Clockenflap, Hong Kong’s biggest annual music and arts festival, today announced the long-awaited first round of its 2018 lineup, with New York indie legends INTERPOL, US R&B sensation KHALID, former Talking Heads frontman DAVIDBYRNE and Taiwanese singer-songwriter ANPU among the many highlights slated to appear at Central Harbourfront from Friday, November 9 to Sunday, November 11, 2018.

One of the most diverse and cutting-edge lineups Hong Kong has ever seen, the festival’s first phase announcement features an eclectic array of established artists, festival favourites and thrilling breakthrough acts from Hong Kong, Asia and around the world, including 13 Hong Kong live debuts and 2 Asian festival exclusive performances. Tickets for the festival are on sale now, and fans can take advantage of the great-value Early Bird discount prices until August 21, 2018.  

INTERPOL make their long-awaited Hong Kong debut on the back of their sixth album, Marauder, showing they’ve lost none of the presence and power from their 2002 debut, the classic Turn on the Bright Lights. KHALID is one of the most in-demand names in R&B right now, and will make his Hong Kong debut at Clockenflap. Best known as the frontman of legendary new wave band Talking Heads, as well as a bestselling solo artist and author, DAVID BYRNE is quite simply one of the most absorbing performers on the planet, and plays Hong Kong for the first time since 2009 on the back of the release of his 11th solo album, American Utopia. Formerly known as Deserts Chang, Taiwanese singer/songwriter ANPU is a formidable talent and Clockenflap favourite who delivered a mesmerising performance at the festival in 2014. 

Clockenflap will also welcome electronic innovator CARIBOU, drum n’ bass pioneer RONI SIZE, and Mercury Prize-nominated alt-rockers WOLF ALICE for the first time, while UK indie rabble-rousers THE VACCINES are back by popular demand four years after their last appearance at the festival. They’ll be joined by a collection of the hottest up-and-coming bands on the planet for fans to discover, including Brooklyn neo-psychedelic indie rockers SUNFLOWER BEAN, London post-punk provocateurs SHAME, Toronto-based dream-pop darlings ALVVAYS and New York art-punks BODEGA.  

Once more, the festival will showcase some of the world’s finest acts from across the electronic music spectrum, including anarchic Australian electro-house duo PEKING DUK, UK industrial techno trailblazer BLAWAN and heavyweight British house DJ/producer EATS EVERYTHING. Other acts announced include genre-splicing US DJ MIJA, French electronic artist RONE and Argentinean DJ/producer CHANCHA VÍA CIRCUITO.  

Championing the finest Asian musical talent once again, Clockenflap welcomes genre-bending Taiwanese jazz/R&B chanteuse 9M88, local math rock heroes GDJYB, Korean electronic artist-producer CIFIKA, China’s indie rapper BOHAN PHOENIX, maverick multi-instrumentalist CORNELIUS – who has been described as “the Japanese Beck” – and electrifying Tokyo alt-dance trio D.A.N.  

Encompassing a wide range of genres, the supremely eclectic lineup also features Grammy-nominated Malian duo AMADOU & MARIAM, Canadian alternative R&B outfit RHYE, Danish electronic chanteuse LYDMOR, UK grime DJ SWINDLE, Canadian electronic duo BLUE HAWAII, Manchester pop hero YOUNGR, and Hong Kong beatmaker COCOONICS.