LEE JOON GI ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINE ACT AT HSBC WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS MUSIC FESTIVAL 2017

Leading local and US-based artists to join the popular South Korean actor-singer Lee Joon Gi to set the stage of champions alight

SINGAPORE, 18 January 2017 – Popular South Korean actor-singer, Lee Joon Gi, will be the headline act at the HSBC Women’s Champions music festival, part of the prestigious ladies’ golf tournament that takes place at Sentosa Golf Club on 2-5 March.

Following last year’s success when a festival concept was introduced to the event which involved an exhilarating performance by iconic British band Take That, the music programme on Saturday 4 March has been extended to a six-hour show to include performances by local acts DJ Bounce Squad, Jack & Rai, and Gentle Bones; and upcoming US band, Thirdstory, from 4pm. The South Korean star, who made his debut in 2001, will light up the stage through his ‘Lee Joon Gi [Thank You] Asia Tour’ at 7pm at the driving range of the picturesque golf club.

A golf fan, Lee Joon Gi landed his first major role in the 2005 film, “The King and the Clown”, which propelled him into Asia-wide stardom and numerous coveted awards. After a string of successes on the film and TV drama scene over the next decade, the 33-year-old took the lead role of Wang So in “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo”, a Korean remake of the hugely popular Chinese television series, “Bu Bu Jing Xin.”

The multi-talented Lee Joon Gi, who will be performing for the first time in Singapore, is also a versatile singer. He has released a number of singles and mini-albums including ‘My Jun My Style’ (2006), ‘J Style’ (2009), which has both a Korean and a Japanese version, ‘Deucer’ (2012), and ‘Case By Case’ (2013). From upbeat dance tracks to romantic ballads, the charismatic star’s ability to pull off any style has allowed him to carve a name for himself in the highly competitive K-Pop market.

Like Lee, Thirdstory is also making their debut appearance in Singapore. The band was the result of a serendipitous meeting on New York’s Lower East Side between Elliott Skinner, Ben Lusher, and Richard Saunders in 2013. Known for their sublime vocal harmonies, they are a collective of distinctly gifted singer-songwriters and performers who mix pop song-writing and soulful singing with electronics and live instrumentation.

DJ Bounce Squad will kick off the music programme shortly after completion of golf play on Saturday 4 March, or day three of HSBC Women’s Champions. Formed in 2014, the local DJs are recognised for their original productions and remixes that have garnered over 300K in track plays. Born and bred at the heart of one of the biggest music scenes in Asia – Singapore – DJ Bounce Squad was created by veteran electronic dance music artiste, Inquisitive alongside Yeolo, the biggest name leading the next generation of DJs.

Jack & Rai is a local acoustic and rock act formed in 2002 through the coming together of two solo acoustic musicians. Their easy-going and engaging natures make any audience feel right at home when watching them perform. Joel Tan, aka Gentle Bones, is unstoppably making waves in the music industry with his distinct style of music. Last year was a breakthrough year for the 22-year-old with two back-to-back sold out concerts at The Esplanade Concert Hall in June. He was also the first Singaporean artist to win the Hong Kong Asia-Pop Music Festival and the only Singaporean listed on Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 list in Entertainment/Sport.

Giles Morgan, Global Head of Sponsorship and Events at HSBC, said:

“As a long term sponsor of the sport, our mantra for several years has been that golf is Anyone’s Game – it’s our ambition to open up the world of golf and attract a bigger audience. With this in mind, we are always looking to innovate and try new things at our flagship HSBC Women’s Champions event here in Singapore. Last year we introduced the festival concept which proved to be a huge success with the added music and food offerings attracting a brand new audience. This time around we are delighted with our extended music festival programme featuring Lee Joon Gi from South Korea, USA, and Singapore. HSBC Women’s Champions really does provide a unique stage for champions from in-and-outside the ropes to showcase their talent.”

Jean Ng, Director, Sports, Singapore Tourism Board, added:

“The 10th HSBC Women’s Champions is raising the bar further on fan experience with its line-up of international and local entertainment acts. Coupled with world-class golf action, we believe it will attract both avid golf fans and casual leisure visitors, and enhance Singapore’s position as a sports and entertainment hub.”

Robbie Henchman, Senior Vice President, Head of IMG Asia Pacific, commented:

“The festival concept last year was introduced to bring a new audience to the HSBC Women’s Champions and to offer a completely different fan experience for those who come to the event as a whole. This year, the music festival has been extended to a six-hour programme, which commences on the Saturday right after the last putt, allowing spectators to go straight from the intensity of the golf to the party atmosphere of the concert. With acts from three different countries offering very different types of music, ticket holders will be in for a real treat this year.”

While these renowned artists will entertain fans in the amphitheatre for one night only, the best in ladies’ golf from around the world will compete on the new Tanjong Course over four days for one of the most coveted trophies on the LPGA Tour. Defending Champion Ha Na Jang of South Korea will be joined by her fellow top ten players including world number one, two, and three – Lydia Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, and In Gee Chun.

Fans can choose to enjoy the Festival, which includes the concert and access to the golf on Saturday 4 March, at S$348 for a VIP ticket, or S$188 for Super Fan Zone, or S$148 for General Admission. A 10% discount on concert tickets will apply with the purchase of season passes (access to all four days of HSBC Women’s Champions 2017), which is priced at S$60. Single day tickets to the golf for Thursday (2 March) and Friday (3 March) are S$20 per day, while access to the tournament weekend, Saturday (4 March) and Sunday (5 March) cost S$30 per day.

For more information on the HSBC Women’s Champions 2017, visit the tournament website at https://www.hsbcgolf.com/womens/ or official Facebook page!