Yes, Fujirock's own Generalissimo, Hidaka-san, is on the the CNN website now.

jinki

Alright, so I don't mean to retread old ground here. I know we've already written about Jamie Liddell, but jesus, have you seen this guy sing over his own beatboxing? Have you heard the new album?

Back in 2006 the drummer from New Mastersounds was roaming the audience at Unit looking for something that he felt might help him drum a little more enthusiastically. Either he found it or he never needed it, because the leaders of the New Funk scene whipped the audience up that night into the kind of crowd you'd expect at a heavy metal show.

Expect nothing less from their almost-headline slot in the Field of Heaven. This four-piece are legends of modern funk and the heirs to the Meters' crown. They had the wisdom to ask Keb Darge, the single-handed carver of the deep funk genre, to produce their breakthrough singles One Note Brown and Nervous.

Ok, so I have now accepted the fact that Led Zeppelin's reunion tour won't touch down at Fujirock, but oh, cruel world, why must you twist the knife so?

As mentioned in earlier posts, soul music will certainly be represented at Naeba this year, but 2008 is most certainly the year of FUNK, children, and don’t let nobody tell you different.

So the schedule's up and we can start crossing names off our to-see lists. Wanted to see Galactic and Kasabian on Friday? Now you're gonna have to choose. Interested in Mark Stewart and The Maffia, but want to see if Mani really does join Ian Brown at other end of the festival in the Red marquee? No chance.

But somehow this year seems a little more.... thought out? Bootsy fans that want some more funk have 50 minutes to stroll to the nearby Field of Heaven for modern day funkateers the New Mastersounds. The kind of people who never budge from the Orange Court all weekend will probably want to catch the trio from SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS - who are playinga few yards away, just as the OC goes quiet.

I'm still wondering: Lee Scratch Perry or The Go Team? But for the most part, what a great piece of scheduling.

Another round of artists have been announced for Fuji Rock bringing the total number of performing acts to 202! The timetable has been released as well and from the looks of it, there are only two slots left to be filled. One is Sunday night on the Green Stage, the other on Mokudo Tei on Saturday afternoon.

Somebody's has got to open for Bootsy, so who better than New Orleans' Galactic (and Boots without the Y). Since Theryl "Houseman" DeClouet has left the band, these serious admirers of The Meters have backed a number of vocalists, and are bringing Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 and Boots Riley of the early '90s political rap group The Coup. To get yourself ready, here's a gut punch of Galactic funk from Paris Library:

Paris DJs present Galactic New Orleans Funk Swamp

Be warned, it gets dirty. And, by the way, don't be surprised if Led Zepplin show up as well (Heya Jinki, how about Immigrant Song? Kashmir?).

* photos by photos by yusuke/Smashingmag.com

When the best person ever (aka fellow scribe Shawn Despres) invited me to join the Fuji team I was excited. Not only was it an unexpected trip to Japan - which means I'll get to see old friends - but it was a chance to cover one of the festivals I've always wanted to experience.

Oh, and then there's this: Flower Travellin' Band are playing. That fact is still melting my brain. FTB, if you don't already know, are probably Japan's most critically acclaimed '70s psyche rock band. Their album Satori has been called the penultimate Japanese rock record. Flower Travellin' Band are Japan's Led Zeppelin (in stature...musically, they're more like a more psychedelic and proggy Black Sabbath).

For me, though, there's two added reasons for my excitement. One thing is that I'm Canadian. Canada is the only country outside of Japan where Satori actually landed on the charts - top ten, no less. CHUM-FM in Toronto used to play the album. The band opened for Emerson, Lake & Palmer here. Finally, the FTB record Made In Japan was actually recorded in Canada. So there's this strange rock-historical connection happening for me.

Secondly, I'm the host & producer of a weekly Japanese music show called Octopus Army (Note: Yes, I stole the name from the clothing shop chain in Japan and no, so far, they haven't sued). So I've been listening to FTB for years, playing them on the show and thinking "Wow, too bad I missed this when they were around."

Guess what? They're still around. For anyone lucky enough to hit the Field of Heaven on Saturday...this should be a little glimpse of J-rock history.

Jamie Tennant

A crazy tour involving a bus that runs on vegetable oil and a half-dozen freak out bands was how the Death Set started their summer. Fortunately, Videothing was along for the ride, and just sober enough to film some of the stops on the F Yeah Tour. Skate parks, house parties, and one long assed side of the road stop are all in the mix. If the past is any indicator of the future, then the Death Set will be jumping off drum kits, crowd surfing, and causing good old fashioned, singalong mayhem when they finally hit Fuji Rock.

//sean s.

It was recently announced that electro-soul crooner Jamie Lidell will be opening up Elton John's UK tour in November and December.