Ars Nova is a Japanese progressive rock band. The current lineup consists of Keiko Kumagai (keyboards), Shinko “Panky” Shibata (bass), who for personal reasons will be unable to attend our festival, Akiko Takahashi (drums), Sayuri Aruga (vocals), and Mika Nakajima (piano, synth). They are one of the few, if not the only, all-female bands in the progressive rock scene.

Ars Nova’s music is mostly instrumental, and until 2003 (when the band began adding guitarists and other instrumentalists), it consisted exclusively of keyboards, bass, and drums. Ars Nova’s musical influences include ELP, Rick Wakeman, Goblin, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Balletto di Bronzo, and classical music.

Keyboardist Keiko Kumagai writes all the band’s compositions and also played on Ayreon’s album Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Migrator.

They formed in 1983, but their first album, of nine official releases to date, wasn’t released until 1992.

With their second album, Tränsi, they gained recognition outside of Japan, and in 1995, Ars Nova played in Los Angeles at Prog Fest ’95, their first live performance outside of Japan.

Line-up:

• Keiko Kumagai – tastiere
• Shinko “Panky” Shibata – basso
• Akiko Takahashi – batteria
• Sayuri Aruga – voce
• Mika Nakajima – piano, synth