Life in Fukuoka "English"

【September is Fukuoka Music Month】

This week marks the end of summer vacation, and many schools are beginning their new term and next week we head into the month of September. 
And when we think of September, we think of Fukuoka Music Month.

In Fukuoka, a city known for its lively music scene, large-scale music events are held every weekend throughout September.
This year, five major events will take place over four exciting weeks.

The first event, BAYFES 2025, will be held next weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, September 6th and 7^th. It’s a free outdoor music festival held at Bayside Place Hakata, right by the Hakata Port. This year, international artists will also take part, including performers from Taiwan. Over two days, 11 groups of artists will perform across three different stages, featuring live music from musicians and DJ sets.

On the 6th, there will even be a special on-board live performance — a one-time-only show held inside a chartered sightseeing boat. You’ll also find a vintage vinyl market at the venue.

And on the evening before the festival, Friday the 5th, a pre-party will be held at Hakata Port Tower, the landmark of the harbor. The tower’s observation room will be transformed into a luxurious lounge for a Special DJ Night to kick things off.

BAYFES 2025 starts at 2 PM on both Saturday and Sunday and continues into the night. It’s three days of music you can immerse yourself in, right by the ocean, with a pleasant sea breeze blowing through the port.

In the second week, on Saturday and Sunday, September 13th and 14th, the streets of Nakasu, Fukuoka’s lively entertainment district, will come alive for NAKASU JAZZ, a free street jazz festival. Stages will pop up all around the area, and for two amazing days, the streets will be filled with the live performances of around 80 outstanding artists. From jazz standards to modern hits, the wide-ranging setlist and the energy of live street performances are sure to capture the hearts of not only jazz lovers, but even those who may not be so familiar with jazz.

The event starts in the evening, transforming the streets of Nakasu into a city of jazz for those two nights. There will even be special, one-night-only collaboration sessions, wonderful and can't-miss music events.

In the third week, two events will take place. On Saturday, September 20th, ISLA DE SALSA will be held, a multicultural exchange festival centered on Latin music.

The venue is Nokonoshima, a small island floating in Hakata Bay and surrounded by nature, just ten minutes by ferry from central Fukuoka. From local amateur bands to world-renowned performers, musicians and dancers from Japan and around the globe will take the stage.

It's a festival where you'll find a fusion of diverse music, dance, delicious food, art, and encounters with people and cultures from all over the world. It's a participatory music event where visitors can dance, connect, and discover new tastes while celebrating culture through rhythm and movement.

Also on the weekend of September 20th and 21st, Sing! HAKATA will take place over two days in front of Hakata Station. This is one of Japan’s largest participatory singing events, featuring genres like gospel, choir, and a cappella. There will be stages for citizen-led performances and special collaborations with guest artists.

In the heart of the city, right in front of Hakata Station, everyone will come together to form a circle of music, and for the grand finale, the entire venue joins in a massive group chorus.

This free music festival runs from morning to night over two days, bringing the city and its people together in music.

In the fourth week, on Saturday and Sunday, September 28th and 29th, MUSIC CITY TENJIN will be held in Tenjin.This is a city-style music festival where you can discover new music. With the main stage set up in the Fureai Plaza next to Fukuoka City Hall, additional free live stages will be scattered all around Tenjin , turning the whole area into one big free music event. Artists from all backgrounds, both professional and amateur, will take part, filling the city of Tenjin with music for two full days.

A full month of music filling the streets of Fukuoka starting next weekend! I hope you're looking forward to it!