In 1978, Chris Cutler, from the avant-garde rock band Henry Cow, called for the first Rock in Opposition Festival in London using the catch phrase; “Five rock groups the record companies don’t want you to hear.” The first Rock in Opposition featured a hoard of progressive rock bands labeled the “RIO Five,” including Univers Zero (Belgium), Stormy Six (Italy), Etron Fou Leloublan (France), Samla Mammas Manna (Sweden) and Henry Cow (U.K.). The festival was discontinued after its second year, but revived in France in 2007. The Japan event will see its first act this year.
Starring: Aranis (Belgium), The Artaud Beats (U.K.), Happy Family (Japan), Kouenji Hyakkei (Japan), Mats/Morgan Band (Sweden), Picchio dal Pozzo (Italy), Present (Belgium), Le * Silo (Japan ) and SOLA /Lars Holmer’s Global Home Project (Sweden/Japan)