Taffy are a Japanese alternative rock band formed in 2011, known for their unique blend of shoegaze, alternative, britpop and 90s influences. Led by vocalist and guitarist Iris, they quickly gained recognition for their catchy melodies, dreamy soundscapes, and energetic live performances. Taffy’s music has garnered international acclaim, leading to tours in the UK and performances at major music festivals. Their discography includes several well-received albums, such as “Caramel Sunset” and “Deep Dark Creep Love,” which showcase their ability to seamlessly blend different genres while maintaining a distinct, cohesive sound.

https://www.taffy8.com/

WACK in the UK return for Vol.3 bringing the explosive energy of Japan’s cutting-edge music scene to the heart of the UK. Featuring an all-star lineup from the WACK (Watanabe Artistic Creative Company) family, including the international debut of iconic girl-group BiS, the chaos of MAMESHiBA NO TAiGUN TONAIBOUSHO a.k.a. MONSTER IDOL, formed from the survivors from Japanese TV talent show MONSTER iDOL and the return of noisemakers ASP, this event promises a night of high-octane performances, genre-blending sounds, and electrifying stage presence.

Tickets go on sale from noon on Friday 5 July 2024
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BiS
BiS, also known as Brand-new idol Society, is a Japanese idol group originally founded in 2010 by Pour Lui and Watanabe Junnosuke. They were once dubbed “the most hated girl group in Japan” by VICE, before the idol unit disbanded in 2014, not before causing all kinds of havoc in the media with extreme music videos (particularly ‘My Ixxx’, ‘PPCC’ and ‘BiSimulation’) and outrageous magazine photoshoots.

They are considered the flagship group of WACK, and have gone through a variety of line-up changes since their formation (including a collaboration with Japanese noise outfit Hijokaidan).

MAMESHiBA NO TAiGUN TONAIBOUSHO a.k.a. MONSTER IDOL
MAMESHiBA NO TAiGUN, Japan’s quirky idol sensation, brings infectious energy and unique charm to the stage. Blending catchy pop tunes with eccentric performances, this dynamic group captivates with their playful spirit and irresistible hooks. Get ready for a fun-filled, unforgettable show that will leave you smiling and dancing!

ASP
This seven-strong group of troublemakers exploded on the Tokyo scene with their debut album ANAL SEX PENiS in 2021. At first the members refused to show their faces and hid behind masks until each one passed 20,000 followers on Twitter. Since then their videos have received over three million views on YouTube, including tracks such as ‘BOLLOCKS’, ‘A Song of Punk’ and latest single ‘I HATE U’. The group’s initials officially stand for “ANTi SOCiETY PUNKS” but many fans believe the group is really named after the title of their first album.

London’s very own festival of Japanese culture – Japan Matsuri – returns to Trafalgar Square in the centre of the city. A regular fixture now in the London calendar, this free annual festival brings people together to enjoy Japanese food, music, dance, and activities for all the family.

Everything kicks off at 10.00am and runs through till 8.00pm. With two stages, there is plenty to see all day. The programme of stage performance for this year is still being finalised and will feature exciting new acts as well as the return of favourites from previous Matsuri. Enjoy the atmosphere with Japanese festival food from the numerous stalls.

Japan Matsuri is organised jointly by the Japan Association, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Japan Society and Nippon Club, with support from the Embassy of Japan.

Follow Japan Matsuri on Facebook (Japan Matsuri), Twitter (https://twitter.com/japanmatsuri) or on www.japanmatsuri.com for all the latest news.

Female Garage-Punk Trio from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill film announce rare UK date.

The 5,6,7,8’s were formed in the early 1990’s and hail from Tokyo, Japan. Stylistically, the band take their inspiration from 50s & 60s Rock ‘n’ Roll and have been compared to Link Wray, Dick Dale, The Sonics, Bo Diddley, The Trashmen, Chuck Berry, The Detroit Cobras and more.

The 5,6,7,8’s performed three songs in the 2003 Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill Volume 1 where the band were filmed covering ‘Woo Hoo’ (originally by The Rock-a-Teens), ‘I’m Blue’ (originally by The Ikettes) and a 5,6,7,8’s original ‘I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield’.

Yoshiko “Ronnie” Fujiyama – Guitar/Vocals
Sachiko Fujii – Drums/Vocals
Akiko Omo – Bass/Vocals

Our favourite Vocaloid has been continuing her global expansion plans since the release of the English build of Hatsune Miku arrived in August 2013. The long-expected English language version of Miku had been mooted for some time – and was hinted at in our exclusive 2012 interview with Crypton Media CEO Hiroyuki Itoh.

Hatsune Miku is a music software developed by Crypton Future Media which enables anyone to make their computer sing by entering lyrics and melodies. As a massive number of users created music using the software and posted their works on the Internet, Hatsune Miku quickly evolved into a cultural phenomenon. Since then, Hatsune Miku has gained much attention as a character, involved in many fields such as merchandising and live performance as a virtual singer. Now her popularity has spread across the globe.

Now Hatsune Miku is returning to the UK for a special concert at Wembley in London. 26th October (as well as European dates).

Female Garage-Punk Trio from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill film announce rare UK date.

The 5,6,7,8’s were formed in the early 1990’s and hail from Tokyo, Japan. Stylistically, the band take their inspiration from 50s & 60s Rock ‘n’ Roll and have been compared to Link Wray, Dick Dale, The Sonics, Bo Diddley, The Trashmen, Chuck Berry, The Detroit Cobras and more.

The 5,6,7,8’s performed three songs in the 2003 Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill Volume 1 where the band were filmed covering ‘Woo Hoo’ (originally by The Rock-a-Teens), ‘I’m Blue’ (originally by The Ikettes) and a 5,6,7,8’s original ‘I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield’.

Yoshiko “Ronnie” Fujiyama – Guitar/Vocals
Sachiko Fujii – Drums/Vocals
Akiko Omo – Bass/Vocals

Female Garage-Punk Trio from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill film announce rare UK date.

The 5,6,7,8’s were formed in the early 1990’s and hail from Tokyo, Japan. Stylistically, the band take their inspiration from 50s & 60s Rock ‘n’ Roll and have been compared to Link Wray, Dick Dale, The Sonics, Bo Diddley, The Trashmen, Chuck Berry, The Detroit Cobras and more.

The 5,6,7,8’s performed three songs in the 2003 Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill Volume 1 where the band were filmed covering ‘Woo Hoo’ (originally by The Rock-a-Teens), ‘I’m Blue’ (originally by The Ikettes) and a 5,6,7,8’s original ‘I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield’.

Yoshiko “Ronnie” Fujiyama – Guitar/Vocals
Sachiko Fujii – Drums/Vocals
Akiko Omo – Bass/Vocals