Fuji Rock's urban rival takes a more populist approach in its booking policies, to the extent that the schizophrenic lineup can feel like it was compiled by an accountant rather than a music fan. Held in the concrete expanses of QVC Marine Field and Makuhari Messe, a half-hour train ride from Tokyo Station, Summer Sonic makes up in convenience for what it lacks in atmosphere (only the far-flung Beach Stage has much of a vibe). This year's festival is headlined by metal veterans Metallica and bombastic Brit rockers Muse, though it was probably the presence of homegrown pop-rock warhorses Mr Children – playing their only live dates of the summer – that helped tickets sell out way in advance. As with previous years, the weekend's festival is preceded by an all-night dance party, Sonicmania, on the Friday. Here's the lineup:
August 10:
Metallica, Fuyumi Abe, Akai Ko-en, Alt-J, Androp, Gabrielle Aplin, Steve Aoki, Babymetal, Bastille, Beady Eye, Beataucue, Breaking Arrows, Buffalo Daughter, Jake Bugg, Bullet for My Valentine, C2C, Caravan, Cheap Trick, Chvrches, CN Blue, Coldrain, Fall Out Boy, FIDLAR, The Flickers, FT Island, The Gazette, The Hiatus, Huwie Ishizaki, Jackson and His Computer Band, Jagwar Ma, Kay, Kishi Bashi, Kodaline, Nagisa Kuroki, Linkin Park, Living Colour, Matzka, Maximum the Hormone, Mew, MIA, Nas, Ohashi Trio, One OK Rock, Ovall, Rake, Selah Sue, Stereophonics, Volbeat, Yamato, Masayoshi Yamazaki
August 11:
Muse, Avengers in Sci-Fi, The Back Horn, Bernhoft, Bigmama, Blue Encount, Capital Cities, Carnation, Cream, Dempagumi.inc, Earth, Wind & Fire, Good Morning America, Motohiro Hata, Hot Chelle Rae, Hunter Valentine, Imagine Dragons, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kana-Boom, Makoto Kawamoto, Knock Out Monkey, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Man With a Mission, Johnny Marr, Momoiro Clover Z, Willy Moon, Mr Children, The 1975, Palma Violets, Peace, Pet Shop Boys, The Pillows, Predawn, The Royal Concept, Sambomaster, Scandal, Scott & Rivers, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Lindsey Stirling, Totalfat, Two Door Cinema Club, The Ventures, White Ash, Zebrahead