Hong Kong now has a handful of venues that can host international indie acts. There’s an abundance of live music available in Hongkong. Over the course of a week you can hear a wide range of music styles, from blues, classic rock, acoustic folk, chart toppers, 60’s and so on. The best way to be sure of catching your style of music is to get onto the music list. So here are some live music bars that worth a try.

1. Peel Fresco

Peel Fresco
SoHo is one of those areas in Hong Kong which have just grown up all by themselves. A few years ago it was simply dull backstreets – but with the construction of the outdoor escalator numerous bars and trendy boutiques have sprung up to take advantage of the passing traffic. Peel Fresco is typical of the breed, and showcases a great many top-notch live music acts – both local and international.

Add: 49 Peel Street, Hong Kong
Tel: 00852-540-2046
www.peelfresco.com

2. Ned Kelly’s Last Stand

Ned Kelly's Last Stand
Named after a gun-toting Australian bushranger, Ned’s is one of Hong Kong’s oldest pubs. Most of the expat regulars here (and there are many) are drawn to the laid-back atmosphere and the Dixieland jazz band that plays and cracks jokes between songs. The bar is filled with old posters, rugby shirts and Oz-related paraphernalia.

Add: 11A Ashley Rd, Hongkong
Tel: 00852 2376 0562

3. Dada Bar + Lounge hong kong

Dada Bar + Lounge hong kong
Inspired by the Dadaism art movement of the early 20th century, Dada is a living example of contrast and imagination. For those searching for a dose of something bizarrely hip, Dada is a living, breathing ignition of the senses; daring drinks take the reigns of taste buds, inspired melodies offer mesmerizing aural flavours.

Add: 2F,, The Luxe Manor, 39 Kimberley Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: 00852 30763 8778

4. The Wanch

The Wanch
Having been feeding the locals with mind-bending gigs for more than 25 years, The Wanch is an institution of live music. This is said to be the longest running livehouse in Hong Kong. Shows are on every night from 6pm on weekdays and 4pm at weekends at this thriving space in Wan Chai. Local bands and international acts pump out various music genres from rock to jazz to blues. The bar offers nibbles including garlic bread and bacon butties. No cover charge any day of the week. At weekends the crowd usually spills out onto the sidewalk – expect maximum decibels.

Add: 54 Jaffe Rd., Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: 00852 2861 1621

5. Fringe Club

 Fringe Club
The sound in the dingy venue is often subpar, the stage is always over-lit, and the viewing area is obscured by pillars.

Housed in an old cold storage warehouse built in 1890, the venue serves as a unique spot for live music, and there are still regular shows to be found here.

Add: 2 Lower Albert Rd,Hong Kong
Tel: 00852 2521 7251

6. Hidden Agenda

Hidden Agenda
Hidden Agenda started out in 2009 when a couple of post-80s music lovers came up with the idea of transforming a band practice room in an industrial building into a live house for indie music. It soon became a local band scene’s hot spot, and a nice venue for foreign musicians on tour in Asia. Official regulations forced Hidden Agenda to move, but the new venue can hold more than 300, there’s a bigger stage, and a better sound system has been installed. There is also a lounge for performers, a bars, and a place for street art products and indie label CDs called Hidden Shop. Every year Hidden Agenda stages more than 60 music shows for local and international artists, with diverse genre such as rock, heavy metal, jazz, folk, punk, post-rock, reggae, visual rock, hip-hop, experimental noise, and techno.

Add: 2A Wing Fu Industrial Building, 15-17 Tai Yip Street, Hong Kong,
Tel: 00852 9170 6073

7. Backstage

Backstage
Love Da Cafe is a live music venue launched in 2012, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of local indie label, Love Da Records. Much like the music label itself, Love Da Cafe is a champion of indie bands from mainland China. Boasting threeway sound systems, the venue has a capacity of 200.

Add: a, Chiap King Industrial Building, 114 King Fuk St, San Po Kong
Tel: 00852 2264 1025

8. Grappa’s Cellar

Grappa's Cellar
Most of the time it’s serving pizza and pasta to business types, but for at least two weekends a month it’s the best indie music venue in town.

The Central location, mezzanine floor for great viewing, excellent acoustics and room enough for nearly 500 people, makes Grappa’s Cellar the first choice for mid-sized shows and big indie parties.

Grappa’s is also proving to be a great supporter of local music, hosting numerous Hong Kong showcases.

It’s a favorite for promoters The People’s Party, who are responsible for bringing some of the best indie acts to town.

Who’s played here? Yelle, OK Go, Handsome Furs, British Sea Power, Toe, Ratatat, Caribou, DJ Vadim, You Say Party! We Say Die!

Add: Jardine House, 1 Connaught Pl, Central

9. Graffiti

Graffiti
GRAFFITI Bar is one of Lan Kwai Fong’s hottest, hippest live venues. The spacious 3500 sq ft lounge pairs the only 5 metre LED wall in LKF with an impressive sound and lights system. Pulse to first-rate live bands and resident DJs, share a drink with friends, or relax to a live sports telecast. Enjoy tasty bar snacks, set or a la carte lunches and dinners, or a late night bite. Indulge in decadent cocktails, spirits and beers – all served by friendly staff.

Add: 17 Lan Kwai Fong, Hongkong
Tel: 00852 2143 6030

10. Orange Peel

Orange Peel
Nestled in the busy heart of LKF, on the second floor of a commercial building sits Orange Peel Music Lounge (OP), not an unlikely place for a restaurant/bar. But perhaps unusual for a place which is trying to re-establish a missing link of bringing elements of the old and the new together under one roof.

At OP one would experience a touch of culture, a dash of art, great music, and of course, good old times for everyone who comes up. These days, it seems those elements are often missing in our bustling city and on the streets below.

A centrally located hub, a place to meet up, chat and relax…. Expect wholesome healthy food and tidbits, and look for their own signature drinks or be creative and let the guys mix you a personal “namesake” cocktail for your enjoyment!

Add: Flat A-C, 2/F, Ho Lee Comm Bldg, 38-44 D’Aguilar Street, Central
Tel: 00852 2812 7177

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