The Asia+ Festival, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will present participatory music programme "After the Rain" at the Western Salt Water Service Reservoirs, which is opening for public performances for the first time. Local music group Toolbox Percussion, media arts collective Dimension Plus and Singaporean composer Lee Jiayi will attempt to broaden public imagination and experience with a bespoke multimedia music journey that unveils the mystery of the hillside cavern.
 
     Built in rock caverns, the Western Salt Water Service Reservoirs has occasionally been used as a filming location. It will be open for the first time for public performances. In their quest to explore the intricate relationship between humanity, technology and climate change, the artists seamlessly meld live music and interactive multimedia design with the environment. Louis Siu, executive artistic director of Toolbox Percussion, hopes that audiences of "After the Rain" will realise that water resources are indeed hard to come by.
 
     During the programme, attendees will each be given a specially designed rainstick and walk through a tunnel about 100 metres long to interact with percussionists. Ink projections on the walls will fuse with people's silhouettes, together shaping a unique sonic and visual landscape.
 
     Both Louis Siu and Lee Jiayi had played in an orchestra before, but they were not entirely satisfied with performing a pre-existing repertoire. Over the years, they have been working with people from diverse backgrounds, such as photographers, choreographers, designers and visual artists, in their challenge to the usual definition of music. Their creative partner Keith Lam from Dimension Plus is also a boundary-pusher who is keen on offering new sonic experiences by, for instance, transforming a theatrical space into a cave-like structure using AI-generated imagery.
 
     Multimedia music programme "After the Rain", in 28 performances altogether, will be held at the Western Salt Water Service Reservoirs with details as follows:
 
October 30, November 1, 6 and 8 (Wednesdays and Fridays): 7pm and 8pm
November 2, 3, 9 and 10 (Saturdays and Sundays): 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 7pm and 8pm
 
     Tickets priced at $360 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288, or use the mobile ticketing app "URBTIX".
 
     The programme contains strobe lighting effects. Attendees are required to walk in the reservoir area and should assess whether their physical condition allows them to participate and whether they need to be accompanied by a carer. Attendees are advised to arrive at the venue early for admission. There will also be a fee-charging activity titled "Immersive Cavern Walk", where the reservoir decorated with interactive multimedia design is open for public tours during specific non-performance hours. For access information of the reservoir and other programme details, please refer to asiaplus.gov.hk/2024/en/aftertherain.
 
     The second Asia+ Festival is running from September to November, highlighting the arts and culture of nearly 30 countries from Asia and the Belt and Road regions. Apart from stage programmes, there are also thematic exhibitions, an outdoor carnival, film screenings, outreach activities and more, numbering over 100 in total. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit asiaplus.gov.hk/2024/en/.

Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024
Issued at HKT 15:35

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