Venerated Shibuya venue O-Nest is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a series of shows featuring some of its favourite artists from around the country. Continuing the series’ trend of disparate line-ups, May 28 will see performances from Tokyo dub band Arakoi and Kyoto hardcore punk outfit Otoboke Beaver.
Arakoi (short for Arakajime Kimerareta Koibito e) have been a mainstay of the country’s festival scene since forming as a band around lead songwriter Shoji Ikenaga in the ’00s. The band, whose music is described as lyrical instrumental dub, finished 2025 with a new single, the evocative ‘Hinoko’, a collaboration with Yuta Kimura from the Kodo Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble on the shinobue flute.
Known for their frantically paced yet insanely tight performances, Kyoto’s Otoboke Beaver have exploded in the past few years. Their relentless touring schedule has included performances at US festivals and showcases like Coachella, SXSW and Lollapalooza as well as high-profile supports with artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, Foo Fighters and Green Day. This show is set to be one of their first with former touring drummer Leo as an official member – and their last in the country before they head back overseas to tour.