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| live music |
| sweet note 5 favourites |
Hey Folks!
One thousand one hundred and eighty five weekly folk shows on radio – that is how many years? Marshall Hughes, who began his career on the airwaves with Folklore in 1982, will be hosting his last show New Traditions on March 25. We ask how feels to look back on 25 years of radio.
In your two and a half decades, what was the best folk moment for you in Hong Kong?
I have hosted a lot of folk concerts over the years but the two Chieftains gigs in 1983 were the most memorable. They were the first folk band from Europe to tour in China. I like their music a lot and I think the shows were significant to folk music in Hong Kong and China. Also Derek Brimstone has always been enjoyable to interview because he is such a funny man. He had a lot of interesting experiences in the ’70s to draw on. 
Do you consider your radio shows an enjoyable hobby, or as a mission to promote the music?
Both. I love the music and I want to share the enjoyment with other people and radio is a really good medium to do that.
Your main employment is actually teaching. Do you force your students to listen to folk music?
No, not at all. I keep very quiet about that. (grins) It is not something I promote actively at school. But sometimes some of my older students ask me about the artists I’ve played in the programme and I am very happy to talk about it then.
Where are you heading to next?
I got a new job in the Kingdom of Bahrain. I hope to continue playing music there as it is a good way to meet people, but I am not sure if there will be opportunities on radio. So probably I will take a break from that.
Well, we are sure folks will miss you a lot. Tune to RTHK Radio 3 on Sunday at 7pm for the last two editions of New Tradition with Marshall. |
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Strange Encounter
Call him a drumming sensation, guitarist or promising sing-songwriter, the multi-talented Jun Kung with pal bass guitarist Liang Chun-wai are making an unusual appearance with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta in this year’s Arts Festival. They will play Yau Yuen-hing’s Fanfare Prelude, a festive work for woodwinds, brass and percussion, and the world première of Ng Cheuk-yin’s Fly, a fusion of classical and pop music. Also in the programme are Sibelius’s En Saga, Op 9 and Bartók’s Dance Suite. The show on March 16 kicks off at 8pm at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. Tickets from $100-$300 from URBTIX 2734 9009. |
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Piano Man
Even Herbie Hancock and Dizzy Gillespie would call him a master: Chucho Valdés is Cuba’s greatest jazz pianist. The five-time Grammy Award winner plays the piano like its his soul and makes it sounds like a carnival. Here are a few facts about the jazz legend:
• He was born in Havana, Cuba in 1941.
• He founded his first musical group Irakere, which means ’forest’ or ‘woods’ in 1972.
• He won his five Grammies with the albums Irakere, Crisol of Havana, Live at the Vanguard, Canciones Inéditas and most recently, New Conceptions.
• He is the organizer of the famous Havana Jazz Festival.
• He has toured in over 50 countries and shared the stage with Santana, George Benson and, of course, Hancock and Gillespie.
Chucho Valdés is bringing his quartet to Hong Kong Cultural Centre on March 16 and 17. Shows start at 8pm. Tickets from $150-$450 are available from URBTIX, 2734 9009. |
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Unplugged Men
Leo Koo, Justin Lo, Huang Ping Yuan, Ronald Cheng, Edmond Leung and Joey Tang – what does such a line up suggest? If you guessed all-male Canto-pop acoustic concert, you’d be right on the button. Be prepared to be surprised by this night of unplugged music as Joey Tang, front man and guitarist of the legendary group Tai Chi, says he has already written new songs specially for the show. He will also perform some English covers you would never imagine him singing. Acclaimed producer and jazz pianist Ted Lo will be music director of the show starting at 8:15pm on March 17 at Hall 7A, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Hall. For tickets, click on www.chivas.com.hk |
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Music Hero
89268 is presenting the HEROES: Just for One Day exhibition at Lab Yellow, led by the mastermind behind the indie label, BFSH. Ten artists including Dicia from inLove, Mly from Gayamyan and street artist Start from Zero (you must have seen his graffiti on the street!) will use a variety of genres such as photography, installation and painting to illustrate their own heroes. The exhibition at Lab Yellow (Flat A1, 8/F, Yeung Yiu Chung Industrial Building (No. 5), 34 Tai Yip Street, Kowloon Bay, 2331 3220) runs until April 7 from Monday to Saturday from 2pm-8pm and from 12pm-6pm on Sunday. Musician Starfruit and Arnold have even written a song for the event, and they are happy to share the music with you at www.bfsh.hk/music/
like_stars_we_shine.mp3.
While BFSH is the artists’ inspiration, he follows David Bowie’s classic in saying everyone can be a hero: “A hero is one who is willing to put in a little more effort than others.” So the man must be a hero – other than putting on this the exhibition, his label 89268 is behind Boo Live on March 24 at Videotage. The line-up there will be Hard Candy, Kissing on the Dance Floor, Kwokkin, My Stoned Playground and Very Ape. The show starts at 8pm and tickets cost $80, including two bottles
of beer. |
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Jazz Regular
Still continuing this month, the Diva Red (21 Sharp St East, CWB) jazz gig every Wednesday night features jazz songbird Joses Liu with John Inot on keyboard. On Saturday night, head to SkyZone (33/F Rosedale on the Park, 8 Shelter Street, CWB) to chill with guitarist Tommy Ho, double bassist Justin Siu and a variety of vocalizing special guests. Cover charge $88. All gigs kick at 10pm. |
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Wild Gigs
Chet Lam has done 11 sold-out shows here but now he is presenting gigs for other local musicians on the same stage – Shouson Theatre, Arts Centre. Wild Child, with local DJ Jim, Chris Ho from Vibration and Siu Wo from Sanskrit will play two shows titled Short Time No See live on March 16 and 17 at 8:15pm. Then hip-hop duo Fama will be a bit busier – their Music Big Hug live shows will be on March 18 at 3:30pm and 8:15pm. Tickets are $180 and $250 from URBTIX, 2734 9009 |
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Cinema Paradiso
If the closest you have come to a boys’ choir is watching the movie Les Choristes, you are in for a treat with the visit of Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc this month at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. This choir, brought to HK by the Hong Kong Treble Choir’s Association, has amazed audiences with its stunning singing and wide repertoire of classical, folk, choral and opera music. Conducted by its founder Nicolas Porte and with the accompaniment of 200 local students, the
choir will perform a night of songs from the award-winning movie, plus classics like Ave Maria and Amazing Grace. Shows on March 30 and 31 start at 8pm. The afternoon show on March 31 starts at 3pm. Tickets from $100-$380 are available from URBTIX, 2734 9009. Check out our competition page if you want to win a couple of tickets! |
Looking Forward
Pop babe Janice will play at the Coliseum from Mar 29 to Apr 1. Tickets from $80 to $480 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. Ayumi Hamasaki will take the same stage on
Apr 7. Tickets are sold out, but you can always try your luck on eBay. Olivia Newton-John will be touching down on Apr 15. Tickets from $250 to $680 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. |
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Gig Guide
Listen Up! @ Fringe Club, March 16, 10:30pm Go for: Dreamlike from Beijing, GriN and Transnoodle. Tickets are $90 inc one drink.
Bone Table @ Joyce Is Not Here (38 Peel Street, Soho), March 16, 10pm Go for: Up close and personal with Bone Table.
Underground 42 @ Les Visages (18 Fenwick St, Wanchai), March 17, 8:30pm.Go for: A jam-packed line-up including The Racket, Los en Found, 218, Slept in Spray, Headhunter, Protoss, Embryo, Slash!SAKURA!Slash! and motion fades. Tickets are $50.
Livehouse Gig @ L215, 3/F, Kwun Tong Industrial Centre Phase 2, March 17, 7:30pm Go for: Underground bands Defiant Scum, Darkness Pool, Maniac, Adversary, RustyCross and Dullfigure. Tickets are $45 with one drink. Call 2380 8578 for details.
Tom Lee Music Carnival @ Piazza Area C, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, March 18, 2pm Go for: Drum solo by Chris Brien and local bands DREAM5 Junior, Up and Down Septet, Hong Kong Heilan Pipes & Drums, Fickle Lovers, LesAiles and AMS. Free admission.
Mademoiselle Sane @ Le Rideau (1/F Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road), March 20, 22, 23 Go for: French musical-hall songbird Mademoiselle Sane’s Asian tour for her latest release La Petite Boite
en Fer.
Elaine Paige @ HKCEC, Mar 23, 8pm Go for: Performance from the first lady of musical. Tickets from $580- $2380.
Underground 43 @ Les Visages, March 23, 8:30pm Go for: ChoChukMo, Ignite the Hope, Darkness Pool, The Train, Sea Monsters, Empty Tomb and Adversary. Tickets are $50.
Hip-hop and R&B night @ Yellow Devil (3/F, 21 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central), March 23, 10:30pm Go for: R&B singers Beto and Rex Chan, rapper Lo.J and DJ Chef. Ticket at $50.
Vintage Blues @ Fringe Club, March 30, 10:30pm Go for: Tommy Chung, Helter Skelter, Four, One Roof featuring Yankwai and Bill Loh. Ticket at $100 with a bottle of beer. |
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