Turn It Up: Encore, Please!

Residents still reminisce about Hemingway’s and The BIG Picnic but a new generation of musicians is helping DB get its groove back. Sam Agars reports 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF Andrew J.C. Spir es, Baljit Gidwani & Sam Agars

If you talk to anyone with any knowledge of the music scene in Discovery Bay, it’s not long before Hemingway’s or The BIG Picnic enters the conversation. Staples of the DB community for so long, it’s only natural people remember the live-music venue and the annual festival so fondly.

But while The BIG Picnic, which grew from Picnic in the Park, hasn’t been held since 2019 and Hemingway’s was a victim of the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s certainly not all doom and gloom when it comes to live music in DB. While things ground virtually to a halt during Covid, the music scene has bounced back and there is optimism around what lies ahead. 

Though the closure of Hemingway’s meant the loss of a dedicated music venue that DBers could rely on, Jay Javier Apungan’s weekly Sunday afternoon gig at Three Sheets is filling part of the gap, giving residents a regular dose of live music once again. 

A DB resident since 2009, Jay is a full-time musician who has developed a dedicated following in the community through his lively acoustic shows. “Live music is a must-have in every community and every venue as long as they can do it properly. People love to hear music,” he opens. 

“DB is still recovering and it’s still not the same. Hong Kong generally is still coming back,” Jay adds. “But I’m hopeful that the music scene here will continue to become more busy. People need music. I love the community in Discovery Bay. I have regular people who come every Sunday and I think I can give them some happiness through music.” 

Another name familiar with DB music fans is Andrew Osborne, a member of Hong Kong band Power ful Moss who has been playing gigs at venues throughout DB for more than a decade. These days, you’re most likely to find him playing acoustic sets out on the terrace at Ona. 

“I’m pretty lucky as I have a group of friends who enjoy live music and they’ll come around and bring their mates so there’s normally a small crowd. It’s a nice atmosphere,” he says. “Live music in DB is definitely not as supported as it was before Covid but the scene is still alive, people are still passionate about playing and the quality of music hasn’t faded. 

“Some of the venues are still supportive of live music but overall, I don’t think it’s very well advertised,” adds Andrew. “You have to be following the specific musicians to know when they’re playing and there’s no central point in terms of marketing to find out everything that’s happening in DB. That’s probably something that is missing.” 

One band who puts a lot of work into ‘getting the word out’ is The Cashed-Up Johnnies, a group of DB residents who have built something of a cult following with their rockabilly style, inspired by the likes of Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. The trio can regularly be found at DBrasserie, which is well kitted out for full bands. 

“If you want a crowd, you have to spread the word. It’s much more fun for us to play in front of a crowd. We rely more on family and friends from DB, but if you do it too often it’s difficult to play to a full house. It’s a balance,” says frontman Gil de Clercq. 

Someone who has seen it all in DB across the past two decades is professional saxophonist Blaine Whittaker, who has played at just about every local venue you care to name. 

“The clientele has changed and that’s a big deal, but they’re slowly coming back. It may take another couple of years,” says Blaine, whose sons Saxon and Jarvis cut their teeth at Hemingway’s and are now building a following on the Australian music scene with their band Whitt’s End. 

“When Hemingway’s left this place was a ghost town for music for a long time,” Blaine adds. “But people are trying, which I love because there was a point when no one was doing anything. It takes time to get it in people’s heads that there is something on. 

“If venues want to try music for two months and think it’s not working, it’s because they didn’t try it for long enough. It’s not a quick fix. It’s a long arc for venues that are successful with music. If people know it’s on from consistency, you’ll more often than not have good nights after a certain period of time. That’s why Hemingway’s was good – because it was always on and it had a long track record.” 

While something like Hemingway’s cannot simply be recreated overnight, a common theme among those with skin in the game is a yearning for the return of The BIG Picnic, however difficult commercial pressures might make that. 

Last held on Saturday, November 9, 2019, The BIG Picnic took over Tai Pak Beach, DB Plaza and D'Deck with four stages of live music and dance, a children’s zone, food stalls and the Handmade Hong Kong market. Thousands turned out for what had become DB’s signature community festival, and it’s easy to see why. 

It was free, family-friendly and genuinely had something for everyone. From the first guitar riff in the morning to the final encore well after sunset, The BIG Picnic was the kind of event where you arrived for an hour and somehow ended up staying all day. Children disappeared into craft workshops and game booths, while adults drifted between stages, discovered new bands and caught up with friends. The pop-up restaurant vendors were legendary; a lot of beer was drunk and the timing also helped. Everyone’s best memory of The BIG Picnic happened on a warm day under a cloudless sky. 

What made The BIG Picnic so special, at least for residents, was the strong community feel. Class local bands, like Helium3, The Naggin Eejits, The 852’s, Grounded, BenZine, Bus Uncle and Rockstars Anonymous shared the bill with well-known acts from across Hong Kong. Kids from local schools, clubs and dance groups also got to take part, gaining invaluable experience performing in front of big crowds. 

“I miss it. I wish it could happen again. It was just such a great event. All the bands playing and all the kids playing and dancing. I just wish there was another one coming,” says Jay. Encore, please.