In recent years, the number of Japanese acts touring abroad has continued to increase dramatically. The Blue Hearts toured the States back in the day, and the yearly South by Southwest music festival continues to draw a large crowd with its Japan Night presentation, often featuring artists which are decently popular here in Japan. Smaller tours by up-and-coming bands in Japan are also on the rise, such as the tours undertaken by Red Bacteria Vacuum, Amppez, and Last Target over the last couple of years.

The newest member to the Touring Club is Akiakane. After Akiakane hit up Taiwan for their yearly (?) show (appearing at the “Spirit of Taiwan” event going held on 2/28 at Chun Shan Soccer Stadium), it turns out that the girls have been hitting up Europe for some dates as well. Tentative dates and venues are as follows:

March
UK shows
16th - Underworld (London)
17th - Rigger (Stoke)
18th - Daenaer Bar (Sheffield)
21st - Daddy Cools (Knaresborough)
22nd - Cavern Club (Exter)

Netherlands shows
23rd - Parkhof (Alkmaar)

Germany shows
24th - Juzi (Gottingen)
25th - Wild at Heart (Berlin)
26th - Hafenklang (Hamburg)
27th - EAC (Freiburgh)
28th - Gladhouse (Cottbus)
29th - Sonic Ballroom (Cologne)
30th - Magnapop (Krefeld)

Belgium shows
31st - Pit’s (Kortrijk)

April
UK shows
1st - TBA
2nd - TBA

I’m not really sure how a European crowd will react to a Japanese girl punk band singing in Japanese and Japanese-accented English, but I wish the girls the best!

While this is Akiakane’s first tour outside of Asia (though Moe toured the U.S. a bit back in 1999 while a member of Softball), Gito Gito Hustler have been making their 6th (7th?) appearance on American shores. The girls put on a great live show and appear to be quite well loved in the States. And playing 24 shows across the U.S. in 29 days gets my respect. More than half of the tour is already over, but if you’ve got a chance to check them out, go! Supporting artists who go abroad is the only way that we’ll get more to come over. And really, isn’t that the best for everyone?
March
1st - High Five (Columbus, OH)
2nd - 31st Street Pub (Pittsburgh, PA)
3rd - Subterranean (Chicago, IL)
6th - Bender’s Tavern (Denver, CO)
7th - Burt’s Tiki Lounge (Salt Lake City, UT)
8th - Double Down Saloon (Las Vegas, NV)
10th - Alex Bar (Long Beach, CA)
11th - The Doll Hut (Anaheim, CA)
12th - Scolari’s Office (San Diego, CA)
13th - Gearhead Records Showcase (Mesa, AZ)
14th - Vaudeville Cabaret (Tuscon, AZ)
16th - Darkside Lounge (Dallas, TX)
17th - South by Southwest Lava Lounge (Austin, TX)
18th - Notsuoh (Houston, TX)
19th - The Circle Bar (New Orleans, LA)
20th - Murphy’s (Memphis, TN)
21st - Rhythm and Brews (Chattanooga, TN)
22nd - Lenny’s (Atlanta, GA)
23rd - Ground Zero (Spartanburg, SC)
24th - The Milestone (NC)
25th - Atomic Burrito (VA)
26th - Sidebar (Baltimore, MD)
27th - Khyber (Philadelphia, PA)
29th - Radio Heartbeat Powerpop Festival (Brooklyn, NY)

See you at the shows!

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