Sunset Live is Kyushu’s most popular outdoor music festival, returning for its 25th year. Enjoyed by over 15,000 people, Sunset Live started as a party in the parking lot of Sunset Cafe. Now, sixty bands and artists covering a wide range of genres (including some of Japan’s most popular acts) perform across several stages and are watched by legions of adoring fans. The festival is held on a natural, crescent-shaped beach in Keya, Itoshima, just one hour from Tenjin. As if that wasn’t enough, the festival is bordered on one side by lush green mountains, and the beach leads straight into the beautifully warm waters of the Genkai-nada Sea. All along the beach, colorful booths sell refreshments and food prepared by some of Fukuoka’s hippest restaurants and bars! For chill-out time, take a walk on the beach, cool off in the sea, or catch some shade inside the umi-no-ie beach huts! This is the perfect summer festival for eco-warriors, as the event also focuses on “saving nature for the future” – from inspiring art installations to efficient recycling booths. And art lovers can enjoy live painting by various international and local artists over the course of the weekend.
• 9/2 (Sat.), 9/3 (Sun.)
• Adult One Day: Adv. ¥6,900 / Door ¥7,900
Adult Night (after 18:00): Adv. ¥5,000 / Door ¥6,000
JHS and HS: Adv. ¥4,000 / Door ¥5,000 *must show student ID
Two Days: ¥13,800 (incl. original towel)
Available at Ticket Pia, 7-Eleven, Circle K Sunkus, Lawson Ticket, Lawson
• Keya Beach, Itoshima
• 092-708-9944 (Ticket Pia)
• www.sunsetlive-info.com
Amongst the 60+ bands at Sunset Live 2017, these international artists will also be making waves at Keya Beach! Check them out! Fukuoka Now has a very limited supply of discounted tickets for Sunset Live 2017 – save ¥1,000 off each ticket – scroll up.
Sep. 2 (Sat.)
The Magus – Making their debut overseas, this four-piece Korean indie group is set to make waves at Sunset Live 2017. The band has brought their upbeat, electric-driven sound to the bar and festival scene in Busan since 2016, and produced their debut single ‘Flutter’ in January of this year. With youthful drive and acclaimed writing skills, the Magus’ music draws parallels with the likes of Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party. Watch out for them at Sunset Live as they’re set to go far!
‘Flutter’ single (2017)
• Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magusbook/
Sep. 3 (Sun.)
Sultan of the Disco – Korean group Sultan of the Disco are on a mission to bring back the golden age of disco music, with great musical talent complemented by outrageous fashion and slick moves on the dance floor. After releasing their debut album ‘The Golden Age’ in 2013, which was nominated for ‘Best Dance/Electronic Album’ at the Korean Music Awards, the band has gained international rapport with performances at Glastonbury, CMJ Music Marathon, and Canada Music Week. They are set to produce their next single ‘SQ (We Don’t Need No EQ IQ)’ with Grammy Award-winning producer Tony Maserati after being spotted by him at a showcase.
One of their newest numbers, ‘Oriental Disco Express’
• Official website (English): http://sultanofthedisco.com/about
• Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sultanofthedisco/
Tom Curren – Surfing legend and three-time world champion Tom Curren has been producing music since the age of fifteen, but only went public with his talent when he began touring in 1993. The American has released three albums and seamlessly channels the natural rhythm of his surfing style into his deep lyrics and blues, jazz, and classic rock hybrid sound. Tom will be accompanied at Sunset Live 2017 by Japanese singer-songwriter Hironobu Saito, and the duo look set to bring some golden performances to the line up.
‘Summerland Road’ off the 2013 album ‘In Plain View’
• Official website: http://tomcurren.com/index.php
• Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomcurrensounds/
Brown Rice Family – Brown Rice Family is an eight-piece group of Jamaican, American, Haitian, Japanese, South African, and Nigerian musicians spreading good vibes through their upbeat reggae and funk sound. Founded in Brooklyn by percussionist Yuichi Ida in 2006, the band has gone from strength to strength and have played internationally on several occasions, including touring Japan for three consecutive years (2013~2016). The band’s goal is to promote unity, love, and sustainable living through their music, fitting in perfectly with the central ideals of the Sunset Live festival.
Brown Rice Family hit ‘Souljah’
• Official website: http://www.brownricefamily.com/
• Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brownricefamily/