Tag - summer-sonic

 
 

SUMMER SONIC

Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 21, 2018
Western acts take note: Joy and enthusiasm are the key to winning over Summer Sonic crowds
British rocker Noel Gallagher has developed a reputation in recent years for delivering biting, hilarious one-liners, both in interviews and at concerts. In front of the crowd as the Saturday night headliner for Tokyo's leg of Summer Sonic, however, the former Oasis brain trust was mostly quiet.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 21, 2018
Sunset and a glimpse of Mount Fuji add to Tom Misch's Tokyo debut
As the sun began to set on this year's Summer Sonic, London-born singer Tom Misch took to the Beach Stage for his first live appearance in Tokyo.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 16, 2018
Summer Sonic's helter-skelter lineup provides a lot of chances for younger Japanese acts
When it comes to music festivals in Japan, Fuji Rock is the pretty one, Rock in Japan is the domestic one and Summer Sonic is the crowd pleaser. Past headliners have included acts as diverse as Metallica, Beyonce, Green Day and Stevie Wonder.
CULTURE / Music
Jan 17, 2018
Beck, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds to headline Summer Sonic
American singer-songwriter Beck and British rock outfit Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds have been named as headliners at this year's Summer Sonic music festival in August.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 22, 2017
Babymetal, Foo Fighters and Rick Astley make Summer Sonic a fun weekend
This year's Summer Sonic had its craziest moment on Sunday night when 1980s singer Rick Astley joined the Foo Fighters for the latter's headlining performance.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 16, 2017
Phoenix readies for 'unique' Summer Sonic and some sweet sake sessions
In an age where almost every piece of historical information is available at our fingertips, Thomas Mars and Laurent Brancowitz of the French band Phoenix surprise me with a fact that doesn't seem to exist anywhere on the internet.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Jun 8, 2017
Tilt toward domestic acts risks watering down uniqueness of Japan's big music fests
Japan's 2017 summer music festival landscape has mostly settled into place. The Fuji Rock Festival, after an upbeat 20th anniversary last year, kicked up excitement thanks to a top-heavy bill headlined by Gorillaz, Aphex Twin and Bjork, along with the promise of more left-field fare down in the smaller...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 18, 2016
Underworld: 'We've become inseparable now, and it's really great'
Two years ago, Underworld duo Karl Hyde and Rick Smith had an epiphany. After more than three decades of working together — through some unremittingly lean early years; an epoch-defining, mega-selling turn in the 1990s; soundtracking the London Olympics opening ceremony, and a fractured and increasingly...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 18, 2016
From Hiromi Uehara to Radiohead and Sakanaction, here's how to plan your weekend at Summer Sonic
Summer Sonic offers something for fans of every music genre — it's practically the festival's calling card. Fans of a specific style still have it easy, though — just hang around the stage catering to your preferred sound, whether that be EDM blasting from the Beach Stage or Top 40 pop on the Mountain...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 14, 2016
Summer Sonic founder Naoki Shimizu explains the search for the perfect music festival lineup
Creativeman President Naoki Shimizu says he had the perfect idea for this year's Sonicmania. The event, an all-night party that comes ahead of Creativeman's Summer Sonic music festival, would feature EDM heavyweight Skrillex and long-running synthpop outfit New Order as the headliners, bringing out young...
Japan Times
CULTURE
Jun 23, 2016
In search of Japan's essential summer festivals
With July just around the corner, Japan is gearing up for another sultry summer. Since the sizzling-hot days only last until early September, people make the most of the season by getting outside — that includes going to film festivals, art and fashion events or outdoor musical gatherings.
CULTURE / Music
Jun 16, 2016
Summer Sonic unveils domestic collaborative acts
Summer Sonic on Thursday unveiled nine new domestic acts and a solo artist from China for its upcoming 2016 edition, including indie trio Cero and singer-songwriter Kazumi Nikaido, who is performing with the Gentle Forest Jazz Band.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 27, 2016
Radiohead set to play new material at Summer Sonic
Following the announcement of a new album in the works, Radiohead has been confirmed as one of this year's Summer Sonic headliners.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 21, 2015
Zedd pleases, D'Angelo scores at this year's Summer Sonic
An important moment in the life of any music fan comes when they go to a festival they've been attending for several years and think — "Man, am I old?"
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 13, 2015
Wolf Alice's Summer Sonic stop is another step on the way to the top
When London indie-rock foursome Wolf Alice makes its Japan debut at the Summer Sonic festival this weekend, it will be three years, two EPs, one debut album and countless incendiary live gigs since it first sent alternative music blogs into a frenzy with a single track uploaded to SoundCloud, that most...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 9, 2015
Even if you don't see Yasutaka Nakata at Summer Sonic, you'll probably hear him
Punters heading off to Makuhari Messe this weekend for SonicMania — the all-night event preceding the annual Summer Sonic music festival — should try to arrive at the venue early to secure a prime spot for the evening's first act: pop trio Perfume.
Japan Times
CULTURE
Jun 18, 2015
A festival for every weekend of your summer
Festivals (matsuri) of all kinds are a staple of Japanese culture and summer is the premier season to experience them. In recent years, the country has seen a bit of a boom in cultural festivals, to the point that it's possible to book every weekend of your summer around them. We're here to help by highlighting...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 19, 2014
Old and new mingle sweetly at Summer Sonic
After Queen finished "Another One Bites The Dust" — 10 minutes before 8 p.m. on the Sunday of this year's Summer Sonic in Chiba — hundreds of fans darted for the exits of QVC Marine Field Stadium. Security guards and staff with megaphones tried to direct them as some dashed to the left for Kraftwerk,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 14, 2014
Seiho to take Summer Sonic into the night
Three years ago, Seiho Hayakawa could often be found playing shows at basement venues around Osaka. Today, he's all over the map.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Aug 14, 2013
Hard rock, J-pop rule Summer Sonic
Veteran Japanese rockers Mr. Children attracted so many fans to this year's edition of the Summer Sonic music festival that they made Smashing Pumpkins' frontman Billy Corgan upset.

Longform

Sociologist Gracia Liu-Farrer argues that even though immigration doesn't figure into Japan's autobiography, it is more of a self-perception than a reality.
In search of the ‘Japanese dream’