Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2013
Last year’s “Cancellation” parties from kateb on Vimeo.
Rainbow Disco Club will be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky for the waterside festival in Golden Week after the plug was pulled in 2011 following the disaster in north-east Japan and again last year because of torrential rain.
After a trouser-burstingly successful debut in 2010, when organizers brought the mythical DJ Harvey to Japan for the first time in eight years, the gods have conspired to play party-poopers, but Rainbow Disco Club organizers once again tweak the nose of misfortune and return to the Harumi Port Terminal venue on May 5.
Harvey, the Keith Richards of the DJ world, once said “You can’t understand my music until you’ve had group sex on ecstasy”—and perhaps he’ll be back next year to elaborate.
But for this time, feel the sea breeze as another dope line-up of DJ talent including Dixon, DJ Nature, Cottam and Kevin Yost rocks up to 3,000 festival-goers against the stunning backdrop of the Tokyo skyline and Rainbow Bridge until gone sunset.
Then the freaks come out at night in Shibuya as the fun shifts to mega-club Womb and Seco for more squidgy house, disco and electro grooves until early morning noodle time—or noon in the case of Seco. Red Bull will be doing a roaring trade.
A live set from techno duo Barker & Baumecker and an appearance from the Hessle Audio label’s Ben UFO headline Womb while Baumecker leaves his sidekick and scuttles across to Seco to play there too, along with Open Reel Ensemble and other guest acts.
After last year’s washout, when UK underground house star Jamie Jones and Detroit techno icon Jeff Mills were scheduled to appear, Rainbow Disco Club organizers can’t wait for lift-off—and to snap the jinx. It’s been a long road back.
“We had the 2011 disaster and then the bad weather last year and I don’t think you’ll see another festival which comes back for another go after two straight cancellations,” event mastermind Masahiro Tsuchiya told Metropolis. “Last year despite the rain we rushed to arrange parties in clubs and live houses to give people a good time.”
Mission accomplished. Crowds flocked to the “Cancellation” parties, which were a huge success.
Fingers crossed then for this year at the eye-catching Harumi passenger ship terminal with its cutting edge design, opened in 1991 and a popular sightseeing destination where picnickers and “boat-spotters” often mingle with models on fashion shoots overlooking the shimmering bay.
“A lot of care goes into selecting the line-up of artists for Rainbow Disco Club,” said Tsuchiya.
“People can also enjoy lots of other artistic elements—all on the shores of Tokyo Bay and with an unbroken view of Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower and the city.”
Rainbow Disco Club has the flashy VJ wizardry and visual treats to match big festivals but the organizers stubbornly refuse to go mainstream.
“We go with artists we genuinely respect,” added Tsuchiya. “We don’t choose a line-up to big ourselves up or simply boost crowd numbers. Lots of festivals these days are cluttered with too many artists. We want to stick closely to our concept.”
Which is?
“To stage a party of consistently high quality. It’s important to keep one long groove going the whole time.”
Killer sounds. Jaw-dropping views. Bring sunscreen. Deckchairs not required.
