Usui Miton

There was no place better suited to the upbeat pop-tinged soul and bluesy acoustic folk of Usui Miton than the woodsy green Mokudotei stage. At the intimate shack of a stage located in a forest clearing along the boardwalk connecting the White Stage with Field of Heaven, Usui sang of picnics under the moonlight and wove folksy tales into delicate melodies. While the lyrics were completely in Japanese, they way in which they were sang (almost with a country twang, if that’s possible?) sounded strangely close to English.

First swapping between acoustic guitar and piano while showcasing his vocal dexterity, one that ranged from soulful falsetto one moment to gruff bass the next, he was then joined by a drummer and bassist for a fuller sound. Things got more funky from there, when Usui’s piano created slinky melodies over deep strutting basslines that echoed through the treetops while the crowd’s feet kept time, tapping on the forest floor.