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The third edition of Sónar Hong Kong brings some of the biggest names in electronic music to our shores

The third edition of Sónar Hong Kong brings some of the biggest names in electronic music to our shores. 34 Le French May returns with a programme of more than 120 events, from high culture and the arts to popular music and Gourmay experiences, all ranged around the concept of a voyage

Danish electropop singer MØ and American Grammywinning multi-genre singer-songwriter Thundercat headline Sonarvillage, the outdoor stage of this year’s edition of electronic music festival Sónar Hong Kong, while La-based British trip-hop artist Bonobo and Spanish house DJ John Talabot will be spinning tunes late into the night at indoor venue Sonarclub.

They are just three of the 35 electronic acts descending on Hong Kong for the third edition of the festival, which takes over the indoor and outdoor stages of Hong Kong Science Park at midday on April 13, running for 15 hours. The festival, based on the famous Barcelona extravaganza of the same name launched in 1994, has drummed up plenty of attention for its eclectic line-ups and programming that promotes creative technologies.

The headliners are joined by leading DJS and live acts from around the globe, including London-based futurepop duo Alunageorge, and South Korean house and techno DJ Park Hye-jin at Sonarvillage, and Canada’s Art Department, German DJ Anja Schneider, and London-based experimental artist Object Blue at Sonarclub. Look out for local favourites like Ivan Sit and Miss Yellow, too.

Those who prefer a more intimate listening experience will enjoy the outdoor Sonardôme stage overlooking Tolo Harbour, where artists will be playing a range of music from techno to funk to hip hop. Meanwhile, the indoor venues Sonarlab and Sonarcomplex will showcase emerging and underground talent, and audio-visual artists, respectively. Canadian hip-hop producer Ryan Hemsworth and Shanghai’s DJ Hyph11e will be performing at Sonarlab, while Taiwanese producer Sonia Calico and Hong Kong multidisciplinary group Nerve x pink;money will feature at Sonarcomplex. There will be more audio-visual performances and new media artworks—where technologies such as AR, VR and AI are at the forefront—to be discovered at Sonar+d, the accompanying technology show.

Aspiring musicians and DJS will also be able to benefit from a programme of talks and workshops at Sónar+d, by industry leaders and pioneers spanning a wide range of topics from immersive digital art to pocket synthesiser use. The Marketlab section will have the latest musical instruments, digital devices and other products and prototypes for inspection and trying out.

April 13; 12pm-3am; HK$680–3,288; Hong Kong Science Park; sonarhongkong.com