Celebrating 25 years of Fuji Rock—this year was one for the books! Although the headliners weren’t striking to me at first, I was proven wrong over and over again, WOWed by so many unexpected acts and new discoveries. Here are my top picks for the best FRF’24 moments.

1. Girl in Red
I’ll be honest, as epic as it was to catch Kraftwerk’s much-anticipated set on the Green Stage, I regret not rushing over to see Girl in Red’s White Stage set from the start. Nonetheless, I caught most of her show and am still buzzing from the energy she brought to Fuji Rock. The queer icon interacted with her audience with friendly conversations and banter, even receiving a bag of coffee as a gift from a fan in the front row. Later on, she climbed into the crowd as she sang and made her way through the sea of fans. I love when artists make the effort to connect with their audience, and Girl in Red was one of the most memorable examples of this at this year’s festival.

2. The Killers
I didn’t think they would make it on my top five, but call me basic. They really rocked Friday night! What was most memorable about seeing the band that shaped my teenage years was that I got to see them with my 7-year-old, thinking about what an iconic memory it will be in her life. I would compare this to seeing Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd at her age, had my parents been cool enough to take me to a festival (sorry mom and dad, you DID take me to see lots of great music still!). We sang along to all our nostalgic favorites that we still sing to at karaoke—with the live band right there with us. I can’t forget to mention Brandon Flowers’ outfit change into a bright pink suit jacket that I wanted for myself!

3. Kenya Grace
I went into her set nearly blind-sided, only knowing her from her TikTok/Reel hit “Strangers” (my basic b*tch personality seems to continue). But the moment she began her set, I was blown away. Not only does she have a beautiful voice, but she also combined her vocal skills with her Drum & Bass synth techniques, mixing every song on her own. I especially enjoyed her cover of Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek” that brought new electronic depth to the iconic original. Grace also brought a D&B version of Britney Spears’ ever-beloved club hit, “Toxic,” that I couldn’t help but sing and dance to.

4. Esne Beltza
I caught this Basque band at both of their Fuji Rock appearances—Saturday night at Crystal Palace and Sunday afternoon on White Stage. I wondered how their intimate Crystal Palace set would translate onto the big stage, but they still kept the same spirit up in both environments. As advocates for the preservation and protection of their unique Basque culture, the band sang outspokenly about their heritage and political movements, often teaching their audience phrases in their own language. It felt like a true cultural exchange right at Fuji Rock. Influenced by a plethora of genres, every song was exciting and unpredictable. At both sets, the band got the audience involved in mosh pits and jumping for a visually and physically exhilarating experience!

5. Festival Flags
Speaking of activism, the fifth place on my list goes to a whole movement I saw throughout the three-day festival. While Western festivals such as Glastonbury and Coachella are filled with creative flags made by attendees flying high all over festival grounds, it’s much more of a rare scene in Japan…BUT not this year! I was excited and amazed to see some flags being carried around by attendees. From a Pride flag by a fabulously fashionable group of friends to a handful of Palestinian flags, they reminded me that Fuji Rock may be entering a new, elevated era. Sure, these flags can convey sensitive topics (especially here in Japan), but it’s no secret that rock has historically always intertwined with politics. Fuji Rock has its own roots in activism—always showcased at NGO Village but rarely put in front of your face, especially in more recent years. Since Fuji Rock 2023, there’s been a major shift in the world’s political climate, namely, the war in Gaza. While Japan is often seen as a place of passivity, there was no denying that Fuji Rock 2024 shone a different light.

Runner-up: Family Mart x Fuji Rock Fashion
I cannot talk about Fuji Rock 2024 without mentioning the standout act, Family Mart. The beloved Japanese convenience store chain collaborated with Fuji Rock to produce colorful socks and towels sporting the signature festival colors. Not only did I rock up to Fuji Rock on Friday wearing my own pair of the white socks, but I was also impressed to see their marketing at the festival itself. They had a booth of their own at the entrance of the festival, surely increasing sales. While I personally was excited to see soooooooooooo many people rocking these goods throughout the weekend (me again, the basic b*tch), I heard some say they were embarrassed by it. Whatever your take, there’s no denying that they stole the show.