A decade of Summer Sonic

Summer Sonic is one of Japan’s most famous large-scale two-day rock festivals, and has been taking place every year since 2000 – making this year its 10th anniversary. The festival takes place simultaneously in Tokyo (at the Makuhari Messe and Marine Stadium in Chiba) and Osaka simultaneously, with the majority of the bands playing at one location on one day and the other location on the following day. What makes this event extra popular is that both locations are easily accessible from their respective cities; Summer Sonic is a perfect opportunity to enjoy an open-air summer rock festival without having to travel too far out of town.

Celebrating this special year is a line up that includes a variety of acts – ranging from some of the biggest names in rock, to some lesser-known up-and-coming indie talents. If you’re not sure who to watch out for, check out our guide to getting the most out of the festival.

Summer Sonic attracts some of the biggest headline acts in music, and this year is no exception. Headlining Summer Sonic ‘10 are Jay-Z and the legendary Stevie Wonder – who will both be opening on the main stages at each location. Also lined up for the main stage – which in Tokyo will be the Marine Stage and in Osaka will be the Ocean Stage – are a variety of exciting acts including the ubiquitous Eikichi Yazawa, Kreva, The Offspring, Taylor Swift, A Tribe Called Quest, and K’naan.

It’s not just the acts scheduled to perform on the main stage that will excite rockers; lined up for the event’s second largest stage – Tokyo’s Mountain Stage and Osaka’s will be the Sky Stage – are acts such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Dream Theater, Slash, and Richard Ashcroft & The United Nations of Sound.

Acts scheduled to appear on the ‘Sonic Stage’ include Orbital, The Pixies, and the legendary 80s pop group A-ha.

Other acts to look out for include Keri Hilson and Hudson Mohawke (performing on the Urban/Dance Stage); Funky Monkey Babys and Eels (performing on Tokyo’s Beach Stage and Osaka’s Park Stage in Osaka); Nada Surf and The Pillows (performing on the Island Stage); and Hoshino Gen, Chinza Dopeness, and Ai Kago (performing in the Riverside Garden). Note: the Island Stage and the Riverside Garden are only in Tokyo.

As anyone who has experienced a previous event will tell you, the Summer Sonic festivals are both well organized and offer a fantastic chance to appreciate some stand-out performances. One thing to keep in mind is that in addition to lining up some of the biggest names in the industry, the organizers also regularly book a number of up-and-coming artists – making Summer Sonic an ideal urban-style music festival for anyone looking to discover some new music this summer.

Summer Sonic 2010 (Tokyo)
Date: Sat Aug 7, Sun Aug 8
Time: 9am open, 11am start
Location: Chiba Marine Stadium & Makuhari Messe (Full details & map)
Ticket: Tokyo 1 day ¥15,800; 2days ¥29,000
Website: www.summersonic.com/2010/english (English)