In May of 2009, the “100% Genki” tour brought 4 Japanese bands to the UK, who played 4 festivals across the country. Showcasing Japan’s vibrant music scene, the tour visited Brighton, London, Manchester and Liverpool over 10 days.
2００９年５月、「１００％元気」というツアーが４組のバンドを日本からイギリスの４つのフェスティバルに連れてきた。
Taichi from the band Riddim Saunter, who appear in the UK as part of the 100% Genki tour, describes his week.
Friday
It’s the weekend! Today, Frontier Backyard play live in Hachioji, a city in the west of Greater Tokyo. However, I have to leave immediately after the show to join Riddim Saunter’s rehearsal, in Shimokitazawa, a neighbourhood in Tokyo known for it’s theatre and music venues…
Saturday
It’s been a long time since I had Saturday off! I think about heading out for some more fun, but it rains, so I stay at home. I listen to the record I bought the other day in Fukuoka over and over – it’s the new 12″ from “Neoako”…
Sunday
I can’t believe yesterday’s rain as today is so sunny in Tokyo! My friend, who is in a band called CBMD, has a store called “MIN NANO”, and I go here to hang out…
Monday
I wake up from the floor at the start of the day, and while suffering from the devil’s hangover, head to the Empire office. We are working together on apparel brand, and they are looking for …
Tuesday
A day recovering and sleeping. I feel much better for it, and again meet Ryo from Slack, in Nakameguro for lunch. We visit …
Wednesday
Today, our support band, Frontier Backyard, play live. The event is bit like a *Matsuri*, a traditional local town festival. We later play at “Studio Coast” …
Thursday
Feeling awful yet again, but I can do it! I visit the Empire office again, as the deadline for Fuji Rock festival official t-shirt designs is getting close …
Read full content here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/5393443/Taichi-of-Japanese-band-Riddim-Saunters-week..html
- The 100% Genki tour took place between May 15 – 22 http://www.newmusicfromjapan.com/
- Highlights – The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City, Strummerville Yard Party, Stagg & Dagger
- Supported by Strummerville www.strummerville.com
Photography by Caroline True
Looks like the word is getting out about the Smash UK and Strummerville supported 100% Genki Tour – which kicks off today at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton. The tour has been set up to showcase new music from Japan.
100% Genki online reviews..
Read more on the 100% Genki Tour Here!
Hello all,
The tour kicks off this Friday in Brighton at the wonderful Great Escape festival, and goes on to Manchester on Sunday, London on Thursday and Liverpool on Friday. We hope you can make it down! Event links below :
**************************
The 100% Genki tour takes place over 10 days in May 2009, and will introduce contemporary Japanese acts to the UK. International audiences have demonstrated a growing interest in Japan’s music, and a wealth of talented artists exists in the burgeoning domestic scene, spanning the entire musical spectrum – from punk to electronica, from techno to ska.
Young Japanese bands, producers, singers and DJs have their own unique sense of direction and style, due in part to the unique position of the country – increasingly immersed in Western culture, but still removed, culturally as well as geographically.
The tour is organised by the music promoter Smash, and the music charity Strummerville. Smash have been organising concerts in Japan since 1984, and produce the annual Fuji Rock Festival. Strummerville is a registered charity set up by the friends and family of Joe Strummer in the year after his death, which aims to create new opportunities for aspiring musicians. Strummerville supports Fuji Rock festival’s riotous “Rookie-a-go-go” stage, offering financial support to the unsigned bands who play.
The 100% Genki Tour is playing home to the following Japanese artists:
80kidz
Following in the footsteps of genre-mashing electronic artists such as Surkin, M.I.A, The Bang Gang DJs, and Vitalic, and influenced by club scenes from Sydney to London to Paris, these 80kidz are ready to show the world what Tokyo can do. Are the 80kidz real or hype? They entrust your judgment in making that call!
De De Mouse
DE DE MOUSE began life in 2005, two years after YMCK debuted – Endo does not base his entire oeuvre on soundtracks to games made for the 8-bit NES console. Instead, Endo’s layered grooves often take on a darker, more abstract bent that incorporates drum ‘n’ bass and ambient. DE DE MOUSE has won fans in Tokyo’s music and fashion scenes: as well as sharing live bills with the likes of HALFBY and BUFFALO DAUGHTER, it has also soundtracked fashion shows by Takayuki Suzuki, the costume designer of choice of J-pop stars such as Mika Nakajima.
Riddim Saunter
Famed for their frantic live shows, Riddim Saunter’s up-close, in your face style of performance won them the support slot for The Go-Team’s first ever Japan tour, and an invite to perform at the 2007 Fuji Rock Festival. Blown away by their set at the festival, Johnny, from American punksters “The Death Set”, promptly invited the band to tour with them in the US in the near future.
Tucker
A hyperactive one-man band / turntablist / organ playing whirlwind, who has created an worldwide internet phemenon. Tucker’s confounding, high-energy mix of rock and roll, punk, pop, and hip hop leaves critics fumbling for words. The electric organ fan site Electone Zone described it dizzily as “a 21st century Neo-Tokyo vaudeville show.” Other fans describe his sets as “performance art” (in 2006, Tucker appeared at Barcelona’s Sónar multimedia music and art festival).
Head over to 100% Genki main site for more details
