• 25 years with the rocking rebel – Shogo Komiyama

    Founder of Radical Music Network. (Photo by Kosuke Kobayashi)

    Shogo Komiyama has been bringing “rebel music” from Latin America, Europe, and Asia to Japan for 25 years with his Radical Music Network. He believes music and politics are inseparable, and though the road has been difficult, he wouldn’t do it any other way.

    ─ What made you first come to Japan?

    After completing an agricultural program abroad, I moved to Costa Rica and did a rave party in Argentina. Later I  got a job at a Japanese food company with offices in Tokyo and Okinawa. It was going pretty well. But I just couldn’t get away from music.

    When I decided to make a living from music, my partner in the venture abandoned me after six months. He hung up on me, and all my savings were gone. I even went into debt and had to start from scratch again. But, looking back, I think it was a test. If I didn’t do it at the time, I wouldn’t be who I am today READ MORE

  • Joe Rush’s ‘mutoid’ world and Fuji Rock

    Every good festival has a legend, and whether it’s Joe Strummer in the parking lot or robots playing drum and bass, London artist Joe Rush has been at the center of it.

    “I’d heard about Fuji Rock around 2002. Jason Mayall brought Fuji Rock producer, Masa Hidaka, and his partner,  Shigemi, around the site. They came to the area where I was working called the Invisible Circus.”

    According to Rush, when Masa sat down, he looked around, and there was my robot playing the drums, another robot dancing, and drum and bass coming out of the sound system. He just sat there and said, “This is what I want at Fuji.”

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  • 25th party

    Radical Music Network Special 25th Anniversary!

    25th party

    A preview party for Fuji Rock performers

     

    This year’s Radical Music Network’s  25th anniversary will be a big fiesta party in the heart of Shibuya  with a lot of Rebel Music (Cumbia, Mestizo, Reggae, Ska, Latin, Garage, Punk, etc).

    The lineup includes many special guests from overseas, many confirmed to appear at Fuji Rock Festival including: Fermin Muguruza (Basque Country), South Carnival (South Korea), Discos Fantastico! (Peru), Bellboy (South Korea), Satria Ramadhan (Indonesia).

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  • Another Stunning Year, Another Stunning Asagiri Jam!

    DAY ONE

    A whole year is always a long time to wait for the next year’s Fuji Rock. Just remember if you are starting to feel the booty shakes of withdrawal symptoms as the summer comes to a close, there is always big Fuji’s undersung sibling, Asagiri Jam!

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  • The Spirit of the Festival: Glastonbury’s Community Vibe and Its Future Inspiration for Fuji Rock

    Crowd gathers for a workout class. Photo credit: Keiko Hirakawa

    Crowd gathers for a workout class. Photo credit: Keiko Hirakawa

    Attending Glastonbury this year was a fantastic experience. As someone who usually covers Fuji Rock, it was amazing to see the festival that inspired it all. The sense of community at Glastonbury is something special, and it’s quite different from Fuji Rock. Here’s a peek into the unique vibe that makes Glastonbury stand out.

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  • Green Initiatives: A Comparison Between Glastonbury and Fuji Rock

    The aftermath of Glastonbury's main stages at 3am each night.

    The aftermath of Glastonbury’s main stages at 3am each night.

    When it comes to sustainability, two of the world’s most iconic music festivals, Glastonbury and Fuji Rock, offer some intriguing contrasts and lessons for each other. Both festivals have made strides in reducing their environmental impact, but each has unique approaches shaped by their cultural and logistical contexts.

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  • Glastopedia: Interview with Creator Ben Smith

    1-Glastopedia

    Glastopedia, an extensive and unofficial online compendium dedicated to one of the world’s most famous music festivals, Glastonbury Festival, offers a treasure trove of information on every aspect of the festival. From its history and timeline to detailed data on performers, venues, campsites, crew, and vendors, Glastopedia expands far beyond the capabilities of the festival’s official website and app to date.

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  • Sean’s Best of the Fest: Full Fuji!

    Sitting outside Don's Cafe

    Sitting outside Don’s Cafe

    We’re back, and in a big way! No half-measures this year like social distancing and no alcohol sales but ramping it up like Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters said it, “Full Fuji.”

    “Palace of Wonder”

    Sitting majestically on top of a hill, the Spiegel Tent was a beacon for those who dug deep inside of themselves and wanted one more party. Sure there were the purists who thought the old location was better, but I’m not going to waste words discussing this. And it’s a big up for those that made it happen, balancing a 100-year old tent on uneven ground, and even pulling it out of a container after four years of moldy storage. The art was back thanks to Debs and Strapper and the crew, who are the blood and sweat of the festival.

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  • Big Willie’s Burlesque is Back!

    The return of the Palace of Wonder would not be complete without Big Willie’s Burlesque: a quartet of musicians backed up by two lovely dancers, Carolina Cerisola and Alyssa Marquez. The group regularly perform in Hollywood and have been mainstays at Fuji Rock since 2004. We’re thrilled to catch up with the man they call Big Willy (Willie McNeill) and get his impressions on two decades of Fuji rocking!
    The musicians in Big Willie's Burlesque

    The musicians in Big Willie’s Burlesque

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  • Prep for the Fuji Rock Heat!

    Looking like a hot one!

    If you’ve been watching the mercury rise as we lurch sweatily into the swamp of summer, you know that being prepared can make all the difference between feeling breezy cool and damply wilted. Follow these simple tips to avoid suffering as the latter during this year’s Fuji Rock, where hot temps are just as guarantied as a spot of rain!

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