And now for something completely different…

Tonofon Festival
Leftfield Japanese music fest at a park in Saitama features neo-folkie Shugo Tokumaru, husband-wife duo Tenniscoats and American banjo evangelist Sam Amidon. Tokorozawa Kokukinenkouen, Jun 30. www.tonofon.com/fes13

Tokyo Festival of Modular
Showcase event for modular (ie analog) synthesizer players. Knob twiddlers galore including Robert Piotrowicz, Brian O’Reilly, and Naoki Nomoto. SuperDeluxe, Jun 30. http://tfom2013.tumblr.com

Tanabata Extreme
Damage your eardrums at this celebration of all things headbanging, brutalist, and “mine goes to 11.” Bands include Kyushu’s Damage Digital and Hokkaido’s Motiveless, along with a slew of Tokyo groups. Zone-B, Jul 27. http://tanabata-ex.blogspot.jp

Tokyo Idol Festival 2013
For the otaku in all of us. Every imaginable uniformed female group—and even a female idol impersonator. Zepp Tokyo, July 27-28. http://idolfes.com/2013

Punkafoolic! Bayside Crash 2013
Punk mashup for the masses with a gaggle of bands including Asshole Unite, Hotsquall, Shank and dozens more. Tokyo Harumi Terminal, Aug 17. http://www.punkafoolic.com/baysidecrash2013

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Glistening Listenings

Ten fresh streams—um, albums—just out of the shrinkwrap in time for the summer festivals

Hesitation Marks—Nine Inch Nails
Newly rebooted—with old faces Eric Avery of Jane’s Addiction and Adrian Belew from King Crimson

Edgeland—Karl Hyde
Underworld’s frontman slows down the BPM for his solo debut.

BE—Beady Eye
Liam Gallagher retreads his best John Lennon. Need we say more?

Modern Vampires—Vampire Weekend
Paperweight New York indiepop outfit’s endearingly modest attempt at heavyweight.

180—Palma Violets
Who can resist rock’s latest skinny panted salvation when it exudes this much sweaty youthful energy and charming naiveté?

Matangi—M.I.A.
Its release has been delayed and delayed, but a preview mix of Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam’s fourth album has her sounding as aggro as ever.

Smilewound—Mum
It’s not due out till August, but expect the Icelandic dreampoppers to preview new material off their forthcoming album.

Nanda Kore Ku Shon—Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
Is current J-pop queen Kyary’s new outing (produced by Yasutaka Nakata) an album, or a vehicle for KFC and AU commercials?

Rapid Reality—Radical Dads
Curiously likable if predictable blend of shout-y post-punk vocals and melodic strumming from another young Brooklyn band.

Fade—Yo La Tengo
Hoboken trio’s home venue Maxwell’s may be gone, but Ira Kaplan, Georgia Hubley and James McNew continue to refine their craft.