SEATBELTS, the band led by legendary composer Yoko Kanno, will arrive in Spain on Friday, December 5, for an exclusive concert at MANGA BARCELONA. It will be the first time the group has performed outside of Japan since its founding in 1998.

SEATBELTS are famous for their explosive mix of jazz, blues, funk, and experimental music. They are the creators of the unforgettable soundtrack to Cowboy Bebop, one of the most influential anime series in history. With songs like “Tank!,” “Rush,” and “Space Lion,” SEATBELTS gave anime a unique sound identity and left an indelible mark on the history of soundtracks.

The group visiting MANGA BARCELONA will be led by Mai Yamane, the original vocalist of the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack. She shaped such iconic songs as “The Real Folk Blues,” “Blue,” “Don't Bother None,” and “Gotta Knock a Little Harder.”

The ensemble visiting MANGA BARCELONA will be led by one of Japan’s most celebrated musicians, saxophonist Masato Honda—the artist behind the electrifying sax solo in Tank! and an original member of SEATBELTS. He’ll be joined by the spectacular voice of Mai Yamane, the band’s original singer, along with Tsuneo Imahori on guitar, Keisuke Torigoe on double bass, Yasuo Sano on drums, and the band’s usual team of sound engineers.

Joining them in the brass section will be one of Spain’s top saxophonists, Kike Perdomo, along with his Canary Islands Big Band. Both were personally selected by Yoko Kanno after working closely with her to bring even more power and depth to the band’s sound for this first-ever international concert.

Kanno, who is responsible for unforgettable soundtracks such as those for Macross Plus, The Vision of Escaflowne, Wolf's Rain, and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex or Kids on the Slope, will participate in a special event with Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe.

SEATBELTS has had brief appearances on Earth, including a legendary live performance in 2009, a series of special video performances in 2020, and their return for the Netflix adaptation of Cowboy Bebop. Now it’s MANGA BARCELONA’s turn. What's next for them? When will SEATBELTS return? No one knows. But if they do, you’ll hear that familiar countdown: 3, 2, 1… Let's jam!