Fuji Rock '11: Who to watch

Saturday

Hanggai
12noon, Orange Court; [Friday: 1.20pm, Boardwalk; 7pm, Gypsy Avalon]
One of the constant delights of Fuji Rock is in discovering new bands from random corners of the world who turn out to be unfathomably fab. Hanggai hail from Beijing and sound like a Mongolian version of The Pogues. So there.

Wu Lyf
12.40pm, Red Marquee
They're the most hyped new band to come out of the UK this year. More importantly, they're also rather good. Self-released debut Go Tell Fire to the Mountain sounds at times like Spiritualized jamming with Vampire Weekend, while the group's live shows have been earning strong reviews recently.

The Naked and Famous
1.55pm, Red Marquee
…and so continues a lengthy stint at the Red Marquee, which seems to be hogging all of the good bands on Saturday afternoon. The Naked and Famous are already the most famous act to come out of New Zealand since Birchville Cat Motel (joking), and sound like a lovechild of the MGMT and The XX, albeit one that actually knows how to play a satisfying live show.

Best Coast
3.10pm, Red Marquee
They're one of the best of the current crop of lo-fi garage rock revivalists, and it isn't just the (undeniably catchy) songs: Best Coast's Bethany Consentino is simply a great frontwoman.

Ra Ra Riot
4.30pm, Red Marquee
Okay, so we were really hoping Arcade Fire would play at Fuji this year. Not to worry: in the world of anthemic, orchestral indie pop, Ra Ra Riot are one of the top dogs. The group played to a sold-out audience at Unit earlier in the year, which suggests that they'll have the crowd on their side, too.

Battles
5.30pm, Green Stage
Tokyo was treated to one of Battles' first shows as a trio at Sonarsound earlier this year, but the technologically-enhanced math rockers have had time to straighten out the kinks in their live set since then – and incorporate a mind-boggling video element.

Todd Rundgren
7pm, Field of Heaven
In the early '70s, he seemed destined for Bowie-style stardom; today, he's little more than a cult figure. Rock adventurer Todd Rundgren is dusting off some of his best-known hits for his current tour, meaning that this should be one of his more accessible sets. If it isn't, try drifting over to Gypsy Avalon to watch Yasuha Kominami, who might just be the next Shiina Ringo.

Asian Dub Foundation
8.30pm, White Stage
They've gone from sonic pioneers to quaint late-'90s throwbacks, but there's one realm in which punk-ragga-drum'n'bass outfit Asian Dub Foundation reign supreme. Veterans of half a dozen Fuji Rock fests, these guys are surefire crowd pleasers, plain and simple.

Congotronics vs Rockers
10.10pm, Orange Court
The Faces? Incubus? We're not sure what inspired the choice of headliners on Saturday night, but at least there's one surefire winner. This Afro-indie supergroup teams members of Congolese bands Konono Nº1 and Kasai Allstars with Deerhoof, Juana Molina, Wildbirds & Peacedrums and Skeletons, and it promises to be one hell of a jam.

Tribal Circus
From 11pm, Red Marquee
Still yawping for more? The Red Marquee's all-nighter starts with local electro duo 80kidz, then moves on to the Japanese debut of widely adored house/nu-disco producer Tensnake. Things continue with LA party maven Steve Aoki and Border Community boss James Holden, before wrapping up with... you guessed it, the unavoidable Takkyu Ishino.