Fuji Rock Festival 2012

[spu001]

I'm hoping they both stop making music altogether. Maybe they can take up knitting or something.

My sentiments exactly both are a waste of space on the bill...Oasis included

[Blue Stapler]

I can't even imagine how apoplectic the two of you will be if it turns out that he's the Saturday headliner...

[spu001]

Well if that is the case I am sure there will be a better band to see...The Specials maybe...and if not then it will be a great time to eat, drink and toilet

[seanbear]

Now way can he headline....apart from "If I had a gun" his new songs suck and he's not playing any Oasis stuff.....it'd be a real damp squib.

[Blue Stapler]

So who else thinks they'll announce some new acts and the stage splits tonight? (Of course, you need to keep in mind that I totally whiffed on my prediction on the timing of the previous lineup release.)

Noel Gallagher can be the Saturday headliner for all I care. Maybe that'll piss Liam off and he'll cancel his Fuji appearance. I'm more nervous about the stage splits and the potential conflicts.

[spu001]

Soooo Noel Gallagher is the Sat headliner....obviously a last minute choice...The amount of bands on Sat that already are of a higher caliber than him makes you wonder if promoters are retarded.
In better new I was pleasantly surprised to see Purity Ring added to the line up....really wasn't expecting thet

[Al & Mel]

I agree spu001, negotiations with a bigger name probably fell through and they had to make a quick decision. But one album (I'm not including Oasis because I think he's mainly playing solo stuff) and he's headlining? Maybe I'm underestimating his popularity in Japan. Oh well, looks like Saturday will be a good night for me to check out other stages.

[Blue Stapler]

Ray Davies would have been a better headliner.

So I was right about the lineup being added to last night and the Saturday headliner, but not the stage splits. I guess two out of three ain't bad, but wtf, no stage splits? They always announce that this time of the year!

Oh well, looks like Saturday will be a good night for me to check out other stages.

I'm guessing it will be the Specials (or possibly Denki Groove) headlining the White Stage, Justice at Red, Buddy Guy at Field of Heaven, and Seun Kuti at Orange. Or maybe Ray Davies at FOH and Buddy Guy at Orange.

[seanbear]

Fuck it..........Spiritualized as a headliner would piss all over Noel.

[Blue Stapler]

Fuck it..........Spiritualized as a headliner would piss all over Noel.

In terms of the quality of the music, yes. In terms of popular appeal, no.

I think Noel Gallagher as a headliner is a piss-poor effort on Smash's part, but I can't see how anyone else on that Saturday lineup could draw a larger crowd. I just can't help but wonder how Liam feels about all this.

[gweilo]

That's ridiculous. After bursting out of the gate, Fuji's really limping to the finish line.

Stapler, what's up with your countrymen and the Oasis fetish? Don't they realise the Gallaghers suck harder than a meth whore?

[seanbear]

In terms of the quality of the music, yes. In terms of popular appeal, no.

I think Noel Gallagher as a headliner is a piss-poor effort on Smash's part, but I can't see how anyone else on that Saturday lineup could draw a larger crowd. I just can't help but wonder how Liam feels about all this.

Well put it this way....if Liam wants to hang around for the Saturday and throw bottles at Noel during his set, I'll happily lend a hand. Liam is likely well slutted. Still should make for some meaty epithets during the Beady Eye set.

[Al & Mel]

Yeah, real anti-climax after all that waiting, I think I might've even have preferred Van Halen and that's really saying something!!

Fujirockers said "There have been 106 acts announced for FRF ’12 thus far. The last few years have seen about 200 acts in total play over the course of the fest’s three days, so there are still plenty of good things to be added." So regulars out there can we expect a decent addition of international acts or will it mainly be DJ's, local bands, etc filling out the rest of the lineup? Looking at previous lineups I'm expecting more but then again I was also expecting a better third headliner too...

[Blue Stapler]

Stapler, what's up with your countrymen and the Oasis fetish? Don't they realise the Gallaghers suck harder than a meth whore?

Oh come on, anyone who's been on the Internet should know that we harbor all kinds of weird fetishes! Oasis is the least of them.

Edit: Also, please tell me my American friend, since when did you start spelling "realize" with an s?

Fujirockers said "There have been 106 acts announced for FRF ’12 thus far. The last few years have seen about 200 acts in total play over the course of the fest’s three days, so there are still plenty of good things to be added." So regulars out there can we expect a decent addition of international acts or will it mainly be DJ's, local bands, etc filling out the rest of the lineup? Looking at previous lineups I'm expecting more but then again I was also expecting a better third headliner too...

Depends on how you define "decent." For the five main stages, maybe about a dozen and a half acts left? Can't say how many of those will be international, and how many domestic.

And of course, you have the smaller stages like Gypsy Avalon, Crystal Palace, Naeba Shokudo, Mokudotei etc. The acts playing those venues haven't been announced yet, with the likely exception of a handful of main stage acts doing double (or triple, or quadruple, or - in the case of Rafven in 2009 - octuple) duty. Most of those will be acts you've never heard of, but I definitely think it'll be worth your while to check them out.

[spu001]

I am happy there is a shared hatred for Noel, he didn't even headline the Big Day Out in AUS and it was one of the most piss weak lineups I have ever seen. Peeps at Smash be on drugs....

That's ridiculous. After bursting out of the gate, Fuji's really limping to the finish line.

Agreed...Hell you would think with Radohead and Stone Roses it wouldn't be so hard to pull some more decent acts, but I not going to whinge because that is what the Gallaghers do and they're wankers.

Also gonna put it out there...if Fuji don't get its' act together, Summersonic might have pulled a better lineup this year

What does anybody think of Denki Groove and Justice being back-to-back rather than separate stages?

[Blue Stapler]

I don't know if it will be back to back, but I think they're both Red Marquee. Justice as the headliner, and Denki Groove as one of the late night acts. I thought Spiritualized might be a possible RM headliner before finding out about Noel, but now I suspect that they're the Green Stage sub-headliner. Can we all agree that the Specials seem to be the likely White Stage headliner?

Also, this remark that Caribou made in an interview has me confused.

“Fuji rock – that’s going to be a trip,” he continues. “This is the first time we’re playing it after a year of hearing people tell us how incredible it is. We’ve just found out we’re on the big stage just after the sun has set so that we can have our light show along with us etc. It’s going to be special… well, for us, anyway."

The big stage = Green Stage? Maybe it's just me, but Caribou --> Noel at Green seems kind of out there. Caribou --> Specials at White would be even more random. Caribou --> Justice at Red makes sense, but I don't know if I would refer to that tent as "the big stage."

And have any of you thought about who the Sunday closer might be? I cannot for the life of me identify a closer-like act on that Sunday lineup.

[stillill]

Yeah that is a bit of a let-down after the wait tbh. Barely headline material. Good excuse to visit the lots of other stages though.

Not seeing much in the Smash organisation so far to endear me to this festival or consider a return visit (getting tickets = faff, getting accommodation = faff, getting information = faff, line-up='alright'). First-time attendee, essentially to see how the Japanese have fun, so going to make the most of it when there.

Summersonic does seem to have a more interesting spread. Would have loved to see Sigur Ros headline but I guess Smash ran out of cash after two big headliners.

Oh well, still going to be lots of fun I'm sure.

[fnmore]

They ought to get together for a few songs at least and blow everyone away. I never got Oasis. Maybe it's like their version of the Beatles or something.

[gweilo]

Also, please tell me my American friend, since when did you start spelling "realize" with an s?

What can I say -- my computer has a British brain. Can't win 'em all.

Not seeing much in the Smash organisation so far to endear me to this festival or consider a return visit (getting tickets = faff, getting accommodation = faff, getting information = faff, line-up='alright'). First-time attendee, essentially to see how the Japanese have fun, so going to make the most of it when there.

Yeah, I hear you -- I'm still struggling with an international bank transfer to get our accommodation. The saga's been dragging on for weeks. But wait till you're there -- it'll all be better.

[Blue Stapler]

I don't know if it will be back to back, but I think they're both Red Marquee. Justice as the headliner, and Denki Groove as one of the late night acts. I thought Spiritualized might be a possible RM headliner before finding out about Noel, but now I suspect that they're the Green Stage sub-headliner. Can we all agree that the Specials seem to be the likely White Stage headliner?

So my prediction were...a little off.

But man, the lineup has gone south since the promising start, hasn't it? There are usually seven acts per day for the Green Stage, plus one extra act on Sunday as the closer, but Saturday and Sunday only have six each, with no sign of a closer (unless it's Galactic?). WTF. The Roses and Radiohead must have really fleeced them. I'm starting to wish that Radiohead would've gone to Summer Sonic, so that I can see them there, and Fuji would have a stronger overall lineup.

Oh well, it's always fun when they announce the stage splits, because you can fantasize about what your schedule is going to be like. Although there's always some degree of frustration too - as usual, I am not liking some of the anticipated conflicts.

[Al & Mel]

Yeah, after comparing the lineups for other years my list of 'must sees' is definitely shorter than I was hoping for, but I guess I should look on the bright side knowing that I won't have many conflicts and can cruise around checking out unknowns.

I'm guessing they won't release set times until just before but is there a general pattern of times for the main stages i.e. the white stage headliner plays before/after the green stage and red marquee, etc? Just trying to get a rough idea of playing times.

[Blue Stapler]

The headlining set for the Red Marquee usually starts a little earlier, and then Green, and then White. I think you'll be able to see full sets of both the RM and White headliners, though that may depend on how long it takes to wade through the large crowd at Green. You won't be able to see both the Green and White headliners without missing a very significant portion of one or the other. It'll be a little easier to see both the Red and Green headliners, but you'll have to miss the end of the Red set or the beginning of the Green set.

Although with this year having fewer acts play at the Green Stage, who knows if they'll follow the pattern of previous years.

The Field were high on my list of acts I want to see, but man they are scheduled to play late. I don't know if I'll be able to stay awake for them...

[seanbear]

The headlining set for the Red Marquee usually starts a little earlier, and then Green, and then White. I think you'll be able to see full sets of both the RM and White headliners, though that may depend on how long it takes to wade through the large crowd at Green. You won't be able to see both the Green and White headliners without missing a very significant portion of one or the other. It'll be a little easier to see both the Red and Green headliners, but you'll have to miss the end of the Red set or the beginning of the Green set.

Although with this year having fewer acts play at the Green Stage, who knows if they'll follow the pattern of previous years.

The Field were high on my list of acts I want to see, but man they are scheduled to play late. I don't know if I'll be able to stay awake for them...

Hey so what's the timing for the RM night sessions? Are they in reverse order starting midnight? The Field will go off for sure...

Good news is we can blow Noel off and catch Spiritualized indoors....rubber dingy rapids...

[Al & Mel]

The Field were high on my list of acts I want to see, but man they are scheduled to play late. I don't know if I'll be able to stay awake for them...

Oh, so the Planet Groove/Tribal Circus/Sunday Session list refers to those that play after the Red Marquee headliner? Dang, I had them pegged for an earlier time so looks like my 'must see' list just got shorter as probably too late for me too!

Good news is we can blow Noel off and catch Spiritualized indoors

Was a bit worried about Spiritualized being before Noel and not getting a decent set but now looks like Caribou -> Spiritualized headlining might work out nicely for me

[gweilo]

Sunday couldn't have gone any worse for me. I'll likely miss Jack White and the Shins, and definitely ATDI.

The only saving grace from this announcement is that Spiritualized is headlining against Oasis Lite.

Seanbear/ Al & Mel: Yes, that's basically right re: Planet Groove/Tribal Circus/Sunday Session.

[Al & Mel]

I'm wondering whether my Sunday plan of Explosions -> Jack White -> Shins -> Radiohead might be a bit ambitious...

[Blue Stapler]

You guys do realize that you can see Noel Gallagher after Spiritualized, right? I'm kind of tempted to see Noel just for the hell of it, but seeing Coldplay for the same reason last year turned out to be a mistake (God they were so boring), so I'll probably do Buddy Guy at Orange.

Al & Mel - Shins --> Radiohead should be doable, as long as you don't mind seeing Radiohead from a less-than-stellar spot. You'll just have to either leave the Red Marquee early, or arrive at the Green Stage late. Explosions --> Jack White is a little harder to say; we'll have to wait until they release set times.

[spu001]

Is it me or does Explosions in the Sky seem really odd considering the other bands on the white stage on Sunday.

Honestly I think the stages go alright I really don't miss too much. There are a few clashes but i guess that's to be expected. Worst are Radiohead v ATDI and Stone Roses v James Blake...Still think any of the other stages headliners are more credible than Noel.

If anyone has spare time on Friday check out The Very Best, I saw 'em maybe a year or so a go. So much energy it was crazy.

[oh.kamikaze]

Clashes are going to be rough. I had hoped to see Fucked Up, Explosions, Refused and ATDI whilst also trying to see Jack White and most of Radiohead. Maybe a little Shins and M Ward in there aha I doubt my chances of seeing half those bands though.... At least Friday and Saturday will be more chilled out and like a few people have said, it'll give plenty of time to check out unknowns and the scenery. Anyone know how easy it is to bring alcohol into the camping grounds? Easy as a couple bottles in your luggage on the way in or do they search bags? Also, any comments / suggestions re: pot at Fuji? Easy / hard to find?

[spu001]

Anyone know how easy it is to bring alcohol into the camping grounds? Easy as a couple bottles in your luggage on the way in or do they search bags? Also, any comments / suggestions re: pot at Fuji? Easy / hard to find?

You can take alcohol into the campsite easy, as for the fest they may check you bag but say if you have vodka in a water bottle or rum in a coke bottle they don't check it, I guess they just assume it is coke or water. I was actually really surprised last time I went how easy taking alcohol into festival grounds was.

As for pot it is around but hard to find. Fuji is surprisingly drug free compared to other festivals its' size. That said if you really look I am sure you will find it. Follow your nose!

Also if you are getting around Japan before you go they have legal herbs that sort of do the same stuff, There is a 'legal' highs store called 420 that is in Harajuku and Amemura, Osaka