M2M Live @ Queen Elizabeth Stadium – 29 April, 2025

The enduring love and popularity of live music was on full display last night at Queen Elizabeth Stadium as many of the predominantly female audience for Norwegian duo M2M‘s concert were younger than 25… ie born after the duo’s albums were released and the songs first became hits.

Truth be said it didn’t feel like 25 years ago that we were first listening to Don’t Say You Love Me, Everything You DoPretty Boy, Mirror, Mirror… the songs sounded as fresh today as they did when first released – perhaps it was just me who felt a tad ‘old’ when Marion and Marit were talking about how long ago the songs were released.

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It was fun to hear the hits live, but perhaps the most emotional part of the concert was to hear Marion sing It’s All Coming Back to Me Now – her duet with Meatloaf. There’s a great live version of Meatloaf singing and chatting with the audience and recounting a story about him and Marion (can’t find a link, but here’s a link to the music video). Great to hear the other side.

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Set list:

The Day You Went Away
Everything You Do
The Minute
I Don’t Wanna Talk About It
Love Left For Me
Pretty Boy
Here I Am
Don’t
Under The Surface
If A Song
What You Do About Me
Driving
Don’t Save Me
It’s All Coming Back To Me Now
Mirror Mirror
Everything
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Don’t Mess With My Love
Don’t Say You Love Me

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M2M – The Better Endings Tour
Date: 8pm, 29 April 2025
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Stadium
Tickets: $2,088, $1,288, $888, $688 from Urbtix

Holi Beach Party @ Chung Hom Kok Beach – 9 March, 2025

Ten years after its first epic visit, the Holi Colour Party returned to Chung Hom Kok Beach to celebrate the triumph of good over evil with friends old and new, great music and of course lots of vibrant colour!

Even the sun agreed poking it’s head out from among the clouds on a chilly, but invigorating, spring afternoon.

Known as the ‘Festival of Colours,’ the Holi Festival is a Hindu festival that celebrates spring’s arrival, the triumph of good over evil, and the blossoming of love!

It was a ‘bigly’ fun afternoon! Thanks to the organisers who made it all possible, and to everyone who came and picked up their rubbish to ensure that the beach was cleaner than when we arrived.

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Holi Beach Party
Date: 11am-5:30pm, 9 March, 2025
Venue: to be announced
Tickets: $tbc
More info: 
Bring your own food & drinks (BYOB & BYOF allowed)
For more info email [email protected]

Grand Opening @ King Ludwig am Meer, Soho West – 10 November, 2024

The King Parrot Group celebrated the opening of their latest restaurant King Ludwig am Meer in Soho West with a party on 10 November, 2024.

Okay, I know many of you will go ‘Soho West!’ Well, think of Sai Wan Ho’s Soho East in the West. It’s a short walk from Nam Cheong MTR, and while it is all high-rise concrete and glass…  The waterfront promenade is pet friendly, faces west to catch the sunset, and even boasts a view of Hong Kong Island. You can also, sort of, walk along the water’s edge all the way to West Kowloon and thence to TST and the Star Ferry.

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All in all, in a very manufactured way, it is rather a nice place to grab some fresh air – especially now you can enjoy a cold beer at King Ludwig and sit outside!

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All images copyright bc magazine/ Simon Durrant – all rights reserved

USMEF Oktoberfest in Central Market – 29 October, 2024

Oktoberfest is one of those fun festivals that has been adopted globally. And just as Songkran encourages us to soak others in water, Oktoberfest is an ‘excuse’ for people around the world to have fun and dance on the table…

The US Meat Export Federation hosted a night at Oktoberfest in Central Market on 29 October. The open centre of the market has been converted into a Hong Kong style German Beer Hall including a stage where traditional German music from the Notenhobler’s sets the mood.

There’s a range of traditional German dishes: pork knuckle, pretzels, sauerkraut, apple strudel and some delicious US pork ribs.

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After dinner, while enjoying your beer, you can blow the big horn and start the party with some fun games.

 

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All images copyright bc magazine/ Simon Durrant – all rights reserved

Choices, Choices, Choices…

Choices, choices, choices… The HKTB‘s Wine & Dine Festival is back with over 300 booths full of food and drink to explore savour and hopefully enjoy.

Everyone will have their own preferences and ideas as to how to explore the festival. My approach is what can I do and taste here which I probably can’t/wouldn’t away from the festival. And that mostly means food! There are so many wine and spirits shops in Hong Kong that you can buy a bottle of pretty much anything you want to sample away from the festival.

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The Cutest drink

Honestly, to tease and please your tastebuds head to the Culinary Stars area first to sample dishes from some of Hong Kong’s finest restaurants including The Aubery, Fisholic, Hong Kong CuisineAn ChoiThe Baker and The Bottleman and The Grand HK which is showcasing their new Bakery.

Where Wine and Dine Shines…

When you go out to a restaurant you can enjoy one version of a dish. At the festival, several restaurants are, for example, offering Siu Mai – so you can buy from several booths and taste and compare them at the same time. Exploring how each chef views and thinks of such a basic staple and much-loved Hong Kong dish. The different flavours and textures are profound, surprising and delicious and will spoil you for your basic everyday version.

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What Not to Miss!

The Vietnamese egg coffee at An Choi – as good, if not better than you’ll find on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.

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To the left of the entrance is the ‘hotel zone’ where some of Hong Kong fancy hotels are showcasing the favourite dishes from their restaurants. It’s also one of the areas where you can find vegetarian food.

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There’s US and Argentinan Beef to enjoy.

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Near the Star Fery entrance is the French zone with some lovely cheeses – a nice way to start or something to enjoy later with a glass of wine or a cocktail.

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Don’t forget to take pictures of your food

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There are two live music stages, both of which have chairs, when you a rest.

Cheers and Enjoy!

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
Date: 23-27 October, 2024
Venue: Central Harbourfront Event Space
Tickets: $400, $290, $240
Notes:
23 October 2024 (Wednesday), 7:30–11pm
24–25 October 2024 (Thursday – Friday), 4–11pm
26–27 October 2024 (Saturday – Sunday), 12–11pm

All images copyright bc magazine / simon durrant – all rights reserved

Wine & Dine Festival 2024 – Opening Night

HKTB‘s Wine & Dine Festival 2024 buzzed with excitement and anticipation as booth owners—first-timers and old hands—rushed to finalize their preparations. Suddenly, it was 6:30 p.m., and the doors were open…

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Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
Date: 23-27 October, 2024
Venue: Central Harbourfront Event Space
Tickets: $400, $290, $240
Notes:
23 October 2024 (Wednesday), 7:30–11pm
24–25 October 2024 (Thursday – Friday), 4–11pm
26–27 October 2024 (Saturday – Sunday), 12–11pm

All images copyright bc magazine / simon durrant – all rights reserved

Shi Fu Miz Festival 2023 – Sunday

After a COVID-induced gap the Shi Fu Miz Festival returned to Cheng Chau’s Sai Yuen Adventure Playground for its eighth edition!

Qoniatus Sholikhah was there to capture the atmosphere and dance the day and night away.

An eclectic line-up featured:
25 Years Of Rush Hour: Antal, Esa, Gigi Testa, Soichi Terada Live
Abyss Takeover, Ani Phoebe, Arthur Yeti, Arun R, Bagvs, Bongomann, Busyboi B2b Jfüng, Camion Bazar, Casey Anderson & Misty Penguin, Chaotic Pavilion Takeover, Cyk, Di Linh, Elaheh, Emel & Katsu, Ganjaman Vibrations, Gero, Gia Fu, Guido Balboa & Yadin Moha, Greg-Greg & Mlch, Heavy Hk Takeover, Identified Patient, Jamie Tiller, Just Bee & Mengzy & Subez, La Mamie’s, Licaxxx, Midland, Club Takeover, Mogwaa, Mr. Ho, Muto, Octave One Live, Red Greg, Re:Flex, Sai Street Sessions, Sarayu, S.O.N.S,  Sticky Fried Vibes Takeover, Tri Takeover, Toppings, Xiaolin, Y2k Takeover, Yu Su, Yunus.

Sign up on the festival’s facebook page to get updates on the 2024 festival when it’s released.

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All photos copyright Qoniatus Sholikhah

ITZY – Checkmate Live in Hong Kong

South Korean girl group ITZY played two sell-out concerts at Asia Expo on 11 and 12 March, as live music continued to return to Hong Kong.

Click on any image for the full concert image gallery.

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ITZY – Checkmate Live in Hong Kong – Set List

S#1. INTRO + 마.피.아. In the morning
S#2. Sorry Not Sorry
S#3. SHOOT!
S#4. WHAT I WANT
S#5. 365
S#6. [留真] Boss B*tch
S#7. CHERRY
S#8. ICY
S#9. Free Fall
S#10. #Twenty
S#11. [有娜] Maniac
S#12. [LIA] Red
S#13. INTRO + WANNABE
S#14. DALLADALLA
S#15. SNEAKERS
S#16. [彩領] bloodline
S#17. [禮志] Hotter Than Hell
S#18. CHESHIRE
S#19. LOCO
S#20. Not Shy
S#21. DOMINO
S#22. 믿지 (MIDZY)
S#23. Boys like you
S#24. Nobody like you

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ITZY – Checkmate – Live in Hong Kong
Date: 6pm, 11-12 March, 2023
Venue: AsiaWorld-Expo, Hall 5&7
Tickets: $1,799, $1,099, $699 from Cityline