From the best-dressed punters to backstage vibes and those special musical moments that can magically unify a crowd of complete strangers, this is our wrap of the best photos from the weekend, courtesy of photographer Dickson Lee and our on-the-ground team.

Festival moments

Arctic Monkeys’ Friday night headline slot

How polo became the ‘sport of kings’ – from Chinese emperors to British royals

The Monkeys have just been confirmed to headline the UK’s trendsetting Glastonbury Festival, so the booking could not be more en-pointe.

Those wacky Birdmen

Is it a bird, a plane, a dinosaur … or even a “clockenflap” itself?! The festival’s social media suggests the strange stilt animals spotted dividing the crowd at opportune moments are called “Birdmen”.

The luminous creatures were part of an art work project launched by street theatre company Close-Act.

That Collar x RubberBand collab

The set was a brave collaboration with long-standing Cantopop band RubberBand – a clash of worlds many may have doubted, but critics must surely be silenced by this consummate show.

The secret brass fanfare

Everyone’s favourite (and Hong Kong’s only?) French marching band Le Groupe Electrogène Fanfare Club is too cool and chaotic for any stage – and just launched into surprise musical hoedowns at random hours on the lawns. Awesome.

7 Asian-American women elevating modern skincare

The all-day party of Electriq

Pent-up party people found a long-overdue invitation to dance, ceaselessly all day, at the euphoric beat-centric Electriq stage, which programmed an eclectic mix of DJs and MCs from noon(ish) to night. Top moments included the mind-bending The Illustrious Blacks and the Hong Kong debut of vintage reggae legend Sister Nancy.

Wu-tang Clan rounding out the weekend

The legendary hip-hop group brought the curtain down on the weekend with an adrenaline-pumped 48-minute set littered with hits – and peppered with pretty fireworks. “Da ruckus” was brought, bandied about and drilled home, and by the close, we were all making batlike hand symbols to the sky.

Daily drum circles

Why just watch music, when you can play it too? Audiences of all ages were invited to get involved in the daily drum jams, hosted at the cute Robot stage daily at 2pm.

Hybs brought the “high vibes”

How did Thai pop duo Hybs get their name, anyway? One explanation they shared: it’s “high” and “vibes” combined. Duh.

Missed Clockenflap? Book these 7 upcoming music festivals in Asia instead

Those magic mushrooms

We’re not sure what these giant neon fungi are all about either, but they looked equally dazzling by day or night – and offered an easy meeting spot for lost friends.

Backstage vibes

Chilling with Collar

STYLE’s Josiah Ng slipped backstage to catch up with Collar in person – stay tuned for the full interview soon.

Vibing with Wu-tang Clan

Talk about a pinch-me moment – the mighty Wu-tang Clan hosted a quick summit backstage, and we were there for the party. A total of five of the group’s nine living members showed up in Hong Kong – leader Rza plus OG rappers U-God, Masta Killa and Inspectah Deck, plus late recruit Cappadonna – a good turnout from the legendary hip-hop collective by many fan accounts.

Talking tunes with Yellow 黃宣

The trendsetting Taiwanese singer-songwriter took time out to hang with the STYLE team backstage before his headlining Friday night set on the FWD stage.

Sasha Alex Sloan takes five

When we asked nicely, the unguarded American singer songwriter even removed her shades for our photographer, when we met up after her deeply moving Saturday afternoon set on the main Harbourflap stage.

假日貞操 Virgin Vacation undercover

He might be in disguise, but we papped Jimmy Hedges – guitarist with Hong Kong’s very own 假日貞操 Virgin Vacation – enjoying some downtime on Sunday, after his band opened the FWD stage on Friday night. Sorry, he’s wearing “vintage, don’t know brands”, if you were trying to cop his style.

Hanging with Hybs

The band appeared in matching one-piece suits from a top Thai designer when we met them backstage.

Ahead of Art Basel, Hong Kong’s socialite scene is finally regaining its mojo

Street style

Tina, Victor and Shirley

This trio showed some serious festival-worthy style, donning a mix of cut-outs, stripes and bold colours for the event’s second day.

Cheuk N.

Another Clockenflap-goer went for a cosier look, wearing a fluffy grey jumper to prepare for the cooler temperatures in the evening. She kept the ensemble fun and playful with a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses.

Shauna

Bright and beaming, the South African rocked “custom peacock” at the festival on Sunday.

Philippe Holthuizen

The 45-year-old Dutch founder of Fused footwear was naturally promoting his own brand. Shame his shoes are out of shot.

Donna Duckworth

This, ladies and gentlemen, is a “one-teaspoon jumpsuit” – worn with aplomb by the 35-year-old Brit.

Richard Murphy

The 46-year-old Canadian is showing his true colours in a kilt.

Minjung Kim

Kim shows off a traditional hat from her native South Korea.

Lucy

Not to be confused with Taiwanese singer-songwriter of an umlaut-hatted name, the floral 32-year-old Brit was all about Bombay Bicycle Club.

5 artists putting East Asian culture on the main stage at Clockenflap 2023

Harriet Lam and Yueyao

Delirio founder Harriet Lam keeps it real in her own-brand hat.

And that, ladies and gentleman, is all for this year. See you in December!