Popfest brings the community together to support local talent

Popfest returned to the West Kowloon Cultural District on Oct. 31, 2024, Thursday as independent singers and bands collaborated to inspire and uplift the crowd with their unique musical aptitude and performances during the first day of the festival.

The HKT x WESTK POPFEST was designed to create a musical environment and attract more local artists to share their talents. It promotes community engagement through a showcase of music and the arts.

Last year, the festival attracted thousands of attendees and provided a platform for emerging artists, reinforcing the importance of arts and culture in community wellbeing.

This year, the organizer invited well-known local music groups such as MIRROR and COLLAR and local singers Chow Yan-ting to perform during the four day event.

Independent singers and bands were invited on the first day to perform in front of the crowd.

Tomii Chan, vocalist and guitarist of Stranded Whales and Majestic G, said the festival brought the audience together.

"I want to share my passion for music and create a memorable experience for the audience,” Chan said. “Every note and lyric I sing brings us together, and I hope my performance encourages others to support local talent with his own style.”

"We are thrilled to engage in a local event that fosters a deeper connection between music and community,” said Feng Yi, a local guitarist and singer-songwriter“The atmosphere at the festival every year is lit, and we can't wait to share our sense of art with everyone.” 

“It’s more than just a performance for us. It’s about connecting with the audience and creating a memorable experience together,” said Gill Mok, drummer of local band Wantamnam.

Li Yun-kit, 33, a local resident was in the audience.

“The music was incredible, and it felt great to support local talent in such a beautiful setting like the M+ Museum,” Li said. 

“The open area allowed us to relax and soak in the artistic vibe, especially with the nice weather today,” he said.

Jason Wong, 25, a local art enthusiast brought his camera to capture the performances.

“The energy was great, but the sound quality was a bit off in the open area, it made it hard to fully appreciate the nuances of their music,” Wong said. 

Entry to Popfest was free on the first day. The one-day passes on Nov 2 and 3 were  HK$780 and HK$1,080 respectively, while two-day passes were HK$1,280 and HK$1,680.