Springroove 2012

Summer Sonic promoters Creativeman launched the Springroove fest in 2006 as a sop to Tokyo's hip hop and R&B fans, but something odd seems to have happened since. While previous 'Groove headliners have included Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and Rihanna, this year's will be overseen by French electro-house overlord David Guetta. Has it come to this? Actually, yes: given that Guetta's amped-up Eurodance is now the default setting for much of the mainstream R&B scene, it's only appropriate for him to get top billing at an event such as this, letting him sit back and gaze, Sauron-like, over the destruction that he's wrought. One-trick Guetta progenies LMFAO will also be in attendance, although hopefully the presence of urban-influenced K-pop acts 2NE1 and Big Bang will go some way to redressing the balance. Also look out for urban-pop singer Miliyah Kato, hotly tipped rapper Azaelia Banks, British pop star Pixie Lott and a fair few others.