London’s summer festival calendar is about to get a serious injection of Japanese groove. Legendary guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka has been announced as the latest headliner for Palace Bowl Presents, a brand-new festival series landing at the iconic Crystal Palace Bowl.
Set to take place between Friday 31 July and Sunday 16 August 2026, the multi-weekender will host an eclectic mix of global headliners – with City Pop Waves shaping up to be one of the most anticipated dates of the summer.
Masayoshi Takanaka Returns to the UK for an Extended 2-Hour Show
Fresh from two O2 Academy Brixton dates that sold out in minutes, Masayoshi Takanaka will deliver an extended two-hour performance at Crystal Palace Bowl on Friday 7 August as part of the inaugural City Pop Waves Festival.
Born in Tokyo in 1953, Takanaka is widely regarded as one of Japan’s most influential guitarists. Across a five-decade career, he has blended jazz fusion, funk, rock and surf-inspired sounds into a technicolour discography that has helped define the City Pop and jazz fusion movements. His return to the UK offers fans a rare opportunity to witness a true pioneer live on stage.
Himiko Kikuchi to Perform Flying Beagle in Full
Joining Takanaka is legendary jazz keyboardist Himiko Kikuchi, who will perform her 1987 jazz fusion masterpiece Flying Beagle in full.
Kikuchi made her recording debut in 1980 with Don’t Be Stupid and has collaborated with artists including Takuro Yoshida and Junko Ohashi. She has also been a member of acclaimed ensembles such as Nobuo Hara’s Sharps & Flats and Minoya Central Station. Her appearance marks another milestone moment for UK fans of Japanese jazz and fusion.
Ginger Root (DJ Set)
Completing the City Pop Waves lineup is Ginger Root (DJ set), the project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Cameron Lew. Since emerging in 2017 with his self-described “aggressive elevator soul,” Lew has cultivated a global fanbase through meticulous DIY production, nostalgic visuals and infectious grooves.
What Is City Pop Waves?
Presented by Live Nation UK, City Pop Waves is a headline show series spotlighting the global resurgence of Japanese City Pop.
The movement has seen renewed international attention in recent years, with artists such as Taeko Onuki and ANRI performing major overseas shows in Los Angeles and New York. The Crystal Palace event marks the first outdoor UK festival dedicated to celebrating Japanese music on this scale.
Full Palace Bowl Presents 2026 Line-Up
Palace Bowl Presents promises a genre-spanning programme across three weeks:
Friday 31 July: Grace Jones with Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Soul II Soul
Sunday 2 August: Gospel Garden Festival (UK-exclusive headliners Kirk Franklin and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, plus Fred Hammond, Mercy Chinwo and Jerub)
Thursday 6 August: Gary Numan with Marc Almond and Ladytron
Friday 7 August: City Pop Waves Festival featuring Masayoshi Takanaka, Himiko Kikuchi and Ginger Root
Thursday 13 August: Bastille and The Wombats (both performing headline sets)
The series will take place at the historic Crystal Palace Bowl, an open-air venue established in 1961. The Bowl’s famed ‘Garden Party’ era saw performances from music legends including Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, Lou Reed, Curtis Mayfield, Gil Scott-Heron, Ian Dury and Vera Lynn.
Ticket Information
Local residents in postcodes SE19, SE20 and SE26 will be eligible for discounted tickets.
Preferred ticket access will be available to Mastercard cardholders from Friday 27 February at 10AM via Priceless Music. General ticket information is expected to follow. (Event subject to licence.)
With the global rise of City Pop and Japanese jazz fusion continuing to dominate playlists and vinyl reissues alike, City Pop Waves at Crystal Palace Bowl could become one of London’s defining music moments of 2026.