The members of art rock band KAO=S will fly over from Japan to Europe for a couple of shows this August, including the band’s first solo concert in London. This show will take place on Saturday 20 August at The Dome with a couple of guests, namely shamisen players Hibiki Ichikawa and the duo DENSHONEN. The other shows, planned in Germany, will be more focused on the vocalist of KAO=S, Kaori Kawabuchi, who is also better known as Lady Samurai. At the live show in London, Lady Samurai will also make an appearance.
The art rock band has been active since spring 2011, first as a trio and for several years as a duo, known for the creation of music in their unique way, mixing traditional Japanese music and modern music in the world of chaos. Since the band was formed not long after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, it might give you an idea of the mindset of the band when it was created.
The band has performed all over the world, including South by Southwest (SXSW), Splore Festival, Main Matsuri, Japan Expo Paris, among many other events and tours. Part of KAO=S are vocalist Kaori Kawabuchi and guitarist Shuji Yamagiri, as stated previously, Kaori is better known as Lady Samurai. The reason for that is because of her worldwide reputation for Japanese sword performances. Her instruction in action scenes and sword fights also has a big reputation, including in music videos, film shoots and workshops in many countries. This is also something that is included in her performances of Lady Samurai’s Ideal, which is Kaori’s sword dance team, where she dances and also do sword dance with a full team of performers.
This specifically will be shown during the performance at Japan-related summer festival Main Matsuri in Frankfurt am Main, where KAO=S will be the backing band for Kaori’s performance with the addition of percussionist Satoshi Sammy Saito and guest musicians Yoshihiko Fueki on Wadaiko and Koji Yamaguchi on Shamisen. Main Matsuri is planned from 12 to 14 August, it has not been announced when this performance will take place or if there will be several performances. But the band will attend the whole weekend.
On Tuesday 16 August, the musicians will perform a free show at Stadtmuseum Siegburg, which is titled Japanese Art Live Music with Lady Samurai sword dance, with percussionist Satoshi Sammy Saito as support musician.
It is unknown if the art rock duo will announce any more European shows. On 20 July, KAO=S will release their best album, titled BORN FROM JAPANESE CHAOS.
KAO=S European shows summer 2022
Friday 12 August, 2022: Main Matsuri – Frankfurt am Main, Germany*
Saturday 13 August, 2022: Frankfurt am Main – Frankfurt am Main, Germany*
Sunday 14 August, 2022: Frankfurt am Main – Frankfurt am Main, Germany*
Tuesday 16 August, 2022: Stadtmuseum Siegburg – Siegburg, Germany
Saturday 20 August, 2022: The Dome – London, United Kingdom
* Lady Samurai’s Ideal performance with KAO=S as backing band
