Dry & Heavy/The Heavymanners

Takeshi Akimoto prefers to go by the name Heavy, and not without good reason: the bassist has helped power some of the most vital statements in Japanese dub over the past couple of decades. After splitting from former group Dry & Heavy in 2001, he went on to form The Heavymanners with producer Goth-Trad – who's now better known as the king of Japanese dubstep. The unit has since morphed into a more conventional dub reggae band, while Akimoto has also reunited with drummer Shigemoto Nanao to rekindle the Dry & Heavy flame. Both groups will be appearing at this Liquidroom gig, in which The Heavymanners are joined by dancehall singer Rumi (who guested on recent album Survival), while Dry & Heavy are tangling with Osaka dub producer Killer-Bong. Exploratory electro-dub band Arakajime Kimerareta Koibitotachi e round out the bill.