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Hip-Hop Hooligans Jabba Da Football Club
- July 9, 2018 ● Bands
Japanese Hip-Hop Four Piece Jabba Da Football Club
In a more hip-hop-heavy lineup at Fujirock than ever, big names like Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone and N.E.R.D are sure to draw more fans of the genre to Naeba than in years past. Not to let overseas rap acts hog all the spotlight, a few Japanese hip-hop acts also have their sights set on expanding the presence of the genre at the festival. One of those acts, Jabba Da Football Club will take to Naeba Shokudo late Saturday to do just that.
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Camping essentials
- July 5, 2018 ● Essentials, Experiences
Twilight camping in the hills of Naeba
If you haven’t reserved other accommodations for Fuji Rock this late in the game, I’m going to assume, much like myself and the bulk of the Fuji Rock attendees, you are going to be camping in the rolling mountains of Naeba! READ MORE
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The story behind Fishbone Soundclash, Basque Rockers and Mestizo Music Mania!
- July 3, 2018 ● Bands, Interviews
Every year, Fuji Rock hosts at least one of those crazy Latin bands that play high-energy music makes you dance so hard your legs ache for the rest of the weekend. Their presence is almost always due to the work of Shogo Komiyama, head of the Japonicus, a music promoter who for nearly two decades has been bringing “mestizo” artists –– musicians mixing Latin, Caribbean and international influences –– from the Iberian peninsula, southern Europe and the Americas to Japan. This year, Shogo’s arranging much of the Friday night line-up at the Crystal Palace Tent, will host the Basque Country rockers Esne Beltza on the White Stage, and has set up a bunch of great vinyl DJs for the Blue Galaxy Tent on Saturday night.
Shogo’s also organizing the only Fuji Rock pre-party, his own Radical Music Network party on Wednesday, July 25 at Club Asia in Shibuya. It goes from 6:30pm to midnight and will feature members of Fishbone as part of an all-star mestizo lineup. (Quick note: anyone with a non-Japanese passport gets a JPY 500 discount on the door admission price. So if you’re getting to Tokyo early, check it out!)
To get the inside scoop on all the mestizo music action on and around Fuji Rock weekend, we caught up with Shogo for a quick preview of the Latin, ska and other music coming to Fuji Rock this year.
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CHAI and the Rise of Neo-Kawaii
- June 29, 2018 ● Bands
While ‘kawaii’ may remain one of the most recognizable Japanese phrases and cultural cliches inside and outside the country, as an aesthetic concept it doesn’t provide musicians much artistic freedom. Then Nagoya’s CHAI comes in and flips the script.
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What on Earth should I wear to Fuji Rock?
- June 26, 2018 ● Essentials, Experiences
Now that you’ve got your waterproof shoes and practical camping clothes picked out, it’s time to throw some actual fashion items into your luggage. So make sure to save some room for a frog suit, panda mask, interesting headgear, face paint, or exceptional clothing items that will have the punters lining up to snap selfies with you. Need some inspiration? Here’s a sampling of festival fashion statements from 2017.
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Fujirockers Bar Taipei – Recap
- June 26, 2018 ● From Fujirockers.org
It was a wild weekend of music and camaraderie as Fujirocker head honcho Koichi Hanufusa led a half-dozen of the J-crew for the short 3 hour flight across the pond to Taipei. The first night was a battle to topple 12-year old bottle of Nikka whisky and a chance to to dig through some records at host restaurant Alleycats. By 11pm, the conversation turned to Benny Goodman and the fifty plus swing dancers who did more prancing than swooning on this hot summer night. When the tents and banners arrived, it was time to tiptoe home, past patrolmen protecting the park, and back to the safe and spacious confines of Taipei Artist Village.
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7 Fuji Rock Do’s and Don’ts
- June 20, 2018 ● Essentials, Experiences
A Fuji Rock do or don’t? We’ll let you decide!
How goes it my fellow Fuji Rockers? I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, we’re closing in on one month to go before the yearly extravaganza in Naeba. So, whether this is your first dance or your twentieth, it’s never a bad idea to be reminded of some of the things that will help you make the most of our beloved, mountainous, musical marathon.
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The Complete Guide To Not Being A Problematic Fuji Rock Participant
- June 18, 2018 ● Essentials
That’s no good!
Fuji Rock certainly exists as a welcome bit of escapism in the heart of summer. Everyone wants to get away from the drudgery of the everyday and slip away from work for a little bit, and three days out in Naeba can practically feel like going off the grid. For the most part, everyone just wants to chill and have a good time. But it’s possible to muck it up if you aren’t careful.
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Ash, Glim Spanky, Kali Uchis And More Added To Fuji Rock Festival 2018!
- June 15, 2018 ● Bands
The latest update is here
With just a little over a month to go before the party gets going in Naeba, the latest artist announcement for Fuji Rock Festival 2018 has arrived.
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Masato Moja: Add Some Magic to Your Fuji Rock
- June 12, 2018 ● Experiences, Interviews
Abracadabra
The allure of magic is something that transcends age and culture. Basically, everybody gets a kick out of a good magic trick. But the best magic takes place in the context of a great show, courtesy of a great showman. Few are able to make magic an indie art form like Tokyo’s Masato Moja. Typically he can be seen busking around the country, frequently in collaboration with his partner in crime EPPAI (who will also be performing at Fuji Rock). But his festival shows are always a special treat.
