Mitsune

Mitsune is a wildly original Japanese folk fusion band based in Berlin that’s been attracting global attention with a sound and stage presence that’s as electrifying as it is deeply rooted in tradition. Born from a shared love of Japanese music and a spirit of adventure, Mitsune was formed in 2018 by musicians from Japan, Germany, Australia, and Greece.  The core of the group are the three women who play the three-stringed Japanese instrument, the Tsugaru shamisen. Shiomi Kawaguchi, Tina Kopp, and Youka Snell met through their shared passion for the instrument and formed the core of the ensemble. They performed as a trio before eventually expanding to include vocals, percussion, and double bass.

What makes Mitsune irresistible is how they fuse centuries-old Japanese folk traditions with psychedelic, jazz, blues, cinematic, and even punk energy, crafting a modern folklore that feels both ancient and fresh. Their performances are immersive spectacles: driving rhythms, virtuosic string work, lush percussion and double bass, dramatic costumes, and an infectious joy that sweeps audiences off their feet.

Their 2022 album Hazama meaning “in between” earned praise from Songlines and Rolling Stone, charted in the Transglobal World Music Top 10, and won nominations from the German Record Critics. But Mitsune is more than recordings: their live shows feel like a mission to break boundaries, inviting everyone regardless of musical background to revel in raw emotion, hypnotic grooves, and cultural fusion.

If you love music that’s heartfelt, genre-defying, and unforgettable on stage, Mitsune is an experience you’ll be talking about long after the festival is over. They don’t just perform — they’ll trance-port you. -ND

SATURDAY 11:00-12:10 Eastern Sunrise South Stage
SUNDAY 11:15-12:20 West Stage