leading to the rescheduling or cancellation of multiple shows.

It has also been difficult to shift tickets for some events, says the source, with much of the concert-going demographic occupied with protest activities or “not in the mood” to attend a show.

“Audience buying motive is very low,” the insider tells IQ, “no-one knows if a show scheduled for next month or even next week will go ahead, so people are not willing to buy tickets in advance.”

Nick Willsher, founder of event consultancy firm Entertaining Asia and nightlife guide HK Clubbing, agrees that uncertainty is leading to some event cancellations.

“Audience buying motive is very low – no-one knows if a show scheduled for next month or even next week will go ahead”

“Chvrches were meant to perform here next week,” Willsher tells IQ, “but they cancelled the show due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’”.

American singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin and K-pop star Daniel Kang also cancelled upcoming shows in the city, in light of disruptions caused by the protests at Hong Kong airport.

While Willsher points out that most large scale events scheduled for the coming months – such as Clockenflap and Live Nation festivals Creamfields Hong Kong and the recently launched Rolling Loud – are still going ahead, he questions whether more international acts may be deterred by the footage they see online.

At the best of times, says Willsher, it can be hard to book certain artists due to the lack of medium-sized and multifunctional venues in Hong Kong. It is also “costly” to put on an event in the city, as little pre-existing event infrastructure exists, driving up ticket prices.

“Peoples’ attentions are understandably focused on other things right now,” Justin Sweeting, co-founder of Hong Kong festival Clockenflap and music director at promoter Magnetic Asia tells IQ.

“Although, with our own shows,” Sweeting adds, “we’ve seen an uplift in ticket sales over the period,” reflecting continued local demand despite the political uncertainty.

Magnetic Asia has promoted shows including Yo La Tengo, Yaeji, Alvvays and American Football in the past weeks, “which have all either been sold out, or close.”

“Peoples’ attentions are understandably focused on other things right now”

Although Sweeting notes a “more muted response on announcement” and a “slower sales arc than normal” in a city with already relatively late purchasing trends, he states that all shows picked up closer to the time.

Strong sales have not been the case across the board, however. Sweeting admits that some smaller capacity events have been selling more slowly than expected, with some other promoters’ events “being cancelled or more often postponed”.

International industry support for those in Hong Kong has been in no short supply. “I’ve had messages from industry people from around the world, asking if I’m safe,” says Willsher, adding that “we’ve just got to be positive and hope it all gets sorted out.”

For Sweeting, it has been “heartwarming” to hear from friends and peers in the international industry community, whereas another source says some artists are trying to organise benefit concerts to raise money for “arrested protestors and independent media”.

A recent event raised over HK$50,000 (US$6,400) in support of protestors.

In the long term, Sweeting states that civil unrest insurance cover for this year has skyrocketed.

“More broadly speaking,” says Sweeting, “the city is hurting, and the root causes don’t have quick fixes.”

“We believe that it is more crucial than ever that Clockenflap exists, giving the opportunity for people to come together for collective, positive inspiration”

Although it is “not easy to find positives at this time”, Sweeting hopes that “great art” may come from “great pain”. Recent concerts have provided a noticeable “release” for Hong Kong citizens, “with more energetic and enthusiastic audiences coming out.”

“We believe that especially given the current situation, it is more crucial than ever that Clockenflap exists,” continues Sweeting, “giving the opportunity for people to come together for collective, positive inspiration and quite frankly to have something to look forward to.”

The Clockenflap co-founder says sales for the festival are up 17% from the same period last year and audience feedback on the first line-up announcement has been the “most positive yet”.

“We will continue on our path, with sensitivity, and mitigate the risks wherever we can,” says Sweeting.

Taking place from 22 to 24 November, the Clockenflap line-up so far features artists including Mumford and Sons, Halsey, the Kooks, Superorganism, Lil Pump and Babymetal. Past headliners include the Chemical Brothers, New Order, Interpol and the Libertines.

Tickets for Clockenflap 2019 are priced from $104 for a day ticket and $177 for a weekend pass.

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