Brahman (Japan)
Currently one of the hotter bands in Japan, Brahman is the type of band that can take power chords from hardcore and punk and play them with a pop feel. Solid boy-next-door vocals create a good front, and the overall impression is something like Blur in its big days of rocking the dance hall and radio charts. They may not have the hardest of edges, but they do have plenty of power to blast out the speakers of any main stage.
Mono (Japan)
This is a band that went for the post-punk, softcore instrumental niche and nailed it. The music is droning, crescendo rock with an occasional discordant guitar solo thrown in for good measure. One band member said that Mono's only real influence was My Bloody Valentine, and it's easy to believe. Their only problem is that the influence might be a little too big and that their music may be constrained in too tight a range, but the wall of sound is definitely there.
Exias-J (Japan)
Short for Experimental Improvisers' Association of Japan, this group has a way of turning freeform jazz into something that is light, engaging and sometimes melodic, rather than jarring and opaque. The lineup will include guitar, saxophone, percussion, double bass and potentially more for a set that should provide a concept-stretching and alternative look at how music can be created.
The Chairman
Certainly one of the nation's tightest and more professional indie bands, The Chairman's turbulent history hasn't had any adverse effects on the snarling guitar driven rock the spews forth from PA systems whenever the band plays live. With a selection of tunes from the band's recently released album and some of the band's earlier raw-edged semi-political material on the agenda, the Fire Stage will be the place to be at 8:20pm on Sunday.
Nicole Darcy
The Earth Woman cometh when Tainan based Darcy brings her popular hybrid brand of acoustic/electric bilingual folksy music to the Wind Stage at 2:20pm on Sunday. Always popular when she plays at the nation's outdoor festivals, Darcy is often viewed by many as a tree-hugging hippy chick. Underneath all of it, however, lies an anarchist with a passion for ridiculing oppression, racism, environmental degradation and society. It's the male of the species, however, who is more often than not the unwitting target of many of her tunes.
The Wall Tigers
These ska-fuelled media darlings are a band to look out for when taking to the Wind Stage at 7pm tomorrow. The release of the band's self-titled debut album last month has seen the band thrust into the media limelight. With radio stations up and down the nation spinning the band's tunes, MTV airing its video and one cable channel running a 30-minute rock-umentary about the band. Skankingly brilliant music, as well as a boisterous stage show, if you enjoy ska, roots and loads of reggae.
Air Dolphin
Sounding like Cui Jian (崔健) on acid when it first hit the local music scene, Air Dolphin has since gone its own individual way and become the nation's only sandal wearing act to pack a punch with a blend of ambient, trance, hip and trip-hop with a dose of drum `n' bass just for good measure. With a new album released only last week the Dolphins will be out to impress the crowds at this year's Formoz Festival on Sunday when the band takes to the Fire Stage.
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