The INSPIRED BY TOKYO showcase arrives at The Great Escape for the first time this May, bringing four Japanese acts to Brighton on Thursday 14th May 2026. Taking place at DUST, the lineup includes the cabs, Necry Talkie, luvis, and TAMIW across a single afternoon slot from 12:30pm to 4pm.
The showcase is presented by Columbia Marketing, FRIENDSHIP., Spincoaster, TuneCore Japan, and The Orchard Japan. FRIENDSHIP., the digital distribution service founded by HIP LAND MUSIC, has already had a presence at previous years after bringing their SSR from Tokyo showcase to TGE in both 2024 and 2025.
INSPIRED BY TOKYO has grown its profile primarily in the US as part of SXSW, where the showcase has run as the coalition’s flagship international outing. Previous Austin editions have used “Tokyo” as a curatorial theme to spotlight the next generation of Japanese and Asian artists, with past lineups including The fin., Helsinki Lambda Club, Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai, Enfants, VivaOla, and luvis (who returns to the brand for the Brighton debut).
luvis (12:30pm)
The Uji, Kyoto born, Tokyo based singer songwriter whose stage name, a contraction of “luv is”, runs as the through-line of his writing. His track ‘Higher’, from EP ‘Blue inside you’, reached number 8 on Spotify’s Viral chart and picked up attention at SXSW and NPR’s World Cafe, with the wider catalogue pulling from jazz, soul, alternative rock, folk, and the natural world. He doubles up with an evening slot at Queens Hotel on Friday at 9:15pm.
Necry Talkie (1:30pm)
Formed in 2017 by guitarist and main composer Asahi alongside Mossa (vocals), Kazuma Takei (drums), Fujita (bass) and Ikuka Nakamura (keys), Necry Talkie pair playful pop melodies with Mossa’s charming vocal delivery, pulling from Western rock, J-pop, and video game music. UK audiences may know them through the openings for Netflix’s Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and anime series Girlfriend, Girlfriend. They also play Charles Street Tap on Friday 15th May at 10:15pm.
the cabs (2:30pm)
The post-rock/math rock trio whose 2025 reunion tour ended with a sold out show at Tokyo’s Toyosu PIT in front of 3,000 people. They disbanded in 2013 after the release of their debut full-length ‘saisei no fukei’, having built a dedicated following in Japan’s underground alternative scene. The DUST set sits within their first ever UK tour, and they also return to TGE on Saturday 16th May for a slot at Volks.
TAMIW (3:30pm)
Closing the showcase is TAMIW, the Osaka based band formed in 2018 by vocalist Tami. Their sound is built on electronic tracks rooted in bass music and hip-hop, with sampling and analogue synths running through the catalogue. The group records at Hidden Place, a studio they run themselves inside a temple in Sakai, Osaka, with output including 2020 album ‘future exercise’, 2022 EP ‘Floating Girls’, 2023 album ‘Fight for Innocence’, and 2025 album ‘Farewell Party’.
The showcase is open to Great Escape 2026 delegate and festival pass holders, with entry subject to venue capacity on the day.
Dates and tickets
| Date | Location | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| 14 May 2026 | DUST, Brighton, UK |
