Akai Ko-en

They were Time Out's favourite new band of 2012, but we were honestly starting to worry that we'd seen the last of Akai Ko-en. The all-female quartet clocked up a string of barnstorming live performances and a pair of impressive mini-albums last year, only to go on hiatus after guitarist and leader Maisa Tsuno was given doctor's orders to take a break. So it's a relief to hear that they'll be returning to the live circuit this spring, starting with this Golden Week date in Tokyo.