Shonen Knife

“When I finally got to see them live, I was transformed into a hysterical nine-year-old girl at a Beatles concert.”Kurt Cobain

Shonen Knife are a ground-breaking all-female Japanese, pop-punk trio formed in Osaka in 1981, when Naoko first heard late ‘70’s punk-pop particularly The Ramones. Inspired, the band crafted their own idiosyncratic songs, fashioned brightly coloured outfits and DIY albums. In 1985, K Records released ‘Burning Farm’ in the US. Deals with Sub Pop and various Majors followed. 1989 saw the crème of the alt. rock scene (including Sonic Youth, L7 and Redd Kross) covering their favourite Shonen Knife songs on the tribute album ‘Every Band Has A Shonen Knife Who Loves Them’. They toured with Nirvana (on the ‘Nevermind’ tour), The Breeders and as part of Lollapalooza. They recorded sessions for John Peel and appeared on MTV’s ‘Beavis and Butthead’ . In 2010 the band released the album ‘Super Group’, played Matt Groening’s curated ATP, extensively toured the UK, Europe, North America, China and Taiwan! In 2011 the band celebrated their 30th year anniversary by releasing the albums ‘Free Time’ and ‘Osaka Ramones’, toured Europe and the US, played to thousands at the Summer Sundae festival, a live session for Marc Riley on BBC 6 music, an interview with Radcliffe and Maconie, and rounded out the year with a limited edition Christmas Single ‘Sweet Christmas’. In June 2012 Shonen Knife release their 18th Studio Album ‘Pop Tune’ and tour North America this August, and Europe in October. Showing no signs of slowing down, these girls are only looking forward to the next 30 years. As Naoko says, ‘Let’s Rock!’

Visit Website Uncut: “rocks like Motorhead designed by Hanna-Barbara”
BBC Music: (Louis Patterson – ‘Freetime’ )    “The Osaka Ramones, you must concede, still have it.”
BBC Music: (Jude Clarke ‘Pop Tune’ ) 7/10 “While by no means succumbing to the blank-eyed nihilism of their heroes the Ramones, then, this album nevertheless hints at a jaded corner in the psyche of this sunniest of bands. It might even, ultimately, make them all the more appealing.”
The Independent:(Simon Price) 8/10 “There are two types of people: those who enjoy thrashy Japanese girl-punk, and those who have something wrong with them.”
Music OMH: 8/10 “For an incredible 31 years Shonen Knife have been pumping out prototype riot grrrl, thrashing together early punk sounds with pop melodies.”
The Sunday Times: “…irrepressible slice of bounce-along indie-pop. Beguiling.” Stewart Lee
Voted the winner of BBC 6Music’s ‘Rebel Playlist’ by a landslide vote of 88%, which granted the single a play on every daytime 6Music show for a week plus album of the day on BBC 6Music
LondonPaper: (Super Group review)“Part Shangri-La’s, part Ramones, you can’t resist the charm of lyrics … so give in, and don’t.”
Time Out London:“Punchy Pop-Rock”
Artrocker:“Objectively, it could be pointed out that they can only play in a rudimentary fashion, that their songs are ludicrously simple and that they are not doing anything new. Objectivity can fuck right off, because Shonen Knife are brilliant”
The Line Of Best Fit: 7/10 “Robust in its eccentricities and musicianship, Pop Tune makes good on Yamano’s assertion that the current Shonen Knife line-up is its strongest.”
The Skinny: 8/10 “Pop Tune is their most irresistible offering in years”
Louder Than War:“As the world continues to go into economic meltdown we need the distraction of Shonen Knife more than ever – just allow yourself the simple pleasure of singing along.”
Clash: “Ultimately, without using superlatives, Shonen Knife should be set up for life as ambassadors for live music.”
Japan Times:“Shonen Knife are one of the most important bands in history, even if the world at large doesn’t know it”
Time Out Sydney:“It’s a whole lot of fun”
BBC 6Music (Steve Lamacq):“Shonen Knife – they know how to rock – Japanese punk pop at its best.”
BBC 6Music (Gideon Coe):“the most arresting record I’ve heard this week”
Marc Riley BBC 6Music: ‘Perfect Freedom’ Songs of the year for 2011
Gideon Coe   BBC 6 Music ‘Pop Tune’ for Recommended ALBUMS 2012
Time Out Barcelona:“Super Group continues to polish Shonen Knife’s reputation”
Subba-cultcha:“brilliantly bonkers”

22 Sep 2013 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Tilburg	Incubate Festival	NL
22 Sep 2013 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Tilburg	Incubate Festival	NL
22 Sep 2013 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Tilburg	Incubate Festival	NL

27 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Aalborg	Studenterhuset	DK
26 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Tromso	Bastard Bar	NO
24 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Helsinki	Tavastia	FI
23 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Oslo	Cafe Mono	NO
22 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Gothenburg	Pustervik	SE
21 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Copenhagen	Loppen	DK
19 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Utrecht	dB’s	NL
18 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Hasselt	Muziekodroom	BE
17 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Brussels	Beursschouwburg	BE
16 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in London	Cargo	UK
15 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Norwich	Waterfront	UK
14 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Belfast	Black Box	UK
13 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Dublin	Whelans	IE
12 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Cork	Crane Lane Theatre	IE
11 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Galway	Roisin Duhb	IE
10 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Bristol	The Fleece	UK
09 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Cardiff	Bogiez	UK
08 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Birmingham	Glee Club	UK
07 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Leicester	The Musician	UK
05 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Glasgow	Oran Mor	UK
04 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Newcastle	Cluny	UK
03 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Nottingham	Glee Club	UK
02 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Manchester	Ruby Lounge	UK
01 Oct 2012 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in London	Cargo	UK
11 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in London	Scala	UK
10 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Nottingham	Bodega Social	UK
08 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Utrecht	dB’s	NL
07 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Hamburg	Ubel & Gefarhlich	DE
06 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Copenhagen	Loppen	DK
04 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Helsinki	Bar Loose	FI
03 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Oslo	Cafe Mono	NO
02 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Malmo	Inkonst	SE
01 Sep 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Berlin	Marie Antoinette	DE
30 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Vienna	Chelsea	AT
27 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Munich	Atomic Cafe	DE
26 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Freiburg	The Great Rang Teng Teng	DE
23 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Amsterdam	Paradiso	NL
21 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Cardiff	Buffalo Bar	UK
20 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Bristol	The Fleece	UK
19 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Dublin	Whelans	IR
18 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Galway	Roisin Duhb	IR
17 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Belfast	Black Box	UK
16 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Glasgow	Nice ‘N’ Sleazy	UK
15 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Edinburgh	Sneaky Pete’s	UK
14 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Cluny	Cluny	UK
13 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Manchester	Deaf Institute	UK
12 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Leicester	Summer Sundae Festival	UK
11 Aug 2011 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in London	The Windmill	UK
24 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in London	Scala	UK
23 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Brighton	Freebutt	UK
20 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Berlin	Schlesisches Tor (ex-Kato)	DE
19 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Hannover	Cafe Glocksee	DE
17 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Amsterdam	Paradiso	NL
15 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Madrid	Sala Gruta	ES
14 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Barcelona	Sala Becool	ES
13 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Valencia	Sala Matisse	ES
12 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Leeds	Brudnell Social Club	UK
11 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Leicester	The Musician	UK
10 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Glasgow	King Tuts Wah Wah Hut	UK
07 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Minehead	All Tomorrow’s Parties	UK
06 May 2010 http://www.damnably.com	Shonen Knife in Bristol	Thekla	UK