Summer Sonic 2018 and Sonicmania are bringing back our favourite bands and musicians to Tokyo and Osaka, including My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails and St. Vincent
Even though Hong Kong has a growing number of live music venues and a thriving live music scene, music fans know that Japan often holds the most organised and stunning music festivals in the world with stellar global bands. And we’re excited to see that Summer Sonic 2018 and its offshoot Sonicmania have announced their return to Tokyo and Osaka this August.
Sonicmania and Summer Sonic 2018
One day prior to Summer Sonic 2018, its offshoot Sonicmania is an overnight music festival held at Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Japan on 17 August for music fans to warm up; while Summer Sonic will run for two days – from 18 to 19 August – simultaneously at two different locations, which are Zozo Marine Stadium in Tokyo and Maishima Sonic Park in Osaka.
My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails and Flying Lotus
Here comes the most exciting news! Irish shoegaze giant My Bloody Valentine have announced their first live show at Sonicmania 2018 in Japan after a hiatus of four years. It has been twenty-seven years since they released their phenomenal second studio album Loveless in 1991. This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime chance for fans from all across the world to relive their incredibly loud and impressive wall of sound, even if that means flying over to Tokyo.
Even if you’re not a shoegaze fan, get ready for American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, experimental electronic music producer Flying Lotus or funk musician Thundercat. The lineup is incredibly diverse that it seems even more tempting than Summer Sonic itself. This night festival begins at 10pm (door opens at 8pm) and it won’t stop until 5am.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, St. Vincent, Tame Impala
The highlight of Summer Sonic 2018 includes American multi-instrumentalist St. Vincent, British alternative rock band Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Australian psychedelic rock band Tame Impala. Having released her acclaimed fifth studio album Masseduction just last year, we’re all expecting the most dynamic sets and artistic performance from St. Vincent. Tame Impala, whose live debut in Hong Kong in 2016 was overwhelmingly great, will also suck you into their colourful psychedelic black hole.
There are also other up-and-coming artists that are worth checking out, such as English rock band Wolf Alice and English folk singer-songwriter Rex Orange County. So make sure you find out which location(s) your favourite artists are playing at, and buy the right tickets for the show!
Sonicmania 2018 (Tokyo), Makuhari Messe, 2 Chome-1 Nakase, Mihama Ward, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture 261-0023, Japan, 日本千葉県千葉市美浜区中瀬2丁目2−1
Summer Sonic 2018 (Tokyo), Zozo Marine Stadium, 1 Mihama, Mihama Ward, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture 261-0022, Japan, 日本千葉県千葉市美浜区美浜1
Summer Sonic 2018 (Osaka), Maishima Sonic Park, Osaka, Japan, 日本大阪舞洲Sonic Park
Want to discover some new music? Learn more about The Echo of Pleasure by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, listen to Morningside by New Zealand indie band Fazerdaze or give Hong Kong band My Little Airport a try.