Fujirockers: The official Fuji Rock Festival blog

Radiohead's Thom Yorke on the Green Stage in 2010

While the first wave of Fuji Rock acts are usually announced in early March, seeing as how Smash broke from tradition and revealed headliners The Stones Roses back in November it’s not that surprising that today they released the news that Radiohead will also be headlining FRF ‘12.

This will be Radiohead’s first time to play at FRF.  Frontman Thom Yorke performed on the Green Stage at 2010’s fest with his Atoms for Peace side project.  Reviews of that show were mixed, but I’m guessing a proper Radiohead will draw mass accolades from rain slicker sporting scribes and fans alike.

So we’ve got Radiohead and The Stone Roses on board already for FRF ‘12.  Who’s your guess for the fest’s third headliner?

Thom Yorke photo by Hiroshi Maeda and used with the permission of Fuji Rock Express ‘10.

The plan was to post this earlier, but we’ve all been swamped over the last few weeks.  Anyhow, better late than never, right?

So usually FRF officially announces the dates for the next edition of the fest on New Year’s Day.  Then they release the first wave of acts at the beginning of March.  Breaking with tradition, in November Smash revealed that FRF ’12 will take place from July 27 – July 29 and shared that the recently reunited Stone Roses will be one of the headliners.

Early bird tickets for FRF ’12 will go on sale in early February.  Other acts likely won’t be announced until March (like past years), but we’ll keep you posted if any more names come out before then.

Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown’s voice was a wee bit rough when he performed on the White Stage at FRF ‘10.  Hopefully he’s in better form next summer.  Check out a review of Ian Brown from FRF ‘10 here.

That's a lot of water

There was an earthquake last night. It happened at 3:54 am with the epicenter just off the coast of Fukushima. Magnitude 6.4. Here in Niigata is registered on the Japanese scale as a 1 or 2. Not scary, but noticeable. I’m sure the people partying at the Palace didn’t notice it, though. That place is pretty much a constant earthquake. But I was sleeping and I vaguely remember wondering if the building was shaking.

Meteorologically speaking (Is an earthquake meteorological? Let’s just assume it is), we are more concerned at Fuji about what comes from the sky and not from the earth. It’s pouring again this morning, which in itself shouldn’t be a problem. It was pouring yesterday morning but most of the day the precipitation was negligible. The forecast, however, predicts this general vicinity to be cloudy turning to sunny. At the moment that seems like wishful thinking, so let’s wish even harder.

The man waving the chainsaw is A.D. Tree Pirate, the same fella who brought a huge wooden scorpion to the Palace of Wonder in 2006.

This time around, he’s bringing a special message, using wood – a window frame and door panel, reclaimed from the coast of Tohoku after the tsunami. The rest of the wood in the sculpture are from broken or damaged pieces of the boardwalk, and yet other wood was specially shipped redwood from England.

Tree Pirate says his interest in chainsaws began when he was a kid in England where he lived in a rural area that allowed him to pursue his love of motorcycles, which in his mind, logically led to picking up the chainsaw.

He’s even appeared on Britain’s got talent where he rode a motorcycle onstage, later dipping a chainsaw into a large bowl of fruit, splattering it everywhere. The presentation didn’t impress the judges though Tree Pirate was able to find some of the footage and put it on his website here.

Tree Pirate is also a regular at Glastonbury, running the bar Wenches  Chest. He’s also good friends with the Mutoid Waste Company who do many of the sculptures at the Palace of Wonder.

As previously reported, Buddy Guy has canceled his Sunday night Orange Court headlining set because of health concerns.  The New Mastersounds will be filling in for the blues legend.  The group are playing this afternoon on The White Stage and then will stick around to close things out at Orange Court on a funky note.

Meet a Rock Star at Ganban

This weekend, 18 acts will be stopping by Ganban’s booths in the Oasis Food Court and outside of the main gates to greet fest-goers and sign autographs.  CSS are up first at 2 pm today.  The Ganban shop outside of the main gates will also host a handful of late night performances tonight and tomorrow night.  Duck over there if you need a break from the madness at the Palace of Wonder.

FRF’s official site has posted an announcement saying that Buddy Guy has sadly canceled his July 31 Orange Court headlining appearance due to health concerns. The act that will replace him has been confirmed yet. Someone is going to have some big shoes to fill on Sunday.

RUBBER BOOTS = ESSENTIAL GEAR

By 2PM Thursday when I arrive, there is already an over-achieving line of go-getters headed for the prime, flat campground spaces, far away enough from stinky toilets, mud pits, and any other possibly disastrous proximities. The single-file line of pack mules has gotten smarter though. Wheely carts haul the mountains of gear that Japanese Fuji Rockers bring every year to set up shop like kings and queens, come rain or sun, in elegant professional, Coleman brand camping style. (I personally forgot the rolling cart, so the 30 minute trek from parking with a backpack full of water to avoid the taxed 200yen bottles for sale, and the 4-man tent, was getting kind of freaking heavy!)

Even still, approaching the campground, the closest flattest spots are already totally snagged. So, we walk about 5 minutes down the sidewalk and find a spot near a towering row of pines, that only has one small hump under us (that I wouldn’t actually realize until later as I am laying my weary body to sleep, and all the blood is rushing to my feet).

But of course, before we can pitch the tent, a torrential rain of drenching proportions falls, just in time to humble and welcome us properly to what seems to be the start of 2011 Fuji Rock Mud Fest. Hope you brought your Welly boots…!

Sketch by J Muzacz

Bon odori begins

The rain came as predicted by the usually unreliable Japan Metereorological Agency. For once you wished they were wrong, but the front that moved in from Asia was supposed to hit Niigata and the Tohoku region pretty hard today, so let’s hope the second part of the JMA’s prediction also comes true: it will pass on to the Kanto region tomorrow and while we can’t expect any sunshine until Saturday at the earliest, it won’t be relentlessly pouring tomorrow the way it is right now. At the moment, punters are just dribbling in and the evening’s pre-fest entertainment has been announced: DJ Mame, Bellakiss, Mop of Head, Zigzag, and the mighty Brahman. Let’s how the rain will let up enough to allow for the opening ceremony. Some things should never change…like the JMA’s bad percentage.

I don’t know much about Ringo Deathstarr. But their name is a T-Shirt waiting to happen. And if it happens the way I’m imagining, then one shall be mine. So I had no choice but to look into them. Alas no wikipedia page (which is where I get most of my information these days — thanks Don Coglione) means that I’m going to have to write this myself. Damn. Let’s see if I can at least find a quote or two to pad things out…

Apparently this former four piece is a three piece from Austin, Texas, and were of course in performing about the place for SXSW earlier in the year, a dozen shows or more I’m reliably informed. Continue Reading…

APOLLO 18 LIVE AT SXSW '11

Another round of performers has been revealed for Fuji Rock 2011.  Twenty-two new acts including Lee Scratch Perry with Mad Professor, Patrick Stump (from Fall Out Boy), Kaiser Chiefs, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Apollo 18, DJ Hell, and more are all listed here.

There’s info on what stage everyone will play on as well.

*Photo by Koichi Hanafusa and used with the permission of Smashing Mag.

RON SEXSMITH @ ASAGIRI JAM '04

Another FRF lineup announcement has been revealed.  As previously speculated, Queens of the Stone Age are out for this year’s fest.

Canceling on Fuji Rock is nothing new for the group.  The guys bailed on FRF ‘05 as well.  Tangerine Dream will sadly also no longer appear.

Now for the good news.  Another 13 acts have been added to the schedule including highly acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith,  Glasvegas, Washed Out, and Takkyu Ishino.  You can check out the rest of the new additions and see what day they’ll perform on here.

* Photo by Miyuki “Sam” Samata and used with the permission of Smashing Mag.

JOSH HOMME WITH THEM CROOKED VULTURES AT FRF '10

The Japan Times‘ music editor, Shaun McKenna, tweeted something very interesting on Friday.  According to the Fuji Rock schedule, Queens of the Stone Age are set to play the fest on July 29.

However, grunge icons Soundgarden just announced a summer tour and they say QOTSA are opening for them in Vancouver on July 29 and George, WA on July 30.

QOTSA’s website lists the gigs with Soundgarden in the “news” section, but also includes FRF on the act’s “tour” page.

So what’s the deal?  Are QOTSA bailing on FRF?  Or are they planning to play FRF very early in the day, haul arse back to Narita Airport, and get to Canada in time to open for Soundgarden.  While the latter seems unlikely, it’s not impossible.  Guess we’ll just have to wait for the next FRF lineup announcement to find out exactly what’s up.

Some may remember that QOTSA canceled their appearance at FRF ‘05.  Queens’ frontman Josh Homme performed at the fest last summer with Them Crooked Vultures.  Check out a review of their set here.

Photo by 古川喜隆 and used with the permission of Fuji Rock Express ‘10.

OH SUNSHINE LIVE AT SXSW 2011

The fifth Fuji Rock artist annoucnement is out!.  Amongst the two dozen new bands is Oh Sunshine, who recently played as part of Japan Nite at SXSW in Austin, Texas.

FRF has also released information about what day each act will perform on.  Check all the info here.

*Oh Sunshine photo by Ryota Mori and used with the permission of Smashing Mag

BATTLES LIVE ON THE WHITE STAGE AT FRF '07

Smash just revealed another 10 performers for FRF ‘11.  Here are the newbies to the lineup:

Battles
Clammbon
Jamie xx
Little Creatures
Sakerock
Shugo Tokumaru
Soil & “Pimp” Sessions
Steve Aoki
Towa Tei
The Vaccines

Here are photos from Soil & “Pimp” Sessions’ FRF ‘05 set.

Here are a live report and photos from Battles’ FRF ‘07 set.

Here are a live report and photos from Shugo Tokumaru’s FRF ‘08 set.

Here are a live report and photos from Clammbon’s FRF ‘09 set.

Here are a live report and photos from Sakerock’s FRF ‘09 set.

*Battles photo by Yusuke and used with the permission of Fuji Rock Express ‘07.

The New Mastersounds In Field Of Heaven @ FRF '08

About a quarter of the FRF ‘11 lineup has been announced.  More new acts should be revealed in the coming days.  The full list of performers  joining us in Naeba this summer is here.

The New Mastersounds were one of the acts included in the last artist update.  Don Coglione’s live report from their 2008 FRF appearance is here.

*Photo by Yusuke Kitamura and used with the permission of Fuji Rock Express ‘08.

…tickets.

There is no announcement of artists for the fest yet, but that doesn’t stop the true fans from getting their festival passes.

Smash and the Fuji Rock Festival have announced the first round of sales of “Hayawari” early bird tickets from Feb. 12 to Feb.20, 2011. Continue Reading…

Carlos and Temjin of MMK

It’s all about the brass. Bursting onto the stage and quickly picking up a pace that didn’t let up, Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro made pulling myself out of bed after a few scant hours and making an hours trek all worth it.

This booty shakin’ sextet are tearing up the stage with a crowd of ravelers singing along to every word of “Baggy Pants” led by Bobsan on guitar. That’s right, everyone here knows both words. By heart. Even the guys from Ozomatli are approving, off stage right. Temjin on trumpet and Carlos on sax are the frontmen and face of the stageshow, but it’s Ginger on bass that gets the biggest cheers of the set as he leads us briefly into Run DMC’s Walk This Way. Brilliant stuff. Continue Reading…

Leaning tower of Pisa?

Festival security is asking everyone to be on the lookout for someone who calls himself “the mad builder.” This individual has been stalking sleeping festivalgoers and building elaborate structure of stone on their prone persons. Apparently, it started early Friday morning out near the Orange Court when Taro Suzuki or Tokyo dozed off in his camp chair and awoke to find a mini-replica of Stonehenge on his solar plexus. “I was quite surprised,” he told us. “And I didn’t want to move because obviously whoever had done it had gone to a lot of trouble.” Continue Reading…

Be friendly to our visitors

We are not alone, friends. If last night at the Oasis area is any indication, this year’s Fujirock revelers will be paid a visit by creatures of an unusual size and stature. Striding past food stalls and raincoat-clad earlybird campers, this mud-spattered  pack of stilt people seemingly mean us no harm. We encourage contact and dialog, in order to bring our species to a more peaceful state.

Keep an eye on this one

Just use caution: a few of them look like they may bite.

A number FRF ’10 acts will be signing autographs for fans at the Ganban shop outside of the main gate and at the Ganban Square in the Oasis food area all weekend long.  The Entrance Band, Mustang, La Ruda, and Mallacan will play late night, intimate gigs too in addition to scrawling their names on merch.  The full schedule is posted at Ganban’s stands.

According to the official FRF site, Benga from Magnetic Man was unable to join us at Fuji Rock this weekend.  Fans need not worry, though, as his band mates Skream and Artwork are here and will still perform as part of “Planet Groove” at the Red Marquee at 2:30 a.m.

Palace Of Wonder being made wonderful

Fujirockexpress 2010 Japanese site Continue Reading…

Well the others have summed it up pretty succinctly, I think. Not much more to say, other than don’t listen to anyone on what you should like.

But we don’t go for the music. Nope. If it were the music we went to see, then we’d shell out like the rest of you do. Then we could actually relax and enjoy said music. I remember a few years beck, our esteemed leader commented that he was having a near perfect weekend, catching up with old friends, and if only the bands would shut the fuck up and give them some peace it would have been truly perfect! Continue Reading…