Urbangarde in Kyoto

Urbangarde is a Japanese pop-rock band based in Tokyo and founded by vocalist and lyricist Temma Matsunaga. Vocalist Yoko Hamasaki joined in 2007, while keyboardist Kei Okubo has been part of the lineup since 2015. The group calls its mix of electronic pop, new wave and rock “trauma technopop”; its releases include Shōjo wa Nido Shinu, Mental Hells and Geiger Counter Culture. Urbangarde performed at Toulouse Game Show in 2012, followed by Japan Expo in Paris in 2013 and A-Kon in Texas in 2015. These appearances brought the band’s stage work to audiences outside Japan. The band’s concerts combine live music, poetry readings and projected visuals. It has also staged the annual Utsu Festival in Tokyo.