On April 10, the Japanese Culture Center presents City Pop vs Future Funk at the Hairpin Arts Center in Chicago
A night dedicated to the evolution of Japanese pop music across generations, aesthetics, and dance culture. The event brings two interconnected sound worlds into direct dialogue, pairing the smooth, nostalgic grooves of City Pop with the high-energy, internet-born pulse of Future Funk. The night is being held at the beautiful Hairpin Arts Center in Logan Square, with instagrammable city backdrops that will impress!
The event will be hosted and MC’d by Chicago’s own, Jas!
Representing City Pop is Van Paugam, whose DJ sets draw from the genre’s late-1970s and 1980s origins, blending lush synths, disco-inflected basslines, and cosmopolitan melodies that reflect Japan’s bubble-era urban imagination.
Opposing and complementing, this sound is Tiara, DJing Future Funk: a contemporary genre that samples, loops, and recontextualizes City Pop and adjacent styles into fast-paced, dancefloor-driven tracks shaped by global online culture and anime aesthetics.
At the center of the night is a dance battle with prizes.
VIP tickets are available, offering early entry, an enhanced event experience including green room access w/ open bar, meet the artists, complimentary champagne (21+), and free merch.
Early bird tickets are offered at a reduced price through March 15.
City Pop vs Future Funk highlights the continuing influence of Japanese pop culture and its ability to be reimagined across time and scenes.
Ages: 18+
Date: April 10 Venue: Hairpin Arts Center, Chicago City Pop DJ: Van Paugam Future Funk DJ: Tiara Features: Themed Dance Battle, VIP Tickets Available Early Bird Tickets: Available until March 15
Presented by: Japanese Culture Center
