Who’s rocking Fuji Rock

Since first taking place in 1997, Fuji Rock Festival continues to be an annual music event that Japan can be proud of. Performing at this year’s three-day event – which runs from Friday July 30, at Naeba Ski Resort in Yuzawamachi, Niigata Prefecture – are some of the biggest names in the industry. Here’s Time Out Tokyo’s guide to the acts on the Green and White stages.

The main area, which can accommodate an audience of up to 40,000, is a massive space in front of the Green Stage. Over the years, some of the biggest names in music have performed here, and this year’s line up, as usual, promises a number of exciting performances.

Rounding off the first day are Muse (who played the Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo in January) – an incredibly popular band who managed to sell out tickets to a performance they gave to an audience of over 80,000 at the UK’s Wembley Stadium almost as soon as they went on sale. Closing on the second day are British rock legends Roxy Music, a highly influential English art rock group who first attained popular and critical success during the 70s, and is still headed today by the band’s original founder, the charismatic and incredibly energetic, Bryan Ferry. Performing as the main act on the third and final day are Massive Attack– a band who, after a long silence, have recently announced their first new work in 7 years and last played at Fuji Rock in 2003. Other impressive acts lined up for the Green Stage include Them Crooked Vultures, with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. Also appearing are an absolutely un-missable live performance by the supergroup Atoms for Peace, with Thom Yorke (Radiohead) and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers); veteran rock singer, songwriter and guitarist John Fogerty from Creedence Clearwater Revival, and various Japanese artists including Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Ken Yokoyama, and Superfly.

Second in scale to the Green Stage is the White Stage – from which acts can perform to audiences of up to 15,000 spectators. Amongst the various acts scheduled to perform here are !!! (pronounced ‘chk chk chk’), who will be performing directly after the release of a new album, MGMT and the ever popular Belle and Sebastian, who are scheduled to close on the third day.

Japanese artists scheduled to play the White Stage include The Cro-Magnons, Special Others and Riddim Saunters. Other units to look out for include the stunning Corinne Bailey Rae, a highly-anticipated performance by One Day as a Lion with Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine) and Jon Theodore (ex The Mars Volta). Also performing on the White Stage are the likes of Norwegian jazz ensemble Jaga Jazzist and the charismatic, ever popular Ian Brown.

Fuji Rock Festival '10

Date: Fri July 30, Sat July 31, Sun Aug 1
Time: 9am gate open, 11am start, 11pm end
Location: Naeba Ski Resort (Yuzawamachi, Niigata)
Performers: Muse, Roxy Music, Massive Attack, Them Crooked Vultures, John Fogerty, Atoms For Peace and about 200 more artists
Tickets: 3day ¥39,800, 1day ¥16,800, car park pass ¥3,000 per day (sold for 2 or more persons), campsite tickets ¥3,000 (valid for festival period)
*Car park ticket pass and campsite ticket are not sold separately from entrance tickets.
Website: www.smash-uk.com/frf10/ (English)

JTB UK tour information
Special Package for Fuji Rock Festival '10
Website: www.accessjapan.co.uk/tours/2010-fujirockES04.html

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Travel arrangement expert Rikisha’s picks for day trips that make a great break from Fuji Rock and let you see a bit more of Japan.