Crack Magazine and Asahi Super Dry announce four UK parties celebrating Japanese electronic music

Crack Magazine and Japanese beer brand Asahi Super Dry proudly present #unfold, a series of four events celebrating innovative strands in Japanese underground electronic music. Tickets are free, you just have to sign-up.

#unfold aims to ignite a cultural exchange by bringing names from the Japanese electronic world together with some of the most respected and influential figures in UK club culture, the tour will hit London, Bristol, Manchester and Leeds with a different sound showcased at each event. At each of the shows, one room will house ORION – an audiovisual art installation by Japan-France art studio NONOTAK (pictured). Eight LED screens perform in a precise 7-minute formation to a bespoke soundtrack, creating an immersive multi-sensory experience for attendees. Framed around Asahi Super Dry’s ‘Karakuchi’ concept, the work is designed to immerse and intrigue audiences creating an elevated party experience for attendees. The intricate creation of ORION will form the basis of a long-form documentary produced by Asahi Super Dry and Crack Magazine, to be released after the tour.

The tour starts at Protein Studios in London with Sapphire Slows and Or:la. Sapphire Slows is one of the strongest and most active young techno producers in Tokyo, who has already been touring Europe and currently a resident of Rinse FM. Northern Ireland’s Or:la operates in a similar space – the experimental realm between house and techno where immersive dancefloor moments happen.

Then we move on to Crack Magazine’s hometown, Bristol with Kiki Hitomi and Kahn + Neek. Leipzig-based Kiki Hitomi’s sound is heavily influenced by dub and bass music, Hitomi previously performed as part of King Midas Sound and made waves as part of Japanese dubstep noise duo Dokkebi Q. No UK act is better suited to collide with her world than Bristol dubstep legends Kahn + Neek who will provide the depth, weight and seal of quality that’s cemented their reputation.

Next, Manchester at the White Hotel. Osaka-based footwork and juke producer and DJ, DJ Fulltono, is well known and respected worldwide as an innovative artist within the network of this extremely niche scene. While British pioneer Kode9 has shared the bill with him numerous times in Japan and featured Fulltono’s tracks in his mixes and radio shows, this Manchester show will be the first time they appear together in the UK.

The tour completes in Leeds at Live Art Bistro. Tokyo’s most renowned record collector, label owner and a DJ for almost three decades, there are not many other DJs that can match Kenji Takimi’s level of musical expertise and selections. One figure who can might be able to is Andrew Weatherall, one of the country’s most iconic selectors.

Check out full lineups and dates below. To sign up for tickets, head to crackm.ag/unfold.

Friday 26 April, Protein Studios, London – Or:la, Sapphire Slows, re:ni
Saturday 11 May, Arnolfini, Bristol – Kahn + Neek, Kiki Hitomi, L U C Y
Saturday 25 May, The White Hotel, Manchester – Kode9, DJ Fulltono, Hesska
Friday 7 June, Live Art Bistro, Leeds – Andrew Weatherall, Kenji Takimi

Audiovisual Art Installation by NONOTAK