CLOCKENFLAP, Hong Kong’s biggest international outdoor music and arts festival, is planning a comeback next March after three years of repeated Covid shutdowns
The announcement follows the success of the Hong Kong Sevens last weekend which saw a relaxed approach by authorities to Hong Kong’s strident anti-Covid regulations. Crowds were seen gathering in large numbers and there was scant enforcement of mask wearing compared to elsewhere in the city. Government officials were even seen to join the maskless merriment, sometimes without a drink in hand.
Organisers made no reference to the Sevens Rugby, but say the three-day Clockenflap festival will be “reclaiming its place as one of the most globally renowned events on Hong Kong’s cultural calendar”.
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A “full return” to a “spectacular outdoor environment” featuring multiple performance stages is set to see international and regional musicians, arts performances and F&B stalls among other attractions. Before the onset of Covid, Clockenflap had also been building a corporate clientele with sponsorship and private viewing areas.
“The event will also be free standing, with festivalgoers able to move easily and without restriction between the various stages and attractions throughout the weekend,” according to a statement issued by the organisers this week.
The announcement will be seen as another step in Hong Kong’s events industry reopening to the world after three years of organisers enduring the frustration of Covid restrictions being repeatedly eased and reimposed causing uncertainty among clients and across the local industry. This had followed disruptions from the civil unrest of 2019.
The March 3-5 event will also mark the 12th edition of Clockenflap. The event first launched in the city’s Cyberport project in 2008, before moving to the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade in 2011 and then Central Harbourfront in 2016,
According to the festival’s organisers, Clockenflap will showcase genres from across the musical spectrum, and its world-class lineup has won plaudits all around the world. Buzzfeed called it “Asia’s answer to Coachella”, while two-time Clockenflap performer Nile Rodgers named it as his favourite festival globally.
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The announcement will be seen as another step in Hong Kong’s events industry reopening to the world after three years of organisers enduring the frustration of Covid restrictions being repeatedly eased and reimposed causing uncertainty among clients and across the local industr. This had followed disruptions from the civil unrest of 2019.
The first lineup announcement and early bird ticket details will be announced soon, say the organisers. “Unrefunded tickets purchased for Clockenflap 2021 remain valid for the new dates, and the arrangements for using these tickets will be shared with existing ticket holders closer to the festival.”
