SHONEN KNIFE
Osaka, Japan
Who are Shonen Knife? “When I finally got to see them live, I was transformed into a hysterical nine-year-old girl at a Beatles concert.” -Kurt Cobain Formed in Osaka by guitarist and chief songwriter Naoko in 1981, Japan’s Shonen Knife rose from humble DIY beginnings crafting their own idiosyncratic songs, and fashioning their own brightly coloured outfits, to touring with Nirvana on their ‘Nevermind’ tour, trailblazing a path for women in music and inspiring legions of bands. Championed by Nirvana, Sonic Youth and hailed as a favourite by the crème-de-la-crème of Alternative Rock, Shonen Knife remain one of the most influential and beloved of Japanese rock exports. Live, they are a tight with machine-precision, punching out fast, highly exciting sets of Punk, Pop, Rock & Metal hits, all coated with their own distinctively quirky and life-affirming charm. As they fast approach their 1,000th gig, Shonen Knife's joy and invention shows no sign of fading. As Naoko says, “Let's Rock!”