The day the music died: Battle of live music bar in Soho

Peel Fresco Music Lounge, one of the last jazz bars left in Hong Kong and one of the biggest supporters of live music in Hong Kong, is recently facing constant noise complaint from the neighbourhood. The police frequently disrupts the bar business. This threatens the livelyhoods of the bars in Peel Street and puts dozens of musicians out of work.

 one of the biggest supporters of live music in Hong Kong

Perhaps the music is too loud late at night for one particular resident above the bar, yet in general it has been decided by the local council, police and government, that Peel Street and Soho must not become the next LKF and so they are going to crush it now. As each bar renews it's Licence or new ones attempt to start up, they are starting to put intolerable restriction on them, that make doing business more difficult. As Soho Junction ( closed at the moment) Macumba ( who feel they must move or close) and La Tambour ( who is fighting a 11pm last call) have already discovered.

Jun Kung @ Peel Fresco

And so Peel Fresco Music Lounge is just one of many bars on Peel and in Soho that will be effected by this decision to remedy the noise complaint problems rather then look for other solutions. The situation is along with so many other elements in this city have declared war on live music bar and Soho, in order to appease the very few that complain about the noise. It is a sad commentary on Hong Kong but a true fact that there seems to be little support and understanding for culture in this city.

The bar will fight on and time will tell if they stubborn enough to outlast everyone else.

The day the music died.