Fardhell Muchell Release Second Album ‘Opinions Matter, Brains Shatter’

Hong Kong based band Fardhell Muchell have released their second album Opinions Matter, Brains Shatter.

Fardhell Muchell is the current mutation of a crazy rock band founded in Shanghai in 2014 by a group of Italian expats initially named Bordhell. After several transformations and new members Bordhell became the Müchell in 2016 which is the Hong Kong version of the original band. In 2020 they evolved into their current form Fardhell Muchell!

Here’s how the band describes the album: “As well as it was for the first album, the title Opinions Matter, Brains Shatter is not a mere title taken from a song in it, but the password to unlock the hidden message of each song.

The opening track Rollerblades seems to teach us that the threats are often well visible and obvious, even in the most innocuous things and aspects of our life. Of course, we don’t like to read, so we realized that we are screwed when it’s too late.

What’s worse than taking advantage of someone who can’t fight back Rotten Hearts is dedicated to all those bastards who do that for a job. A whistleblower said that this song is dedicated to insurance and telephone companies, banks and vigili urbani.

Will be 2021 the year remembered as the dawn after the long night?…Or the only one to wake up at the sunrise will be Godzilla? This thought must have generated some 21 Anxiety. Surely the light at the end of the tunnel is represented by the massive vaccine campaign that just started.

Lack of Humanity should put you in the right mood for a self-vaccination session in the parking lot of the local train station.

Katsu Anares is the hero nobody needs, but he is always there for us! Constantly in the wrong place, always at the wrong time. Spoiler alert, he doesn’t wear a cape… nor a mask.

It’s well known that every single snowflake is different to one another, you’ll never find two identical Snowflakes … but what happens when they pile together? would you be able to tell the difference anymore?”

You can check out the album on these channels:
🔥SoundCloud
🔥BandCamp
🔥YouTube

The David Bowie Knives Release New Album, Milking It

The David Bowie Knives have finally released album number two Milking It which you can purchase on Bandcamp. Their first Weapons of Mass Seduction was released way back in 2013.

The band self-describe their music as “Aural Sex” and have this to say about their new release…

“The long-awaited, difficult second album. 30 mins of spine-tingling, jaw-dropping, belt loosening tunes that accurately depict our thoughts and feelings of 2020. Please enjoy responsibly.”

Bandcamp: https://thedavidbowieknives.bandcamp.com

John Travolton Release Debut EP

John Travoltron have released their debut EP, a 3 song compilation entitled Quarantine Sessions 2020.

All three songs were written and recorded in isolation during 2020. There’s also a third music video for the song Tentin Quarantino which can be seen on the band’s youtube channel.

Bandcamp: https://johntravoltron.bandcamp.com/…/quarantine…

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFiJyy05ySM…

India by the Bay: A Digital Series

The Sixth India by the Bay, postponed from February, has become a slimmed-down online festival entitled India by the Bay: A Digital Series running from 15-18 October, 2020

The virtual festival features four free events and offers HongKongers an insight into Indian culture and history through film, food, yoga and conversation. The events are:

Yoga as a Way of Life | 15 October, 7pm
Yoga philosopher Daniel Simpson will present a specially designed session on the benefits of Yoga in these difficult times

Zaika: Food, Creativity and Lockdown | 16 October, 7pm
Romy Gill and Rahul Gomes Pereira in conversation with Vir Sanghvi

East West – A Legacy | 17 October, 7pm
Shubhendra Rao, disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar celebrates the centenary of his Guru’s birth.

Churchill: Hero or Anti Hero | 18 October, 7pm
Shashi Tharoor in conversation with Mukulika Banerjee on the life and legacy of Winston Churchill, one of history’s most complex figures.

India by the Bay 2020
Date: 15-18 October, 2020
Venue: Asia Society Hong Kong Center
Tickets: free

Livin’ La Dolce Vita – Italia Mia

The first Italia Mia festival opens on the 20th September with the launch of the Leonardo da Vinci Art and Science Then and Now exhibition at City University of Hong Kong and will run through October and November with a variety of events that showcase Italian creativity, innovation and excellence.

The Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong Mr Clemente Contestabile introduced the new festival in this way… “We are proud to present the first ever Italia Mia Festival in Hong Kong and Macao. Italy is rich in heritage, culture, technology and natural beauty; it is well known for the tastiness of its food and wines; it is the homeland of great personalities of the past and of stylish fashion, design and luxury companies. Italia Mia is here in Hong Kong to bring everyone a taste of Italian flair and character without leaving the city. The Festival may tempt and entice you to travel to Italy as well.”

In October and November, Italia Mia events include “Colours of Asia, Paintings by Francesco Lietti”, “Talk with Beppe Severgnini”, “Bing Bing Wang & Klassic Swing Italian Quartet”, “Waitress on Top – La Serva Padrona”, “Week of Italian Cuisine in the World”, “A Pinch of Salt”, “Nous Quartet”, “Marco Polo and the Sounds of Carnival”, “Salt of the Earth”, “Olivia Steindler Solo Violin Concert”, “White Truffle Extravaganza Dinner”…

Full details of the festival and the many events can be found here www.italiamiafestival

Dragonland: 24-26 February, 2017

Dragonland 2017

In what’s likely to be an increasing trend, with the massive costs of building a stage and installing a sound system, a one night Leon’s Penguins concert has morphed into Dragonland, a three day music festival.

Dragonland will take place on the Central Harbourfront from the 24-26 February 2017. The mixed line up features a local superstar, international dj’s and a mix of well known bands headlined by the Black Eyed Peas.

One of the four ‘heavenly kings’ of Canto-Pop Leon Lai returns to the Central Harbourfront on the 24 February, with a hopefully fire-proof marque, for a one night gig Leon’s Penguins.

Day two of Dragonland is a ‘Night of Dance’ headlined by international DJs Zedd and Steve Aoki with Redfoo, Tom Swoon, Vinai, Infected Mushroom and Seiho performing throughout the day.

Dance segues into a ‘Night of Pop’ headlined by the returning Black Eyed Peas, Iggy AzaleaCarly Rae JepsenMike PosnerHalf the Animal.

Leon is a consummate performer and will doubtless put on another great show, but the thought of a full lineup Black Eyed Peas, with even a passingly good sound-system, outdoors and backdropped by Victoria Harbour… Wicked!

Dragonland 2017

Dragonland
When:
 24-26 February, 2017
Where: Central Harbourfront
How much: $1,680, $1,380, $880, $780 per day – tickets onsale 30 November, 2016 from Hotdogtix
More info:
24 Feb – Leon’s Penguins
25 Feb – Dragonland – One Night Dance: Zedd, Steve Aoki, Redfoo, Tom Swoon, Vinai, Infected Mushroom, Seiho
26 Feb – Dragonland – One Night Pop: Black Eyed Peas, Iggy Azalea, Carly Rae Jepsen, Mike Posner, Half the Animal

leons_penguins_concert2017

India by the Bay

india-by-the-bay-2016

India by the Bay returns from the 25 February – 1 March with a range of events that look to bring India’s cultural dynamism to Hong Kong. There’s a mix of classical and contemporary including music, theatre, dance, food, film and literature as the festival reflects India’s artistic depth and diversity. According to the organisers the India by the Bay aims to celebrate the common cultural strands shared by Hong Kong and India and their multi-ethnic populace.

India by the Bay – 24 February to 1 March 2016

24 February – Festival Opening

7:15pm, 25 February – Film – Sharmila Tagore at Asia Society Hong Kong Center
Indian film actress Sharmila Tagore in conversation with Festival Director Sanjoy Roy.

7:15pm, 26 February – Literature – Shobha De at Asia Society Hong Kong Center
Best- selling author of 18 books and widely-read columnist Shobhaa De in conversation with Sanjoy Roy.

6:45pm, 27 February – Music – Rajasthan Josh at Asia Society Hong Kong Center
World music band which combine the folk traditions of the North Western region of India with vocal styles ranging from mystic Sufi traditions, bhajans to the popular folk songs of Rajasthan.

12:30pm, 27 February – Lunch – Karen Anand at Ovolo Southside Hotel

6:45pm, 28 February – Dance – Nityagram at Asia Society Hong Kong Center
The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble are one of the foremost dance companies in India. Although steeped in and dedicated to ancient techniques, the Nrityagram dancers also look to carry Indian dance into the twenty-first century.

7:15pm, 29 February – Theatre – C Sharp C Blunt at Asia Society Hong Kong Center
C Sharp C Blunt is based on the concept of the loop. An electronic musician, live on stage creates and layers loops from live sound. The loop in its nature reflects the training of the singer through endless repetition and also the process of cultural and social programming. This cultural programming also defines the specific way girls and women are supposed to behave.
The play looks at traditional gender roles as engrained by culture versus the woman as the globalised consumer living in a new market that caters to her wants and needs. We look at the performer as a site of battle between purity and consumption, between servitude and ego, between being-looked-at-ness and self-determination.

7pm, 1 March – Buddhist Day – Shantum Seth at Ovolo Southside Hotel

Tickets for all events are available at www.indiabythebay.com

Udderbelly Festival – 4 December, 2015 – 14 February, 2016

udderbelly-hk

It’ll be interesting to see over the next couple of months if the ‘there’s nothing to do in Hong Kong’ brigade will open their wallets to support the inaugural Udderbelly Festival Hong Kong which takes place at the Central Harbourfront event space from the 4 December-14 February. Centered around the iconic Udderbelly, a 410-seat pop-up theatre in the shape of an upturned cow (specially brought to Hong Kong from the UK) the festival features a smorgasbord of shows and will sit alongside The AIA Great European Carnival. The Udderbelly cowshed will be full of entertainment, music, food, comedy (lots of comedy) and family fun throughout the holiday season. Udderbelly has proved a huge hit with audiences at the Edinburgh Festival for over 10 years and on London’s South Bank for the past seven.

Udderbelly Festival
Date: 4 December, 2015 – 14 February, 2016
Venue: Central Harbourfront
Tickets: see individual event
More info:
Check the events diary for schedule