Clockenflap, Hong Kong’s biggest music and arts festival, made its much-anticipated return to Central Harbourfront on Friday, kicking off the sold out, three-day event with a memorable evening of world-class live performances from a diverse array of artists.

On the Harbourflap Stage, UK rock icons ARCTIC MONKEYS topped the bill and delivered a spellbinding performance on their first appearance in Hong Kong, following hot on the heels of a scintillating set by French synth-rockers PHOENIX. Soulful Taiwanese singer-songwriter YELLOW 黃宣 and Canadian indie darlings MEN I TRUST got the weekend off to a sensational start on the FWD Stage, while local post-punk mavericks DAVID BORING and Hong Kong hip-hop don YOUNGQUEENZ lit up the Park Stage.

Among the highlights for the rest of the weekend are Swedish indie-pop icons THE CARDIGANS, French New House pioneer FKJ, Norwegian folk-pop duo KINGS OF CONVENIENCE and American singer-songwriter SASHA ALEX SLOAN (all Saturday), plus hip-hop legends WU-TANG CLAN, UK indie-rock innovators BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB, German electronic supergroup MODERAT and British genre-hoppers BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD (all Sunday). For the full lineup, see clockenflap.com/schedule.