EC 2020 Main Lineup Announcement

Thank you for your patience, everyone! We are thrilled to announced the main concert lineup for EC this year. We hope you’ll join us for three days of exciting live performances and unique opportunities to enjoy the culture, nature, and tastes of Sado Island.

Since 2017, the main events at the heart of EC are the Harbour Market Concerts at Ogi Port Park.

This year on Day 1, we’ll jumpstart the festivities with a high-energy Kodo performance.

On Day 2, we are excited collaborate with The Voices of South Africa, a 7-strong acapella group making its EC debut! Join us for a special night of feel-good melodies and powerful reverberations.

On Day 3, the lineup will end in true EC style with an extravaganza reserved for this event alone: a special performance by the entire Kodo ensemble!

Join us this summer for the 33rd Earth Celebration!

• Main Event Dates: Aug. 21 (Fri)–23 (Sun) 
• Location: Events held all over Sado Island, Niigata, Japan (Main concerts and market place held in Ogi area)

Aug. 21 (Fri), 2020

Harbour Market Concert “Kodo Night -Utsu-(Beat the Drum)” *Working Title

Director: Yuki Hirata (Kodo)

Featuring: Kodo

Aug. 22 (Sat), 2020

Harbour Market Concert “Kodo x The Voices of South Africa: Festival of the Earth”

Director: Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga (Kodo)

Featuring: The Voices of South Africa, Kodo

Aug. 23 (Sun), 2020

Harbour Market Concert “Kodo All-Star Special Performance”

Director: Mitsuru Ishizuka (Kodo)

Featuring: Kodo All Stars

Aug. 21 (Fri), 2020

EC Theatre *Title TBA

Director: Yuichiro Funabashi (Kodo)

Featuring: Shunichi Hidano, Kodo

Aug. 22 (Sat), 2020

EC Theatre *Title TBA

Director: Yuichiro Funabashi (Kodo)

Featuring: Miyake-jima Geino Doshikai, Kodo

EC 2020 Special Guest Artist The Voices of South Africa

This year, we welcome a special guest artist from afar to EC: The Voices of South Africa!

During a visit to South Africa in June 2019, Kodo performer Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga met up with this seven-person acapella group. Their exchange led to the launch of a collaborative project.

The collaboration kicks off in February 2020 with two concerts in Belgium: “Kodo meets The Voices of South Africa” at Brugges Festival on Feb. 23 and 24. Then in August, The Voices of South Africa will come to Japan and Sado Island to appear with Kodo at EC 2020. It’s been a long time since guest artists from the African continent have made the long journey to EC. We can’t wait to hear their sound meld with Japanese instruments and voices when they meet Kodo on stage this summer!

Further details will be announced in English in late April 2020.