Fujirockers: The official Fuji Rock Festival blog

Mustang is a hard act to follow. The started out a little iffy at the pre party. Then they proved their worth at Shokudo. And cemented it in the Palace.

Enter DAD MOM GOD. Capitals cos that’s how they do it. We started with a list of famous musicians from the 60s. Session guys mostly. A hint of things to come? It was to a skewif techno beat. That quickly gave way to said 60s classics. The inevitable exodus was inevitable. But the unanticipated return was anticipated. By some. But it hasn’t taken long to fill the place. Or is that the Palace? Continue Reading…

Palace Of Wonder being made wonderful

Fujirockexpress 2010 Japanese site Continue Reading…

Go Zen

It goes without saying Fuji Rock presents some serious logistical challenges to those people that want to see all their favorite bands, but my first recommendation for folks is something like this: go zen. Continue Reading…

Aye Carumba! Is it hot in here?

The 2010 Fujirock schedule has its share of francophone acts, but anyone who’s a fest regular knows that the guys who run Fujirock have a healthy hard-on for all things Latin (and they’re not the only ones in Tokyo). Every year, there are bands from Italy, Spain or South America to spice things up on the side stages. There was cumbia troupe, Very Be Careful playing out of the back of a slow-moving pickup, and the tropical sounds of Ska Cubano splashing off the Avalon stage. And of course no one can forget the scorching sets by Manu Chao from years past.

A quick look through this year’s lineup proves that the Latin love affair continues.

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Willie Martinez & Mambo Loco?

I need to start this by saying that one of my favourite acts at Fuji Rock over the years has been Big Willie’s Burlesque. Big Willie is one of the hardest working guys at Fuji Rock. although he’s never pulled off the most-shows-at-the-fest prize in any given year, without actually counting he may well hold the overall prize, as he’s been so many times, and plays three, four or more sets each time. That’s sure to add up to quite some FRF kudos. So I was excited when I saw in the Don’s piece on the Crystal Palace line-up that the Willie Martinez of Willie Martinez y Mambo Loco is actually Willie McNeil aka Big Willie. Continue Reading…

Human Cannonball and Wheel of Death

Quietly slipping in under the radar the other day (Don Coglione’s Crystal Palace update notwithstanding) have been some minor tweaks to the Fuji Rock 2010 line-up.

The complete Palace of Wonder, Gypsy Avalon, Day Dreaming and Silent Breeze details have been scheduled, as have announcements for the death spectacle that is the Palace Arena, Fischerspooner at All Night Fuji, and DJ Alexis from Hot Chip added to Sunday night’s Red Marquee lineup. Continue Reading…

The Crystal Palace

The schedule for the Palace of Wonder is up, and bend me over and poke a stick up my exit if it isn’t the greatest line-up that they’ve ever assembled there.

First, foremost and bloody hell: Ozomatli are going to play the Palace. It’s becoming a tradition to have a high-energy party band on the Sunday night, and who else but Ozomatli could have done it this year? It’s already right at the top of my to-see list.

Then there’s Beardyman, already punching well above his weight on the Fujirocker to-see lists, and now slated to play with Tucker, the acrobatic electone superstar from Fuji Rock ‘06, which looks even more compelling than Beardyman’s main set.

Willie Martinez Y Mambo Loco is the Willie of the always-on-the-bill Big Willie’s Burlesque, which presumably means he’ll be a bit less saucy and a lot more Cuban this year.
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Auditions for Fuji Rock’s Rookie A Go-Go stage are now being accepted.  More after the jump.

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At my first FRF in 2005, I was floored by Watusi Zombie as they opened the Rookie a Go-Go stage.  So impressed was I, that I’ve made a point of catching the lead performance at Rookie a Go-Go each year since.  Continue Reading…

Now that you have bought your ticket and you’ve decided on where you gonna stay, the next thing you gotta think about is what to wear. To help you along this difficult road, we suggest a few looks for you to consider.
Basic Rocker
He/she styles with a simple t-shirt with some logo or ironic phrase, pairing it with athletic shoes and shorts. A flimsy, disposable rain poncho is within easy reach, and by the end of the night, this person is running on fumes

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Glastonbury concluded this weekend, and to many, the festival will always be connected with Joe Strummer, the late-great Clash front man and the leader of the Mescaleros. His presence ranges from a memorial stone laid in Glastonbury’s Green Fields to a campfire tended by Strummerville–organization which nurtures young musicians and continues Strummer’s “Yes We Can” attitude to important causes. The same organization makes an annual appearance at the Palace of Wonder bringing many of the same cast and characters. Here is a video from Day 1 of Glastonbury.

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Any hardcore Fujirock fan knows that the Palace of Wonder is where it’s at during the wee hours, and now that Smash UK is moving forward with a dedicated website, you can count on more coverage.
Many, many links, vids and more info after the jump.

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DJs are known to be tech-savvy and travel-ready, but Diplo is like MacGyver, Indiana Jones and Grand Master Flash rolled into one.

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