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| live music |
| sweet note 5 favourites |
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A Nice Botti
He’s been called suave and luminous, he’s not a bad looker, and he’s great with his lips. For sure, the girls must love jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. With eight top-notch albums to his name, Botti can woo with either smooth or crossover jazz. The Los Angeles Times anointed him “A break-out musical star” – see him shine at the City Hall Concert Hall on October 30. Tel: 2734 9009. |
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The Wong Way
Writer, composer, singer, and qualified heart-melter Chris Wong cordially invites you to a Night to Remember with him and the HKPO. That rich, deep voice will perform some of his own Cantopop classics, along with other romantic hits over the three nights of October 18 – 20, at 8pm in the Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Call 2734 9009 for tickets. |
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Multicultural Music
The Camerata Salzburg Orchestra, featuring musicians from 24 different countries, travels the world showing off an ensemble that bristles with talent. Their repertoire ranges from baroque and romantic to more modern fare, so you can expect, as the New York Times once fawned, “A remarkable performance”. A diamond among musical jewels, violin soloist Julian Rachlin first made a name for himself by winning Young Musician of the Year at the 1988 Eurovision Song Competition and went on to become the youngest soloist ever to play with the Vienna Philharmonic. The Salzburg orchestra’s all-Mozart chamber music concert starts at 8pm, October 22 at the City Hall Concert Hall. Tel: 2734 9009. |
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School of Rock
The surprise hit of the fortnight must be the inconspicuous CityU Band Society Annual Performance on Sunday, October 29. Okay, so the title makes it sound like a sober gathering of the musically-minded, but it promises to be a lot more than that. From 2pm to 11pm, a slew of hard-rocking local bands electrify the multi-function room at the City University (beside Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong). Society president Kenny Li says the event is geared to promoting local music and picks emo band Los En Found, ‘screamo’ girl band Engrave Thy Heart, and hardcore legends King Lychee as the highlights. But they won’t be alone: The Academy, Kolor, 218, Attention to Piss, Blackwine, Zoundz, Karat, Shepherds the Weak, Die in Velvet, Justified – and probably others – throw their rock weight into one wicked event. It’s just $80 on the door. Oh, and Kenny says happy birthday to his girlfriend Maggie. Happy birthday Maggie! We hope Kenny buys you something nice (and expensive). |
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Listening Yet?
Be at the Fringe on Friday, October 20, as three of Hong Kong’s liveliest acts line up to let loose in Listen Up! The city’s busiest band, Garoupa, somehow squeezes in an appearance with their ‘definitely not shandy’ rock, with young four-piece Brit-rockish Polymer in support. Girl rockers with ‘tude So What add to the heat with their brazen stage show and War Monkey, the song that made them (kinda) famous on the mainland. Listen Up! starts at 10:30pm, and tickets cost $80, which also gets you a drink. |
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Ear to the Air
The second installment in the newly established Swire Island East ‘Friday Fest’ brings us Hungarian jazz band Soul What. Celebrate the end of the week with jazz, pasta and wine al fresco in the Tong Chong Street open plaza at Taikoo Place. Starting at 6pm, it’s over by 8pm, so you’ve plenty of time to get back to that second dinner. Call 2844 5095 for more details. |
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Boy Love
It’s not often a bunch of boys can completely sell out the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, but the Vienna Boys’ Choir have. So now they’ll put on an extra show to cater for the excess demand. While its 100 choristers may be fresh-faced – they’re all between 10 and 14 – the choir is anything but. It traces its history back to 1498, when it was officially founded as Emperor Maximilian I moved his court and musicians from Innsbruck to Vienna. Today the boys perform about 300 concerts a year, singing greats from the 17th to our century – and all before puberty. The October 25 show is a goner, but for a chance to attend the extra performance on the 24th, call 2734 9009 |
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Viva the Diva
American jazz singer and actress Viva Vinson, who once had the distinction of appearing on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, brings new life to the hits of Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole at Post 97 (UG/F, 9 Lan Kwai Fong) on October 29. Sit down for a three-course meal easily digested with Vinson’s smooth blues and jazz – all for $300. From 8pm, call 2186 1817 for tickets. |
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Care for Carey?
Oh, Mariah, you gotta try her. She of the thundering voice and impossible vocal range seduces fans with her saucy style at Tamar on October 28. Tickets cost more than a pretty penny, yet she’s bound to pull the punters in their thousands. If you’re ticketless and want a piece of one the biggest pop stars of our era, try your luck on 31 288 288. |
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The Final Battle
Two months in the making and it’s down to Garoupa, Spodac, Grin, and The Train scrapping it out in the World Battle of the Bands Finals at the Edge (G/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St). At stake is the title of 2006 Champion, along with an Epiphone LP custom guitar, a $3,000 coupon from Tom Lee, the chance to record a track at Aroom Studios, and, of course, the glory of representing Hong Kong in the world finals. Fresh from their CD release party, last year’s heavy-rocking winners Qiu Hong make a special guest appearance. Get your tickets from Tom Lee in advance for $100, or pick ’em up on the door $120. For more details check out www.worldbattleofthebands.com |
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Lunchtime Harmonies
The Sky Lobby in the AIG Tower plays host to a series of free lunchtime concerts by members of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra from Monday, October 23 to Friday, October 27, 1pm to 1:40pm. Victor Tam conducts Monday’s brass and woodwind performance, then John Harding takes over for concerts of works from Bach to Copeland, with music to please rather than challenge. This installment of Lunchtime Harmonies follows on from last year’s successful series, which attracted up to 500 people a day. |
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Kanye’s Coming
Ladies and gentleman of Hong Kong, you are about to have greatness visited upon you. Multi-Grammy award winning rapping superstar Kanye West will perform with an all-girl string orchestra in an empty lot at 2046 Austin Rd, West Kowloon on November 28. Local rapper Edison Chen will provide support. Tickets are on sale now: 31 288 288. |
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