Some 1,500 applications to play the RAGG stage were received this year, and out of them 15 were chosen. The stage is a highlight of the festival for some of us Fujirockers–Mass Of The Fermenting Dregs and Bo-peep spring to mind from previous years.

Bo-peep 2007 photo by Masuya Hoya and used with permission of Fuji Rock Express.

The stage is sponsored by Strummerville, a foundation set up to assist aspiring musicians by the family and friends of Joe Strummer the year after his death.

There is no one unifying sound or genre that defines them all of these acts. They are rock, hip hop, psychedelic and instrumental artists. The only common thread is that they are all homegrown talent, and that you have probably never have seen them play (okay well maybe you might have).

Mass Of The Fermenting Dregs 2007 photo by Masuya Hoya and used with permission of Fuji Rock Express.

Here are the Rookie-A-Go-Go artists that will be cutting their teeth at this year’s Fuji Rock Festival:

Animanimus
Bouzumans
The Centerhits
The Descriptions
撃鉄 (Gekitetsu)
Harp On Mouth Sextet
Jaribu Afrobeat Arkestra
Kate Sikora
壊れかけのテープレコーダーズ (Kowarekakeno Tape Recorders)
マヒルノ (Mahiruno)
Nenem
レイト (Reito)
SuiseiNoboAz
泰山に遊ぶ (Taizan Ni Asobu)
打首獄門同好会 (Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai)

Details on all of the above artists will be available early next month. (If your band isn’t listed, then I hate to break it to you...)

Charlie Brown & Baseball Team 2008, photo by Takumi Nakajima and used with permission of Fuji Rock Express.

Jeff