Shonen Knife tickets!
March 2024 Aotearoa tour!
Pop-punk legends Shonen Knife, gigantors of the Japanese punk music scene, are coming to Aotearoa to bounce out infectiously catchy tunes from their musical cannon - a phenomenal 20 records since their inception in the 1980s.
Making joyful punk music that grabbed the heart of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, Atsuko Yamano, Risa Kawano and Naoko Shibata return to light up venues across Te Ika-a-Māui, their joyful performances spreading contagious fun for four select dates!
Since their humble DIY beginnings in late 1981, Osaka, Japan's Shonen Knife have been building a faithful following of rock enthusiasts and alternative rock elite, their relentless journey securing the band's place as one of the pioneer ambassadors of Japanese rock music and culture on the international stage. The rock and roll dreams of three girls blossomed into a reality and the trio continues now into its 42nd year of international touring and recording, with their 20th release Our Best Place released in early 2023!
Shonen Knife live show reviews:
"There are few bands I’ve encountered that are as utterly joyful and life affirming, like their biggest influence [The Ramones] there are few gaps in the set, one track stops and they just launch into the next one, each one a slice of perfection that is even better live than it is in it’s studio form. Buzzcocksian guitar riffs pepper a set that takes from 60’s girl groups and the aforementioned NYC outfit with their own special undefinable ingredient, an innocence and joy that celebrates those small moments that make life worthwhile, they are incomparable...They deliver a set that is just utter joy, each track is delivered with smiles from the stage and a look around the venue just shows utter happiness, no attitudes from band or crowd, everyone is just happy to be here.” Night And Day Cafe, Manchester, UK - 28th April 2023
www.thepunksite.com/reviews/shonen-knife-the-strangerz-live-at-the-night-day-cafe/
"This is amongst my all time favourite live shows. I can’t remember the last time a live band made me quite this fucking happy. Whatever happened tonight needs to be bottled as it would solve all the world’s problems, five stars is not enough to say just how much I enjoyed this show. Please come back soon.” - www.thepunksite.com/reviews/shonen-knife-the-strangerz-live-at-the-night-day-cafe/
"Shonen Knife were fantastic! It’s hard not to have a soft spot for this trio as they played their hearts out. Their tunes are catchy as all hell and if you hadn’t heard of Shonen Knife before the show there’s no doubt you would be converted as a fan.”
https://hifiway.live/2019/10/21/regurgitator-shonen-knife-the-fauves-the-gov-adelaide-19-10-2019-2/
"Authentic, moving and daft, and the true heirs to the Ramones, Shonen Knife are just great.” - Classic Rock Magazine
Read the Guardian interview:
40 years of Japanese rockers Shonen Knife: ‘Nirvana looked wild – I was so scared!’
Shonen Knife Bio:
Shonen Knife (meaning "Boy Knife" in Japanese) is an all-female Japanese pop punk band formed in Osaka, in 1981. Heavily influenced by 1960s girl groups, pop bands, The Beach Boys, and early punk rock bands, such as the Ramones, the trio crafts stripped-down songs with simplistic lyrics sung both in Japanese and English. They continue to be the most internationally recognized name in Japanese Rock, the indie darlings of hipsters and rock stars alike, thirty-three years since Naoko and the band began releasing albums of their joyous mixture of pop, punk, food and fantasy for the world to enjoy. Since their inception featuring Naoko's sister Atsuko and their friend, bassist/vocalist Michie, through to their varied lineup changes featuring current drummer Risa, SK have maintained their rightful place in the ever changing indie rock scene. Despite their pop-oriented nature, the trio maintains a distinctly underground garage rock sound rooted in edgy instrumentation and D.I.Y. aesthetics, which over the course of their long career has earned them a solid, worldwide cult following and made avid fans out of seminal '90s alternative rock bands such as Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and Redd Kross. The band has been credited with making "the international pop underground more international" by "opening it up to bands from Japan". They have also performed as a Ramones tribute band under the name 'The Osaka Ramones' and have recorded music for numerous films including the theme song to the popular PowerPuff Girls cartoon series. Shonen Knife has toured worldwide playing their unique brand of sugar-pop-rock touring in the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan, China, Australia, Thailand and thickening their rich syrup as a band with each and every release.