16 August 2014 - Summer Sonic Osaka

I was curious about these upcoming Japanese gigs, as I've always remembered Summer Sonic being like Big Day Out in Australia, with a bill that shifts between Tokyo and Osaka. I wanted to know where Sonic Mania came into play. So I checked out the tour archives, and what a rabbit hole it turned out to be!

So, Summer Sonic is typically in August time and is actually massive. The Osaka leg first took place at the WTC Open Air Stadium, alongside the Tokyo one which takes place in the Chiba Marine Stadium AND Makuhari Messe, which contains three large concert halls within one super structure. Kasabian made their debut here in 2004, playing WTC and Makuhari Messe.

Now, here's where Sonic Mania comes into play. It's a fringe festival show that complements Summer Sonic, covering genres that the more mainstream SS doesn't. Kasabian played Sonic Mania in February 2005 within Makuhari Messe, some six months prior to Summer Sonic 2005.

Fast forward six months and they played a warm-up show with Oasis called Summer Sonic Eve in Nagoya, and returned to Osaka at the WTC Stadium. Because they were close with Oasis, they were upgraded to the outdoor portion in Tokyo for the second leg, playing the Chiba Marine Stadium.

When it came to 2007, they stayed at Chiba Marine Stadium in Tokyo, just under Arctic Monkeys. And in Osaka, the festival was moved to the Maishima Sports Island. A crazy, perfectly shaped piece of reclaimed land. It's pretty big and hosts multiple outdoor stages at once.

In 2009, it was actually back into Makuhari Messe in Tokyo, and again at the Maishima Sports Island in Osaka.

They haven't played Summer Sonic since, until this year. Here's where it got really confusing. It seems Live Nation bought into the event last year, and revived the Sonic Mania warm-up show, but brought it forward to just before the Tokyo and Osaka shows. That's what Kasabian are headlining next month. They'll then travel to the Maishima Sports Island again for the Osaka date, but by virtue of playing Sonic Mania, they'll seemingly be missing Summer Sonic Tokyo. To add to the confusion, the Chiba Marine Stadium is now the OVC Marine Stadium too.

So, in summary. This'll be their 2nd Sonic Mania appearance, and their 5th showing at Summer Sonic Osaka.

They've had two gigs at the WTC Open Air Stadium, three at Makuhari Messe, two at Chiba Marine Stadium and two at Maishima Sports Island. That means it's Visit #4 in Makuhari and #3 in Maishima.

Phew...