5-hour free blowout at Hong Kong International Jazz Festival
The city will overflow with great gigs in the coming week as the Hong Kong International Jazz Festival opens.
Dozens of stellar musicians will blow and strum their way through town, including Terence Blanchard, Grammy-winner Poncho Sanchez, Maria João and the Freddy Cole Quartet.
Many of the concerts will be free, including the outdoor opening concert this weekend at the Cultural Centre Piazza.
The show from 2-7 p.m. on Sunday, September 25 is expected to attract people from all walks of life who may not otherwise have paid much attention to the festival, or jazz, or music for that matter.
And just because it's free doesn't mean it's second-rate.
The line-up includes Cuba’s Estudiantina Ensemble, France’s Trio d’en bas, funk and hip-hop collaboration Gao Hong Zhang & Acid, Malaysia's Aseana Percussion Unit and Hong Kong’s own Wilson Lam Trio. It's a trip around the world through jazz.
West Kowloon debuts
In it's fourth year, the Hong Kong International Jazz Festival is having one of it's biggest years yet. Backed by the government's HK$100 million Mega Events Fund, the festival includes a special two-day showcase at the West Kowloon Cultural District -- the future arts hub's first official event.
There will be plenty of great free shows at the West Kowloon Cultural District alongside the paid ones. A two-day pass for the square stage shows including headline acts Poncho Sanchez and Terence Blanchard is HK$1,000.
Throughout the festival, workshops and talks will be held across town, many of them free of charge, making jazz more accessible to those in Hong Kong.
