THE DUCK DOWNPICKERS

What kind of place is Back In Town?

Basically, we are a cafe with live music, dubbed “live house” in Japan, located in Shinjuku, a busy commercial area within Tokyo. The name Back In Town derives from the 1964 album by the Kingston Trio. Yes, the owner is an avid fan of the Kingston Trio and American folk music, especially from the 60s.

What kind of music?

The music featured at Back In Town is various: American folk, bluegrass, pops, jazz, Hawaiian, rock, and more. On top of that, there are occasional open mic nights, too. But the majority and emphasis is on the music from the American folk revival of the 50s and 60s, called “modern folk” in Japanese, including the Kingston Trio, the Brothers Four, Peter Paul & Mary, so on and so forth.

Who has played here?

We have proudly hosted gigs by many awesome artists ever since we opened in 2001. Here are some of the musicians who played here. Do you recognize any of the names? John Stewart (once a part of the Kingston Trio), Modern Folk Quartet (MFQ), the Brothers Four, Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Peter Yarrow (also of PP&M), Dick Foley & Terry Lauber (ex-members of the Brothers Four), John Renbourn, Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen, Laurence Juber, Maria Muldaur, Bob Brozman, Charlie McCoy, Jim Kweskin, Stefan Grossman, Don Ross, Happy & Artie Traum, and the list goes on.

What kind of food and drinks are served?

If you arrive hungry, you can enjoy a full dinner, starting with an hors d’oeuvre, all the way to dessert and coffee. Our pizzas and pastas have high reputation from our customers, and you can select a wine of your choice to accompany the meal.

If you visit us after dinner, you might want to enjoy a cocktail or two along with some side dish, or if you have a sweet tooth, indulge yourself in assorted dessert plate, with occasional sips of our selected choice tea. And we offer the “bottle keep” service, just like any bar in Japan.

How do you actually visit us?

First, please make a reservation. Send us an email (backintown@nifty.com) specifying necessary information (your name, date and the act, number of seats, and your contact info). When you arrive, you’ll be asked to pay the Music Charge at the door. While enjoying the music, we ask that you order at least one drink and a dish per each person. 

We’re sure you’ll have a good time, so hope to see you soon!