“Kanade Sora has never been to a music festival before. But when her friend Otoha lures her along with the promise that her favorite band will be playing, she finds herself having more fun than she ever imagined. And if one small show is enough to hook her, what might a huge overnight event at a major venue be like? As Kanade dives into a whole new world of rocking out, will her life ever be the same?!” (Yen Press)
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There is a dedicated fanbase that holds live music in high importance, a holy ground of sorts where it is easy to become enchanted by the music and flow of the crowd. Certainly the love of the art is universal, but there will always be a dedicated fandom whose passion for the medium goes above and beyond the majority. Enter “Days on Fes”, a series that celebrates the love of live shows and the culture surrounding it. Capturing the ambiance of the crowds and passion of festival goers, the release acts as a love-letter to an impassioned sub-culture first and foremost.
The cast of “Days on Fes” offers a nice mix of personalities at different points in their ‘fandom', from the hardened festival goers Ritsuru and Gaku to the high school students Otoha and Kanade who are just beginning to get their feet wet. As a result, the reader gets to revere and relate to audiophiles at various stages of self-exploration. Presenting an ideal cast to tackle the ‘slice of life genre, Oka's creates endearing archetypes to explore a passion of live events and all the nuances of preparing and planning.
Kanato Oka's art is simple and clean, at its best when his subjects converse in a playful or upbeat manner. Lacking any panels that make a resonating visual impact, the relaxed flow of the series and focus on realism compliments the narrative. Not without charm, art in-between chapters gives a checklist of what each character brings when they travel. It might seem superficial to some, but to those who camp-out for any reason it is intriguing to see how each prepares, based on their persona.
“Days of Fes” is likely the closest many will get to a music festival for some time, offering a rather bittersweet experience. However, the release nails all the essential elements of the ‘slice of life' genre; engaging characters, relaxed atmosphere and subtle comedy. In addition, the title is one of the few titles to explore music from the standpoint of the fan, giving it a niche appeal that will resonate on a cathartic level for some.
“Days of Fes” may make the reader miss live music, but it is also a wonderful piece of escapism and a reminder of good times past and times to come. Fans of either slice and life or festival culture would do well to check out this series.
