Events

2& (DOUBLE AND) returns for her 3rd UK tour with Jpop solo artist Mariko Takei!

2& is Chitose Saki, a solo ‘rock idol’ from Tokyo, Japan. She released her debut album in 2015 and has released several singles since as well as two long-form compilations in the UK: ‘The Theory of 2&’ and ‘Saki PLUS YOU = 2&.’ Her dynamic live performances are her main focus with her engaging vocals, high energy dance, and even use of gymnastics.

2& has gone on to appear at many conventions in Asia, toured the UK with Necronomidol and The Screaming Sixties on the 2018 Black Winds Over Albion tour, and headlined the Indie, Idol and Infamous tour in 2019. As well as headline performances in London and Birmingham, 2020 sees 2& return to the UK as a featured performer at the HYPER JAPAN convention in London and headline her first European tour including shows in Germany and the Netherlands.

Mariko Takei is a freelance Electropop singer whose performances are based around her captivating vocals and dancing. Mariko makes her UK and European live debut on the Jpop Double Trouble Tour.

For many years she’s dreamed of performing abroad to spread her music beyond Japan’s borders, and to expand her horizons.

Some composers she’s worked with are:

Yunomi, Her Ghost Friend, sho yamamoto, masayuki hasuo, (siraph.LAGITAGIDA, ex.school food punishment), kindan no tasuketsu, SAWA and more.

SCANDAL will be making their only UK live date this coming September on the back of new album Kiss from the Darkness.

Since forming in 2006, SCANDAL have become one of the most successful bands in Japan and one of the country’s most recognised pop-rock acts overseas. The band has had 17 singles rank in the top ten or higher of Japan’s Weekly Oricon Singles Chart; had all six studio albums reach at least top five of the Weekly Album Chart; and achieved position three or higher for all three compilation albums. SCANDAL’s impact has even been credited for a national rise in young women learning to play a musical instrument in Japan.

SCANDAL have also had a number of their tracks used as theme songs to anime series through the years, including Pokémon, Bleach and Fullmetal Alchemist. Kiss from the Darkness expands this further with album track ‘A.M.D.K.J.’ (pronounced “amidakuji”) appearing as the ending theme to the latest series of the iconic anime GeGeGe no Kitaro.

Kiss from the Darkness is the first to be released from the band’s own label “her” and is licensed to JPU Records for international release from 14th February 2020.

Aldious is a Japanese all-female power metal band from Osaka, formed in 2008 by guitarist Yoshi and vocalist Rami. After a few member changes, they released their debut EP Dear Slave the following year and soon after formed their own record label, Bright Star Records. A stabilised line-up including guitarist Toki, bassist Sawa and drummer Aruto was established by 2010. Their first album Deep Exceed (2010) reached the top 15 on the Oricon chart, as did their second Determination (2011). However, Rami announced she was leaving the group in June 2012 and new vocalist Re:NO joined Aldious just one month later. They produced their third album District Zero in 2013 and it became their highest-charting release to date, reaching number 7.

Their fourth album Dazed and Delight (2014) peaked at number 20, before Aruto left the band in September and was replaced by Marina in April 2015. Their fifth album Radiant A was released in December 2015 and was their first album on the VAA record label and their first released in Europe. After one more album, Unlimited Diffusion (2017), Re:NO left the band at the end of 2018 and was replaced by R!N in August 2019.