The months just keep passing and the summer draws even closer. Let’s check in with Japan’s premier summer festivals to see what’s up.
– The big new update on the Summer Sonic front would be reunited indie-gods Pavement getting a slot. They already dazzled Tokyo and (especially) Osaka once before, so if you missed out the first time around here’s your chance to make things right. Also joining the two-day fray will be classic-rock lovers Free Energy , British dudes The Courteeners and Steve Appleton, who appeared on Music Station last summer and, uh…see Surfer Blood instead OK? Oh, and who plays which days has been posted.
– Fuji Rock, though, scored the best act yet, though being a big Radiohead fan might leave me biased. Atoms For Peace a.k.a. Thom Yorke’s supergroup (Flea plays in it!) stand out as the neatest addition. Reports from Coachella say the band played Yorke’s 2006 solo joint The Eraser in its entirety so bust out your copy and get familiar with “Cymbal Rush” again. A whole bunch of new acts have been added, and highlights include Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Buffalo Daughter and Char. Matt & Kim will also make the flight over but I’ve already told you what I think of those guys.