Job Discussion Forums

[khyber]

I'm in a bluegrass folk band that is VERY interested in touring Japan. We're based in Busan South Korea but we are kinda tired of this little burg.

We are RIGHT on the verge of getting a couple shows (in different venues) in Tokyo but we are hoping to expand our trip slightly; do a bit of driving around and sight seeing.
We have been told by our "Japanese Connection" (based and playing almost solely in Tokyo) that Kobe and Osaka are both pretty darn good cities to play in.
My question for the lovely foreigners out there is: Who knows of some good bars/venues in their area (where are you?)? We are looking at any cities and any venues that are south (or west) of Tokyo as we are sorta hoping on going aaaallllll the way to Fukuoka.
The BEST thing possible would be to send us homepages of bars that you'd suggest.

We don't plan on going over there till the summer so we can hit a festival or two so we have all kinds of time. I was just thinking that the foreigners on here would be the BIGGEST help.

Thanks a LOT in advance for any tips!
We all appreciate it a great deal!

[JimDunlop2]

Please PM me and I may be able to help out. I know a little bit about (and have friends who are quite heavily into) the Bluegrass scene both locally and a little farther away too.

Also, wouldn't mind coming to hear you guys play.... (But only if y'all can play some o' them Soggy Bottom Boys)

[Double Clutcher]

I know this is a little off topic but the bluegrass thing got me thinking. Is there a neo-traditional country music scene in Japan? Also I'm wondering if the punk/garage scene is still happening there. An ex-bandmate of mine was in a band that had a decent following there. They went on a tour in Japan back in '97 and did quite well.

I am teaching in China and I'm thinking about making the move to Japan. One of the things that is running around my head is that it is probably a better place to play music than China.

[khyber]

There is a (surprisingly) big bluegrass music scene in Japan. So much so that they actually have several festivals devouted solely to bluegrass. Some bands off the top of my head? If I can remember the names: Bluegrass 45, Bluegrass Yokohama. I can't remember any others though.

That said though, DC, I am unsure as to what you mean by "neo-trad
country" music: You talkin' Jim Reeves? Hank Williams? Carter Family?


Again folks, ANY info is greatly appreciated! Even in pm form is awesome!

[Double Clutcher]

Actually I mean contemporary artists who are influenced by the folks you mentioned along with George Jones, Webb Pierce, Hank Snow, Buck Owens, Etc. They shun mainstream country and should never be associated with Garth Brooks, Big and Rich, Leann Rhymes and the like.

Some contemporary American neo-traditionalists are Hank Williams III, Junior Brown, Dale Watson, and Wayne Hancock.

I've only played punk type stuff in the past, but traditional country music was what I grew up listening to and was my "first love" so to speak. I've written several country songs in the last year and have tried playing them with some locals here but Chinese people don't have a clue what country music is. Jonn Denver's 'Country Roads' is definitive country music for them and that's it.

If I relocate to Japan it would be nice to play music with and for people who would appreciate it.

[wabisabi365]

Country Joe in Nagoya has been around for over 30 years. Smallish space (but I guess that's a given in most bar/live houses here).

http://www.wcities.com/en/record/147,294442/188/record.html

Have fun on your tour

[khyber]

brilliant wabisabi!

That is exactly what I want.

Anyone else have any more useful links?

thanks heaps




bjmp

[kdynamic]

There is a country bar in Kyoto called Honky Tonk. They have line dancing and real Japanese cowboys. It's all the way on the north side of the city.