Aphex Twin once famously performed a show in a disused prison, and visitors to Summer Sonic would be forgiven for noticing similarities between that venue and the ones used at this festival, which attracts the biggest foreign names of any event in Japan. However, expanded from two to three days for its 10th anniversary, the festival continues topull in punters due to the huge acts on show. This year, Aphex Twin's headline slot on the Sonic Stage promises to be one of the highlights. He is known as an "intelligent dance music" artist, so expect nothing more than a musician on stage performing the songs he feels like playing, which will always be left of center and will likely include some hard technno, but are guaranteed to avoid the 4-4 structure club music is generally known for.

Also check out: British rock music is represented by new ravers Klaxons and dance-rock outfit Kasabian. The headliners are My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park and Beyonce.

The setting: Cramped facilities, tetchy security guards and long marches through concrete jungles (no camping here, baby) between stages.

Summer festival roundup
Summer festival fever Kegawa no Maries @ Rock in Japan By SIMON BARTZ	Summer festival fever Asian Kung-Fu Generation @ Nano-Mugen Festival By PHILIP BRASOR	Summer festival fever Lily Allen @ Fuji Rock Festival By SIMON BARTZ
Summer festival fever Saori Yano @ Sapporo City Jazz By YUNG-HSIANG KAO	RE:VIEW MUSIC Summer festival fever	Summer festival fever Yellow Magic Orchestra @ World Happiness By PHILIP BRASOR
Summer festival fever Rankin Taxi @ Starlight Reggae Festa By PHILIP BRASOR	Summer festival fever Flower Travellin' Band @ Rising Sun Rock By DAVID HICKEY	Summer festival fever Christoph Eschenbach @ Pacific Music Festival By CHIHO IUCHI