Soul Flower Union

In the aftermath of the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, the members of Soul Flower Union staged a series of acoustic concerts on the streets of Kobe. It would make the Kansai-based folk-rock band heroes – a status that was consolidated when their leader, Takashi Nakagawa, co-wrote the enduring classic "Mangetsu no Yube" a month later for the victims of the quake. On March 15, Nakagawa released a new recording of the song via the band's website, aimed at those affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami. It'll doubtless be an emotional affair when the group play a couple of dates in Tokyo this week – one of the few high-profile gigs not to have been cancelled. Bring tissues. There'll be a collection for the Japanese Red Cross Society on the night, and the venue will be in full setsuden (low energy) mode. With guests Carnation.