Mats Fest!

On Sunday was the Matsushima Park Fest. I don't know if this was the first time it occurred though I do know I'll be going back. (UPDATE: It's the 2nd annual event.)

甘さひかえめバンド These gals belted out some Heavy Metal tunes. Quite a shock to see them first upon getting off the train.

 Ryouka.

 My first beer of the day!

They started off with Lupin III and finished with Fly me to the Moon.

A fun quintet of Gospel gals, vivace. Of course they began with "Oh Happy Day" because Japanese Gospel.

I praised them on their choral abilities afterwards, and they were all flustered.

It wouldn't be Matsushima without consuming some oysters. Unfortunately, I was so caught up in the festival, that was all that I'd eaten all day. BIG mistake.

This couple were hearing impaired yet did a great job playing Beatles tunes.

I tried to win a Chibi Maruko-chan to no avail.

This beer came with a medallion but it was the last one they had!

 A couple of old guys belting out old rock standards.

I actually taped one of their songs (Infinity Mirror Room), but stupid YouTube didn't work. I'll try again later.

A discarded garland.

 An A Cappella trio.

This was a fun Blues band that played mostly Blues Brothers tunes. I ended up dancing with the gal in pink at one point.

That's it for my camera. I was down to 2% and needed to conserve energy. Fortunately my friend managed to find a parking spot and took over cameraman duties. You may also discern a distinct improvement over the quality of the photos.

This above group played some old folk tunes and when the lead dude asked whether anyone had heard of The Peanuts, I shouted out the theme from Mothra!

I'm not sure what these cosplayers were doing there. They may have been musicians or fighting crime.

 I fit right in...

Not too sure of the dance troupes' name but the Hula girls whirled nicely.

I was invited up on the stage (or crashed it, eyewitness testimony varies.)

The Gaijins were the last sight we saw before embarking on our cruise around the bay. (Collect 4 stamps from various stages and from two proprietors and you get on the ferry for free!)

 I'm fairly certain that these were a couple of the Hula gals.

 Warning: There is a high likelihood that the following pics out out of sequence.

An awesome day and evening. My thanks to photographer Dan the Man for putting up with my drunken escapades and for pouring me into the proper train to get me home.

ps. As the 25th is Towel Day, I thought it rather auspicious that I had won a cool Sleeping Beauty towel from 7-11 that morning!