There are so many things to see at Fujirock that it's just impossible to see them all. By the time the dust settles, the number of performances usually comes out to about the 300 mark. With 100 things to see every day, you just have to make some sacrifices.

So, it's a good thing a lot of the bands on deck play a sideshow or two. Not all are in the Tokyo area, they get around the country too. The place to start should be the Official Fuji Rock After Party, with Foals, The Courteeners and White Lies. Always a bit of a britpop bonanza, I say you should start here, but you can't... It's already sold out! If you're one of the lucky ones already clutching a ticket, it looks like you'll be having a nice monday night out. Try Yahoo Auctions, as tickets are bound to pop up there.

So, who else is playing around town? Check out Kasabian on the wednesday before the festival at Club Citta in Kawasaki, a venue I've been meaning to get to for a while. This may be the time! Locofrank, the hardest working band on Smash, play near enough to every week of the year! No excuse for not catching them at some stage. See them at Loft in their last show before the fest on Tuesday the 22nd, they take a well earned break after Fuji Rock and won't perform again until Aug 27th.

Don't miss Jason Mraz's flight across the country starting in Shibuya Ax on July 29th, and floating through Osaka on the 30th and Hiroshima on the 31st. It might be hard to get in to Quruli's gigs as they are usually sold out, though I dare suggest there will be a few scalpers on hand to help you out, or again check out Yahoo Auctions.

Coming up a little further in the future are Cool Wise Men with Eddie Tan Tan Thornton playing in Shibuya, Nagoya and Osaka in mid August. See Mono on October 2nd at Club Quattro in Shibuya for a totally different in club experience to their outdoor performance. Well worth catching both sets, I can't say enough good things about them. Flower Travellin' Band are due to play in Shibuya in September. Looking well into the future you will see Sherbets playing Tokyo again in December and January.

And then there's all the guys who aren't playing this year, but have put in great performances in Fuji Rock Festivals of years past. Catch one of former Fuji Rock opener Frontier Backyard's shows on their tour staring in mid September. Don't miss punk rocker Ken Yokoyama if you happen to be in Sapporo on August 14. Mo'some Tonebender play Sapporo in October and Tokyo in November.

Plenty going on around town!!

Report by Dom.