Words by Rachel June
Get ready for an unforgettable night and catch Cory Wong on his UK tour, which starts on Valentine’s Day, February 14th 2025. For those who haven’t heard of Cory Wong, he is a GRAMMY-nominated guitarist, producer and variety show host. Watch the fantastic Halloween show he did dressed as Willy Wonka here. So, what can we expect? Cory beams, “A very fun and exciting show! A full 10-piece band, high energy, rhythm, epic production and entertainment.”
Not only will Cory be jamming out with friends and musicians, but there will be immersive elements and visual aspects to bring the show to life. “It’s an interactive experience,” Cory teases. The band Couch are supporting, with secret special guests alluded to. Cory Wong is known for his epic collabs – and loves to “explore things with different artists, understanding their artistry and working alongside that.” Collaboration happens naturally for Cory, bumping into new or old friends on his musical escapades whilst visiting different places or attending festivals. “If I am working with another artist, I want to create an environment that allows them to express their own artistry in a way they are not able to do on their own albums”, and vice versa. Honourable mentions go to his collaborations with Tom Misch, dodie, and he dreams of collaborating with Jamie Cullum. Jamming with people and seizing the moment by sharing music with others is what life is all about for this talented musician.
In Cory’s eyes, the beauty of live shows is “having a vision and executing it well.” This show is meticulously arranged, tight and intentional, and then explorative—with jam sessions and freedom on stage. Responding to each other, listening, and interacting, Cory shares, “It’s a big fun party. I ensure that everybody leaves there saying they have had an absolute blast.”
He advises aspiring musicians to “Master your craft. Understand music as a whole. You don’t have to be the best at something, but we can bring a uniqueness to everything we do and say. Lean into that.” He underlines the importance of our own tastes, saying, “The music we enjoy, our preferences for art, the colours we like to paint with that make our eyes light up – take all these influences and make something your own.” This utterly expresses how Cory fits into the music world; he, of course, is insanely talented – however, he says, “There is power in what you do, which creates compelling art”.
Cory jokes that the band gets “Tour tight” while on tour, meaning they are divinely musically aligned during the performance. As Cory promises a party, ASBO can’t wait to see it all come together. So secure your tickets, and we will see you on the dancefloor.
