Having just been awarded the prestigious I-DJ magazine Best Breakthrough Producers award, The Japanese Popstars look set to be one of the world hottest dance music acts in 2009, fulfilling some critics prophecies who were quick to compare them to UK electronic superstars The Chemical Brothers and Underworld.
2008 has been a monumental year for the lads.
It has seen them play riotous live sets at festivals across Europe including Glastonbury and Oxegen, compiling some very high profile remixes; most notably R&B superstar Beyonce and also featuring on bills providing support for artists ranging from indie-rave icon Erol Alkan to the chart topping electro-house producer Eric Prydz. They round of this tremendous year with a live tour, taking in some of the UK’S best venue’s including The Stiff Kitten, Fabric and a special New Year’s Eve performance in the infamous The Warehouse Project in Manchester. This may well be one last chance to see The Japanese Popstars on home soil before they hit the big-time!
The Japanese Popstars are riding a wave of great live gigs, major festival bookings, and media praise off the back of their recent debut album, ‘We Just Are’. This is a collection of 12 tracks that will really take them places. Native to Northern Ireland and consisting of Declan McLaughlin, Gary Curran, and Gareth Donoghue, The Japanese Popstars are signed to bespoke indie label, Gung-Ho Recordings (Gus Gus, Zoo Brazil) in the UK, and Beatink in Japan (home of Underworld, Aphex Twin, Cinematic Orchestra). The Japanese Popstars only parallel with rock music is that they’d built up a sizable live following before releasing their first major single – some might even say cultish, judging by the amount of clips on Youtube. Their gigs are typically raucous affairs, with an energy that crackles with each beat, chord, and keyboard stab. However, let’s get one thing straight about the music – The Japanese Popstars aren’t indie rave, or any other sub-sub-sub genre, theirs is big room, cool as f**k electronic music built for festivals and stadiums. This trio are currently heading for territory once held by Orbital, Chemical Brothers, and Underworld.
SHINE PRESENTS AT THE STIFF KITTEN
THE JAPANESE POPSTARS (LIVE)
RITON
PSYCATRON
THE STIFF KITTEN
SATURDAY 27TH DECEMBER
10PM/£10
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THE STIFF KITTEN BAR, ZAVVI
(FORMERLY VIRGIN) AND ONLINE FROM THESTIFFKITTEN.COM
