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While summer festival season might be behind us, there’s still plenty to see for music fans around Tokyo this September. Despite wrapping up in July, Fuji Rock is bringing its Rookie a Go Go stage to Shibuya this month, and one of the festival’s buzziest acts is heading to Ebisu for a show. A Kyoto indie favourite is holding a special performance, and a viral Australian choir event will make its return to the city.
Rookie a Go Go Extra
WWW, September 2
A mainstay of Fuji Rock’s programming since 1999, the Rookie a Go Go stage showcases up-and-coming artists and has proved to be a platform to success for alumni like King Gnu, Chai and Creepy Nuts. Since last year, Rookie a Go Go Extra has offered select artists an additional performance opportunity at a popular Tokyo venue. This year’s event will take place at Shibuya’s WWW and features three of the 16 artists who performed at this year’s Fuji Rock stage. The mixed bill includes Tokyo-based indie outfit Gegege, solo artist Haruno Hidaka and Oldman, a four-piece alternative rock band from the capital.
Adrian Sherwood Presents Dub Sessions 2026: Adrian Sherwood vs Nightmares on Wax
Spotify O-East, September 9
Dub Sessions will mark its 21st (!) outing in Tokyo this September. Curated by English producer Adrian Sherwood (On-U Sound), the series has built a reputation for its high-profile guests, high-quality sound and lighting production, and on-stage surprises. This year’s event coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Nightmares on Wax classic In A Space Outta Sound and Sherwood’s recent remix release, In A Space Outta Dub. This will be a rare chance to see both artists perform together on stage and will feature special guests Silent Poets (Dub Ensemble) and live painting by artist Peter Harris.
Homecomings: Many Shapes, Many Echoes
Shibuya Club Quattro, September 23
Kyoto’s Homecomings are once again hitting Club Quattro venues across the country. The third iteration of their annual ‘Many Shapes, Many Echoes’ tour will take them to Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo with some amazing support artists in tow. Joining them at the Tokyo show will be alt-pop duo Ivy and local indie rock stalwarts DYGL, while Regallily and The Novembers will perform in Osaka and Nagoya respectively. New Homecomings music has been sparse since the departure of bassist Honami Fukuda last year, but the upcoming Quattro tour and further shows announced for November and December could be hinting at new things on the way.
Pub Choir
WWW X, September 24
Pub Choir is the brainchild of Australian singer, conductor and composer Astrid Jorgensen. Starting at pubs in Brisbane in 2017, the project has since travelled the world, bringing audiences together to learn a popular song in three-part harmony in about 90 minutes, then sing it together. Jorgensen acts as the teacher and conductor; as she puts it, the goal is to turn a crowd of ‘tipsy strangers’ into a choir. The results have gone viral, with performance videos being shared by artists and groups like the Cranberries, the Killers, Mariah Carey, Kate Bush and Radiohead.
Us Japan Tour
Liquidroom, September 29
Finnish garage rockers Us are returning to Japan for a short run of shows. One of the most talked-about acts of Fuji Rock 2024, they played an unheard-of six shows over the weekend and have returned to the festival every year since. In 2026, they’re touring with the new album Everybody’s Giving Up The Cabaret, which was released in June. The Japan tour edition of the album includes covers of two tracks originally by Tokyo garage band Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, which Us performed at Fuji Rock’s Red Marquee this year to more than a handful of delighted fans. The Kyoto date on the tour is already sold out, but tickets are still available for this Tokyo show at Liquidroom.
Looking for more standout shows? See what’s on at the best live music venues and DJ bars in Tokyo.
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