If you’re in the mood for live J-Music, then you’ll want to pay a visit to Maryland to see the upcoming Akiba Fest: Pop the Rock Japan Music Showcase that is set for April 4th at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center in College Park.

Akiba Fest has been around since 2006, bringing fresh musical acts straight from Japan (or from Akihabara as the festival’s name suggest!) to American shores, such as Unicorn Table. By popular demand, Unicorn Table will be returning to this year’s Akiba Fest, along with Psychic Lover (Yu-Gi-Oh GX), Sister Mayo (Hare+Guu), Yoshitaka Tanimoto (Konjiki no Gash Bell), and possibly the must-see performance of the year, Shing02 with DJ Icewater.

Shing02 is well known for the theme, “Battlecry” in the anime, Samurai Champloo. But before “Battlecry”, he has been around the international Hip-Hop circuit for a 10 years (check out his music video of his indie hit, “Ultimate High”).

Akiba Fest is sponsored by several well known companies, such as FUNimation, Otaku USA Magazine–including Japanese Cosplay Idol Yunmao Ayakawa (who also writes the Cosplay Cafe features in OUSA)–and Tenbu Productions, Akiba Fest’s parent company. The festival is also a participant in the National Cherry Blossom Festival held in Washington, D.C., which is a short ride away from the Alumni Center.

I would really like to check it out if I lived closer, but I won’t be able to make it for this year. I especially would like to see Shing02 preform, but maybe some other time (いけ Anime Weekend Atlanta, おねがいします?). ^_^

Photo credit: rangercast