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Masayoshi Takanaka, the Japanese king of spangly, summery jazz fusion, is headlining a massive festival in London this summer. The legendary Tokyo-born guitarist, composer and producer is set to headline the London instalment of a global festival series called City Pop Waves at Crystal Palace Bowl in August.
Takanaka’s career has spanned five decades. He first found fame in the 1970s and ’80s but over the last decade or so his glam, energetic showmanship (and signature surfboard guitar) has found bigger worldwide audiences via social media algorithms. His upcoming two nights at Brixton Academy – on March 31 and April 1, part of his global SUPER TAKANAKA WORLD LIVE 2026 tour – sold out in minutes.
The City Pop Waves show announcement will be welcome news for those that missed out on Brixton tickets. What’s more is that Takanaka will be playing a special extended two-hour show. The event promises An Insatiable High, indeed.
Plus, Takanaka won’t be the only Japanese fusion legend playing Crystal Palace: on the same bill is keyboardist Himiko Kikuchi, who will be performing her 1987 masterpiece Flying Beagle in full. There will also be a DJ set from Californian neo-city popper Ginger Root.
If you’re a fan of the jazzier end of city pop (otherwise a catch-all term for the shimmering, glamorous pop music of Japan’s bubble economy years), you won’t want to miss this. City Pop Waves has also held an events in Los Angeles (with Taeko Ōnuki), while future editions in LA and New York will be headlined by Anri.
RECOMMENDED: The best music festivals in London to book for 2026.
Masayoshi Takanaka London tickets
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday February 27 on the Palace Bowl Presents website here.
Ticket prices
If other events at Crystal Palace this summer are anything to go by, expect first release tickets to start from around £60.
Local residents in postcodes SE19, SE20 and SE26 will be eligible for discounted tickets.
Who else is playing Crystal Palace this summer?
In summer 2026, Crystal Palace will be headlined on various dates by Two Door Cinema Club (July 26), Grace Jones (July 31), Gary Numan (August 2) and Bastille/The Wombats (August 13).
Last year the venue was headlined by the likes of Deftones and Weezer, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Fred Again.. and Skepta, and Busta Rhymes.
Did you see that one of London’s best electronic music festivals is expanding to two days for the first time ever?
Plus: excellent London music festival Wide Awake has been cancelled for 2026.
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