Fleet Foxes

Gone are the days when overseas indie acts had to assiduously court Japanese listeners: now they can hold off until they're properly famous and then waltz straight into a sizable venue such as Studio Coast. So it is with Seattle folk-rockers Fleet Foxes, who debuted to spectacular acclaim in 2008 with an EP and eponymous album that drew the links between the Beach Boys, Love and contemporary acts like Animal Collective. Thankfully, the group didn't lose their form on 2011 follow-up Helplessness Blues (though we've still yet to find anyone who really enjoyed that record's brief flirtation with free jazz). Don't expect any pyrotechnics as they make their live debut in Tokyo, but if it's good honest songwriting you're after, look no further.