British-American rapper 21 Savage, Taiwan’s Show Low, Hong Kong performers such as Edison Chen and Novel Fergus are on the lineup for ComplexCon, the city’s first pop culture festival held outside the United States.
First held in Los Angeles in 2016, this annual event brings together world-renowned urban culture and music artists, including past performers such as Snoop Dogg, Selena Gomez, and Offset.
ComplexCon’s first Asian edition will be held from March 22nd to 24th at AsiaWorld-Expo in Chek Lap Kok.
It was among 80 mega events highlighted by authorities last month to boost tourism.
A rare performance by the 3CORNERZ band, consisting of Edison Chen Kun Hei, MC Yang and Chef, served as the opening act, followed by Shaw, mainland Chinese singer Lexi Liu and Novel Fergus.
Performers from South Korean hip-hop and R&B record label AOMG, including Simon Dominique, Loco Gray, Woo Won-jae and Coogi, will take the stage on the second day of the festival.
Rap sensation 21 Savage will headline the third and final day of the festival on March 24th.
“This time, we hope to introduce more Asian artists,” Bonnie Chan Wu Tak-chi, CEO of Complex China, said Thursday, referring to the festival being held outside of California for the first time.
‘A unique milestone’: Hong Kong will host ComplexCon for the first time in Asia next year
‘A unique milestone’: Hong Kong will host ComplexCon for the first time in Asia next year
“Not just for musical acts, but also for brands, designers and their products.”
A festival spokesperson said Japanese artist Verdi will serve as artistic director and more than 200 creators from the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, the mainland and Hong Kong will gather at Complex Marketplace.
Organizers previously said the event was expected to draw around 30,000 guests from across the region.
Although the full lineup for the festival has not yet been announced, tickets for the entire event, priced from HK$2,380 (US$304) to HK$4,780, sold out in just a few hours after going on sale on January 30th. One-day passes are now officially on sale. Friday sale, ranging from HK$380 to HK$1,280.
Dior fashion show, “Chubby Hearts” and other events to be held in Hong Kong
Dior fashion show, “Chubby Hearts” and other events to be held in Hong Kong
ComplexCon Hong Kong is supported by the government’s HK$1.4 billion Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund. The fund was announced by Chief Executive Officer John Lee Kaciu in his policy speech last October.
Officials are particularly concerned that international stars like Coldplay and Taylor Swift will avoid Hong Kong on their Asian tours this year, favoring regional rival Singapore, and are pushing back on local demand through large-scale events such as concerts, conferences and festivals. They were planning to increase the number of tourists.
Other events in March include the LIV Golf Tournament in Hong Kong, Art Basel and the Dior Men’s Fall/Winter 2024 Fashion Show.