Artist-curated recommended music festivals

favorite_borderLast updated:2018/5/4

• Music Festival Master / Editor-in-ChiefKeisuke Hane
  Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC and in charge of music festivals. When I attended my first music festival as a freshman in college, I was captivated by its charm—“I can’t believe there’s a place this free and this fun.” I share information about wonderful music festivals every day to help grow the community of festival fans.

Black Fest: The Monochrome Singing Contest

http://kurofes

net

I imagine many of you are already familiar with this.

Speaking of black artists... yes, it's Shigeru Matsuzaki, whose beautifully sun-tanned skin is truly striking.

An event that goes all-in on “black,” featuring Japan’s blackest DJ and Japan’s blackest gravure idol as MCs, and even taking place on September 6.

Starting with Momoclo, who have performed every year since the first event, the lineup spans idols, bands, and even impressionist comedians, promising a day that anyone can enjoy.

You might be able to see collaborations between Shigeru Matsuzaki and the performing artists!

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=M5RQA8YwmPM

HAZIKETEMAZARE FESTIVAL

http://haziketemazare

com/2017/index.

html

HAZIKETEMAZARE, known as Hajimaza, is a music festival organized by the Osaka-based rock band HEY-SMITH.

It originally started as a circuit-style event using three live music venues in their hometown of Shinsaibashi, Osaka, and gradually expanded in scale as the number of venues increased.

And in 2014, it became an outdoor event held at Izumiotsu Phoenix, the venue of RUSH BALL, a long-running festival in Osaka.

Of course, it will be held outdoors again this year, and it has become a large music festival featuring 14 artists across three stages.

Hosting their own outdoor festival must have been a dream for them, and they’re a cool band that shows us music fans what it looks like to seize a dream.

On the main HAZIKETE STAGE, our comrades coldrain and SiM, who toured together with us on the TRIPLE AXE TOUR, will pass the baton to HEY-SMITH.

It’s a festival you can’t miss if you’re into melodic punk and the loud-music scene.

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=H40bACDYKVs

Inazuma Rock Fes

https://www

facebook.

com/InazumaRock

An outdoor rock festival named by likening part of the kanji for Shiga Prefecture’s “滋” to a lightning bolt.

It is organized by T, an artist from Shiga Prefecture.

M.

Takanori Nishikawa, also known as T.M.Revolution.

Inazuma began from his desire to give back to his hometown, after he showcased his overwhelming vocal talent even in the Shoshuriki commercial.

In 2016, due to bad weather, we were forced to cancel partway through. However, on September 15, the day before this year’s main event, artists who were unable to perform because of the 2016 cancellation will appear at Inazuma Rock Fes 2016 Returns.

An episode packed with that kind of drama may be something unique to a festival organized by the artist.

By the way, part of the INAZUMA venue features a free stage, so you can enjoy live performances even without a ticket, making it easy for first-time outdoor festival-goers to join.

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=F8xJCskb5e4

Kishidan Expo

http://www

kishidanbanpaku.

com/

As the name suggests, it’s an outdoor festival hosted by Kishidan, a yankee-style rock band from Chiba Prefecture.

Set to mark their 20th anniversary in 2017, they are still fresh in our memory for having held a joint festival in the spring with 10-FEET and VAMPS, who were likewise celebrating their 20th anniversary.

This time, 10-FEET and VAMPS are also set to perform, so I’m sure many fans are really looking forward to it.

As for the other performers, befitting Kishidan’s popularity in living rooms across the country, the lineup spans a wide range—from idols and hip-hop artists to major, heavyweight musicians.

If you love music, it will definitely be two days you can enjoy!

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=3Nt9OgeVF3Y

MASTER COLISEUM

http://www

master56.

com

MASTER COLISEUM, also known as Masukoro, is a music festival held at the Osaka Castle Outdoor Music Hall, organized by the Osaka-born rock bands PAN and SABOTEN.

In addition to bands from the melodic hardcore scene like PAN and SABOTEN, you won’t want to miss Good Morning America, who have just returned from a hiatus following vocalist Kanehiro’s polyp surgery.

At Maskoro, the timetable isn’t announced in advance each year; you only find out when the artists appear on the day.

If you can guess which band it is just from the soundcheck, you're a true music freak!

There are permanent chairs at the venue, so you can watch while seated. Trees are planted around the venue, providing shaded areas where you can take a break, making it a comfortable event to attend.

At Masukoro, the chairs around the stage are removed and a standing area is set up in front, so those who want to watch the live performance up close should be satisfied, don’t you think?

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=sKQDDn8__2Y

Kyoto Music Expo

http://kyotoonpaku

net/2017

The renowned autumn music festival of Kyoto, Kyoto Ongaku Hakurankai (Kyoto Music Expo).

It’s an outdoor festival by Quruli from Kyoto.

The highlight of this year's Kyoto Ongaku-haku (Kyoto Music Expo) is, above all, that there will be a live performance by an orchestra.

An inspiring experience that evokes the old TV music shows awaits us.

Beyond the overall atmosphere of the venue and the event created by the unique combination of Quruli and Kyoto, the chance to enjoy performances you can only see on this day is, after all, precisely because the event is hosted by the artists themselves.

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=GN1pLm1jqmQ

Yamabito Music Festival

http://yamabito-ongakusai

com/2017

Yamabito Music Festival is a music festival that evolved from the former Gunma Rock Festival, and it is hosted by the Gunma-based rock band G-FREAK FACTORY.

Artists from various genres perform, much like their style that incorporates reggae.

Since many artists closely connected to G-FREAK FACTORY, including their fellow BADASS label mates 10-FEET, are also on the lineup, there’s a good chance we’ll see some onstage collaborations during the show.

As a fan, it’s truly moving to see how close the performers are with each other and to witness special one-day-only collaboration stages like this.

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=eoK3eje05RY

Re:Festival (Re: Festival)

https://review3-nara

jimdo.

com/refestival2017

At long last, an outdoor rock festival has been born in Nara Prefecture!

An outdoor rock festival held by Re view, a three-piece rock band from Nara Prefecture.

This is an event being held for the first time in 2017 as part of the stage programs at the Yume no Mori Festival, which has been held annually since 2001 at Kashihara Shrine, the festival venue.

You can watch a live performance by a band from Nara Prefecture, just like Re view, with free admission.

An event held out of a desire to give back to the local community through music and to introduce many people to live house and rock culture.

At the Dream Forest Festival, there will also be a food festival and a dance contest, so be sure to check those out as well.

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=ADkm5uD6LeQ

Ehime Unrivaled

http://buzzthebears

com/

It will be held in Ehime, the hometown of vocalist Ochi and drummer Satoshi.

With a lineup centered on melodic hardcore, it's sure to get everyone fired up!

There are also many bands active mainly in the Kansai area with whom we regularly interact, so on occasions like this, wouldn’t it be possible to see amazing shows where we compete passionately with our competitive spirits on full display?

This is a circuit festival that BUZZ THE BEARS is putting together in pursuit of the best event.

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=9o3S00-KKIo

Kita-Ōmi FREAKY JAMMiN’ (Freaky Jammin)

http://kfj-shiga

com

FREAKY JAMMiN’ is an event primarily organized by SKA FREAKS, a ska-core band from Shiga Prefecture.

It will be an event featuring ska bands as well as punk bands.

The Shiga Prefectural Culture and Industry Exchange Center, the event venue, is located in the northern part of Shiga Prefecture. Compared to the southern Lake Biwa area, the northern region has clearer water and richer nature, so we recommend enjoying leisure activities on Lake Biwa before or after the event.

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=56l2RZP_BkA

DOGIMAZUN (Dogimazun)

http://www

dogimazum-club.

com

DOGIMAZUN is a circuit event held as a Halloween party.

The event will be hosted by UZMK, a band that has led Japan’s mixture rock scene.

Since it’s an event held during the Halloween season, we also recommend participating in costume.

Although it’s an event with the catchy theme of Halloween, the lineup is actually quite niche.

We’ll be able to drive away the evil spirits with some hardcore music (lol)!

https://www.

youtube.

com/watch?v=debIdSjTo0c

In conclusion

This time, we’ve put together a collection of artist-recommended festivals.

The appeal of artist-hosted festivals includes seeing the camaraderie among performers, enjoying one-off collaborative acts, and getting to see many artists from the same scene who regularly work alongside the host artist.

There are many other festivals organized by artists besides the ones introduced here, so if you’re interested, be sure to look them up and take part!