Get the most out of Fuji Rock

The main areas at the Fuji Rock Festival may be the Green Stage and the White Stage, but the event is packed with other areas that are definitely worth a look. Don’t miss out on a host of worthy acts; be sure to check out some of the other stages and discover for yourself.

The Red Marquee is Fuji Rock’s only indoor stage. This year’s amazing line-up offers an incredible variety of acts, from the noisy sense of celebration from Flogging Molly, to Broken Social Scene and Buffalo Daughter (who have just released new material) to new up-and-comers like The Xx. Not only that, but once the day’s live band performances have finished, at night the Red Marquee is turned over to club-style acts. Performers like Dexpistols & Roc Trax Crew featuring Zeebra, and Yoshinori Sunahara – who is in the process of making his long anticipated new solo album – are set to turn Mt. Naeba into a dance floor.

The line-up of artists at the very chilled-out Field of Heaven also draws the attention of festival-goers every year. This year promises more performances from a long list of earthy and natural-styled artists. Particularly worth catching are the Japanese rock legends Sonhouse – who have just reformed – and Trombone Shorty (the top funk and R&B artist from New Orleans). There’s also a great selection of American artists worth checking out, including The Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band, Moe and Diane Birch.

Set deeper into the mountain than any other stage is the Orange Court. Its line-up includes avant-garde artists like French musical wizards Magma and Japanese New Wave pioneers Hikashu. Also performing will be artists such as Emeline Michel (who reinterprets the musical culture of her poverty stricken Haiti in contemporary musical terms) and Japanese folk music legend Yuzo Toyoda. Even familiar Japanese names like Ego-Wrappin and the Gossip of Jaxx will take the stage, so it’s yet another area that shouldn’t be missed. What’s more, the ‘All Night Fuji’ event is also planned for the evening of the July 30, and will include amazing dance acts like Green Velvet and Takkyu Ishino.

It doesn’t stop there. The Fuji Rock Festival is absolutely packed with ways to entertain yourself away from the main stages. Stretching out lazily on one slope of the mountain is Gypsy Avalon, where NGO-run informational talks will be held. At the Palace of Wonder, artists like Gaz Mayall and Ozomatli will be performing. Indie bands chosen from public applications get a chance to prove themselves at Rookie a Go-Go, and if you are looking for an even smaller scale, with more intimate and intense live performances, head to the Naeba Shokudo or Mokudo Tei. Finally, if you want to escape the noise and bustle of the festival, hop on the gondola lift and head to another world at the top of the mountain. At the summit you’ll find Day Dreaming and Silent Breeze, the chilled out area where you can also catch performances from DJ Nobu and PSG.

This abundance of stages and experiences is where the true pleasure and entertainment of Fuji Rock can be found. You can be blown away by a performance by a band you didn’t even know existed, or discover ways to enjoy styles of music you might not usually listen to. So watch the weather, watch out for yourself, and get ready for a fantastic musical experience.

Fuji Rock Festival '10

Date: Fri July 30-Sun Aug 1
Time: 9am gates 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