Bird’s Robe, SMASH & Animaga have teamed up to present ONGAKU MUSIC FESTIVAL in Melbourne & Sydney this October, celebrating Japanese music, anime and pop culture.
Japanese rock legends FLOW will headline the event as part of their worldwide ‘NARUTO THE ROCK’ tour, featuring hit songs from the Naruto & Naruto Shippuden TV series, including their songs GO!!!, sign, Re:member & more.
Japan’s DOES will also perform in Australia for the first time, known for their hit songs featured in the shows Naruto & Gintama.
Australian alternative rockers CLOSURE IN MOSCOW will bring a local twist, playing their material inspired by the popular anime Attack on Titan & more.
Saturday 24 October – The Forum, Melbourne
Sunday 25 October – Metro Theatre, Sydney
The event announcement comes hot on the heels of the sold out SMASH anime convention in Sydney this past weekend, which featuring over 25,000 attendees with hundred of vendors featuring art, cosplay, gaming, collectibles & more.
Japanese music and pop culture has been a dominant force in the worldwide entertainment industry for decades, from Super Mario to Dragonball Z and Pokemon. But over the past decade it has become more and more a part of the mainstream, with shows routinely hitting most watched and highest selling lists and contributing to a boom in interest beyond Japan. One Piece, the highest selling manga and most watched anime in history, was recently converted to a live action series for Netflix; Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden set numerous viewing records & series such as Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood & Death Note are widely regarded by fans and critics as the most complete and flawlessly executed stories in anime. Moreover, numerous Japanese artists have launched arena-headlining careers on the basis of their songs being included as season opening or closing themes.
All this is supported by a market which is the third largest music industry in the world and comprised of 90% domestic acts. It is routine for Japanese acts to headline arena and stadium tours in multiple cities before they ever venture beyond their home borders.
73-year-old MASAYOSHI TAKANAKA recently sold out his debut tour of Australia after a decades-long career, whilst popular acts such as ONE OK ROCK & RADWIMPS have toured in recent years.
ONGAKU will be FLOW’s first Australian shows since performing during SMASH in 2024 and their first ever show in Melbourne. The event will also be the first ever shows for DOES in Australia. It will be CLOSURE IN MOSCOW’s first tour back in Australia after touring across North America with The Dear Hunter during May & August (apart from a last minute sold out show at Melbourne’s Old Bar in July).
Earlybird tickets are on sale now until 31 July, with tickets and VIP packages available from birdsrobe.com and Ticketek.
