Blondie
Money for charity has never been so well spent – Deborah Harry’s Blondie will be playing live at the FCC Charity Ball on Friday, September 15. Slip into a tux, snitch $1,688 from your wallet, and slide on down to the HKCEC to enjoy cocktails, dinner, and Deborah all in one. Pioneers in the punk and new waves scenes, with classic songs like The Tide is High, Call Me, Rapture, and Heart of Glass – and they remain the only American band to reach number one in the UK singles charts in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. This will be the band’s only local performance on their Asian tour, so it’s worth digging deep – especially as the money’s going to Po Leung Kuk, one HK’s oldest charitable organisations. You’ll also get to enjoy the David Harilela Band and a DJ for some post-Blondie goodness. And if those cocktails get you in the mood, you could win more kudos – and goodies – at the charity auction: imagine owning an electric guitar signed by “25 of the greatest names in music,” including BB King, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, Sting, Neil Young, and more. Bet they haven’t got Mozart…

Rock On 10
All guitars will be blazing at Rock On 10, a feast of hot acts spread over three shows and two days. Now in its tenth year – hence the 10 – Rock On has proven to be one of the most significant shows on Hong Kong’s rock circuit. You can catch a slice of the action starting Friday, September 1 at 7:30pm, when the first show roars into riot mode with AirTub, Rednoon and the delectable Fong Ho Man. The party continues on Saturday, September 2, from 2:30pm, with former Asian Beat Band winners Nuclear, joined by punk sweetheart Grace Ip and Japanese David Bowie lookalike Itamiya Ryosuke. But the two-day music fest will have its crescendo on Saturday night, from 7:30pm, when local heroes Audio Traffic muscle up alongside up-and-comers Dear Jane, the smoking hot Ryan Hui, the inimitable Yip Sai Wing and his Wing Band, and cutesy pop hunk Louis Cheung. Enough talk – hurry up and get along to HITEC in Kowloon Bay to experience it all. Call 2511 9976 for tickets ($130 for one show; $300 for all three), or email ticketing@azb.com.hk. Visit www.rockonasia.com for more.

Lobo
You just have to take seriously anyone who’s made a hit song called Me and You and a Dog Named Boo. Ladies and gentleman, Lobo. If you don’t know him, you ought to. A folk star from yesteryear with sweet melodies and soulful lyrics, Lobo has made repeated incursions into the Top 10 – at least, back in the ’70s, when you needed talent to make a hit. Aside from a Dog Named Boo, Lobo, aka Richard LaVoie, also found fame with Billboard toppers Don’t Expect Me To Be Your Friend, and I’d Love You To Want Me. Catch the folksy good times at the HKCEC, Hall 3, on Friday, September 15 at 8.15pm. Tickets from HK Ticketing on 31 288 288 for $280, $380, or $580.

Madama Butterfly
It doesn’t fly until September 16, but the HK Philharmonic Orchestra will emerge from its summer cocoon with two large-scale performances of Puccini’s classic Madama Butterfly (the second is on September 18). Love, betrayal, sacrifice – this
opera has all our favourite themes. Chinese soprano
and Butterfly veteran He Hui stars in the title role as Cio-Cio-San, joined by American tenor Andrew Richards as Pinkerton. They’ll lead a
star-studded international
cast in the first foray into opera for Anthony Minghella, director of the Oscar-winning The English Patient. Tickets
on 234 9090.

Westlife @ AsiaWorld-Arena, September 9.
Tel: 31 288 288
Go for: Four soft-centred men bemoaning their broken hearts

Gloves Handbell 10th Anniversary Concert @ HK City Hall, Concert Hall, September 12.
Tel: 2734 9009
Go for: Bell-ringers in white gloves playing overtures

Mendelssohn Violin Concerto @ HK City Hall, Concert Hall, September 1. Tel: 2734 9009
Go for: Violinist Robert Chen, winner of the Hanover International Violin Competition

Tragedy of the Emperor’s Daughter @ Yuen Long Theatre, September 3.
Tel: 2734 9009
Go for: Your dose of Chinese Opera
Shostakovich Cello Concerto @ HK City Hall, Concert Hall, September 8. Tel: 2734 9009
Go for: Dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey and maestro Daniel Raskin, chief conductor of the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie

HK Live! @ Fringe Club, September 2. Tel: 2521 7251
Go for: Cool indie rock from Johnny Hi-Fi, The Love Song, and The Shotgun She-Ras

Rickard Malmsten Group @ Skylight, Peak Galleria, September 2 and September 10. Tel: 3527 3400
Go for: Jazz band hitting the high notes on the Peak

World Battle of the Bands @ Edge, Cavern. Tel: 9486 4648 Heats: August 31, September 2, Semi-finals: September 7, 9, 14, 16
Go for: Raw talent on the rise in sweaty axe-fights.

Schooner’s Music Journey
When Mong Kok locals Kit Ngan (21), Eric Leung (22), and Fan Wong (24) got together last year to form Link Star Music, they intended to create a platform for Hong Kong’s promising music talent. Their first outing with minor thrash bands was a winner so they decided to branch out with something more diverse, with more clout. For Schooner’s Music Journey on Sunday September 3, the non-profit group has leashed in an array of music styles from jazz to emo and hard rock. Hong Kong’s number one bluesman Tommy Chung will headline the show at 7pm, with support from pre-eminent local drummer DC. Put them alongside fellow blues artistes Dream Fly, hard rock bands Spodac and Sexy Hammer, emo indie collections Empty Tomb, Naked Breath and Exit on Twelve, and you’re in for a night of ripping good live music. Catch it all from 7pm at Schooner K & L (G/F & 1/F, Shop 2, Commercial Bldg, Hillwood Rd, TST, 2366 1128). Tickets are $60 (adv), or $70 on the door. www.linkstarmusic.com.

Stacey Kent
Fourplay, the last Jazz Up show at the HK City Hall, played two encores and received three standing ovations. If that’s anything to go by, we’re in for a treat from the next performer in the series, British songstress Stacey Kent. Certainly, she’s got the credentials to entice even the most reluctant fans: 2001 British Jazz Award, 2002 BBC Jazz Award for Best Vocalist, 2004 Backstage Bistro Award, and six best-selling albums, including her latest, The Boy Next Door, which launched her on a two-year worldwide tour. She featured on Ian McKellen’s film version of Richard III, sang at Clint Eastwood’s 70th birthday bash, and appeared on Michael Parkinson’s television show. Swing your blues away on Sunday, September 10, 8pm at the HK City Hall. Tickets $150, $220 or $300. Tel: 2734 9009.

5 Favourites

Karen Jones,
Vocal Stylist
Favourite song
at the moment
Summer Sun by Koop – crossover jazz from a Swedish band
Favourite artist of all time
That’s not fair, because there are too many genres to choose from, but from an infinite number of possibilities I would pick Sarah Vaughan because she’s an extremely versatile singer as well as a musician, which are two things I respect.
Favourite reading
Access Energy Transformation – it’s a consciousness-expanding course that I read all the time.
Favourite thing
about Hong Kong
The smells – all of the different smells of every food genre known and unknown to my nose.
Favourite holiday destination
Ko Samui, Thailand, because it’s a very sexy, exotic place.

Karen Jones sings with jazz/dance band The Tonemasters at the Grand Hyatt’s JJ’s Music Room (1 Harbour Rd, Wanchai, 2588 1234 ext. 7363), Monday to Saturday, all through September.