Summer festival season is here ¡ª and The Japan Times team is heading to the mountains of Niigata Prefecture for a weekend of blistering riffs, hypnotic grooves and unforgettable moments at Fuji Rock Festival. From high-octane punk to Mercury Prize-winning rap and viral TikTok hits, here are some of the acts we¡¯re most excited to catch.
(Friday, 3:50 p.m., White Stage): There¡¯s an abundance of skilled guitarists this year, but if you¡¯re mainly into shredding, then this Niger singer-songwriter is the act to see. As a master of so-called desert blues he leans psychedelic, with a clear, dense tone that cuts through metal. His singing and politically charged Tuareg poetry are just as heavy.
(Sunday, 5 p.m., Green Stage): Of the three Mercury Prize-winners at Fuji ¡¯25, this London rapper is the biggest sales-wise, not to mention the most personal. Her beats scan rock as much as they do Afrobeat or R&B, but it¡¯s the melodic nature of her flow that pulls you in. If she¡¯s in the right mood, she could be the festival highlight because that¡¯s what personal¡¯s all about.
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