The Tokyo-based indie music festival SSR (Shibuya Sound Riverse) returned to The Great Escape Festival in Brighton at the weekend with ‘SSR from Tokyo: Curated by FRIENDSHIP’ giving a dynamic showcase of Tokyo’s vibrant indie scene. SSR (SHIBUYA SOUND RIVERSE), takes place across various venues in the famous Shibuya district of Tokyo and teamed up with The Great Escape again to bridge the music scenes of Japan and the UK. They featured an awesome genre-spanning, eclectic selection of established and rising stars of the Japanese indie music scene. This year’s line up included The fin, She Her Her Hers, VivaOla, and Ålborg who wowed the crowd with their talent and global appeal, with The fin and She Her Her Hers selling out both their London dates following the festival.
Kazuto Yamazaki, founder of FRIENDSHIP said: “As the founder of FRIENDSHIP., a digital music distribution service, I started our showcase event ‘SSR (SHIBUYA SOUND RIVERSE)’ in 2022 with one goal in mind—to preserve the warmth and human connection of analogue music, even in today’s digital age. SSR was created as a way for people to experience the core of Japan’s indie scene and to give artists and listeners a space to
connect directly and meaningfully. The UK has always held a special place in the hearts of many indie musicians in Japan. Its deep musical legacy continues to inspire us.”
For The fin, this appearance carried special significance. After spending several years based in the UK, the band has gone on to perform at major festivals including FUJI ROCK, SXSW (USA), and Strawberry Festival in China, building a strong international presence. In 2024, a remix by acclaimed UK producer Bad Milk drew further attention to their evolving sound.
Yuto Uchino, The fin. adds:“Last time we played, we were blown away by the atmosphere of
the city and the festival itself. It really stayed with us.”
She Her Her Hers smashed their first-ever performance in Europe, with a huge crowd at One Church Brighton dancing and cheering along to every track. Their stylish futuristic buoyant riffs, rhythms and vocals were captivating. Their ‘Pathway ‘ album tour across Japan and China saw them sold out venues with capacities over 1,000. With their dreamy, yet musically grounded sound, they now aim to connect with UK audiences for the first time, from Brighton to Manchester and London.
Tokyo-raised R&B artist VivaOla, who has performed at major festivals across Asia and SXSW in the US, made a splash in 2024 with his collaborative single “RIGHT/WRONG” featuring Korean singer Jimmy Brown. With growing recognition across the R&B scenes in Japan, Korea, and the US, VivaOla’s music blends subtle Japanese sensibilities with a universal emotional depth that transcends borders. He was the full package with outstanding vocals and magnetic stage presence, while his electric guitarist was so skilled and proficient that he would give Slash a run for his money.
Japan’s rising indie band Ålborg, fresh off the rookie stage at FUJI ROCK’23, brought a captivating sound that fused folk with chamber pop and alt-rock. Their 2024 album ‘The Way I See You‘ showcased imaginative live arrangements—guitars, bass, drums, flute, and trombones which all came together to build a lush fully immersive soundscape. They were indeed a fan favourite – drawing in a huge crowd like a Japanese Magic Numbers, they had the crowd spellbound with their skilled, multi-layered delicate blossoming tracks and stunning melismatic harmonies. They were truly enchanting. Authentic, talented and original, we hope they come back to play here again soon. They certainly gained a whole new set of fans here. They sculpt beautifully crafted tracks and are utterly fabulous.
FRIENDSHIP, the event’s curator, is a digital distribution service run by the Japanese music company HIP LAND MUSIC. In 2024, FRIENDSHIP. brought artists like Kaneko Ayano, LITE, Helsinki Lambda Club, and DOMICO to The Great Escape for the first time, resulting in a packed venue and strong new connections between Japanese artists and UK audiences. Following the event, Helsinki Lambda Club released a song titled “THE FAKE ESCAPE” as a tribute to their UK experience, while Kaneko Ayano is set to embark on a UK
tour in 2025.
After a highly successful Great Escape Showcase, the main SSR event will take place in Tokyo on September 28th, taking over four venues centred around Ebisu LIQUIDROOM. SSR is a platform bridging Japan’s thriving indie scene with the global stage—offering international exposure for Japanese artists and a glimpse into the future of Japanese music for fans at home and abroad. The Great Escape crowd were wowed and elevated by the showcase. Check out the playlist below:
