Music fans in Osaka can catch a variety of overseas acts this weekend at the Kansai Music Conference (KMC).
More than 60 artists from countries including Singapore, Serbia and the Philippines — as well as some from Japan — will perform at venues across the city.
The event aims to open doors through concerts, workshops and seminars for independent artists trying to get their sounds heard. While KMC may echo some of the goals of the influential South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, its chair and founder Duane Levi points out some key differences.