Velfarre
Encyclopedia
was a disco located in the Roppongi
Roppongi
is a district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan, famous as home to the rich Roppongi Hills area and an active night club scene. Many foreign embassies are located in Roppongi, and the night life is popular with locals and foreigners alike...

 district of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. Velfarre was the self-professed "largest disco in Asia" with a capacity of 1,500 people, with three floors above ground and three floors below; owned by Komuro Tetsuya and Avex Trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...

. Velfarre was, and still is, known for Trance
Trance music
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...

, Eurobeat
Eurobeat
Eurobeat is a form of italo-disco/hi-NRG music that developed in the late 1980s.In the United States, Eurobeat was sometimes marketed as Hi-NRG and for a short while shared this term with the very early freestyle music hits....

, Techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...

, Para Para
Para Para
is a synchronized group dance that originated in Japan. Unlike most club dancing and rave dancing there are specific synchronized movements for each song much like line dancing...

, and Disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...

 related events. Velfarre held concerts for Avex Trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...

 artists, and was able to be rented for private events.

Timetable

1994: December 1994 featured the Grand Opening of Velfarre with performances by opening acts: Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...

 and trf
TRF (band)
TRF is a Japanese pop/dance group. Its members are rapper DJ Koo, lead vocalist Yu-ki, and dancers Chiharu, Etsu, and Sam.-History:...

. Featuring a live performance by Donna Summer and Cheryl Lynn. Countdown event brings in 5,000 people, hosted by DJ John Robinson. Incidentally, John was responsible for bringing the Velfarre project to Avex. Whilst at Juliana's Tokyo, he was one of "gang of six" who planned to open an even bigger, better club in a more central location. John introduced gang of six leader Mr. Origuchi to then Avex president Tom Yoda.

1995: Featuring Live performances by Big Mountain and Real McCoy. Velfarre has first OLDIE'S NIGHT which brings in 1,500 people. This year brought Earth, Wind and Fire to Velfarre. The first velfarre album release "Disco Week in Velfarre" included on 2-CD set "avex dance matrix '95 Live". Every Sunday was Versace Jeans Couture night and veryine from the DJ, dancers & staff were clothed in Versace gear. Also features SEF (Super Euro Flash) that same year. Male idol group V6
V6 (band)
V6 is a six-member Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates. The group debuted on November 1, 1995 with the single "Music for the People", which was used as the image song for the World Cup of Volleyball in 1995...

 announces their debut and performs their Eurobeat influenced debut single MUSIC FOR THE PEOPLE.

1996: Featuring "avex dance net '96 in VELFARRE" featuring performance by Nikki French and Los Del Rio. Also featuring NUYORICAN SOUL and MASTERS AT WORK. Also, Komuro Tetsuya brought together his TK family (TRF, Amuro Namie, hitomi, globe and many more) for his Countdown Live special.

1997: Featuring avex dance carnival ~SUMMER '97~ in VELFARRE. Album release featuring mixing of International artists and J-POP artists in a 3-CD album set. Performance by Elisha La'Verne, Mad Lion, KOOL & THE GANGE featuring JT Taylor Japan Tour '97 and more. Release of "Velfarre J-POP NIGHT DANCE WITH YOU" compilation.

1998: This year featured the Velfarre Renewal Opening. Bringing back Earth, Wind and Fire's vocalist, Philip Baily Life and Love Japan Tour 98. Also, live performances by Ricky Martin and J-WAVE NIGHT special guest MISIA which brought in 2,000 people. Also that same year was the "10th anniversary of avex" which they featured a "non-stop 150th presented by avex 10th Anniversary in Velfarre" event. Also, an Oricon–The Ichiban Night event featuring trf
TRF (band)
TRF is a Japanese pop/dance group. Its members are rapper DJ Koo, lead vocalist Yu-ki, and dancers Chiharu, Etsu, and Sam.-History:...

. John Robinson launches the PLANET LOVE after hours event ~ it became the longest lasting event at Velfarre & was held regularly until the club closed down.
1999: Featuring a Valentine's Special Live by DA PUMP. Kome Kome Club's Tatsuya Ishii has a Golden Disco performance for Oricon Night. J-WAVE Night vol. 5 featuring Towa Tei and near the end of the year a J.B's Japan Tour 1999, "HALLOWEEN 1999" event which brought 4,000 people and a MILLENNIUM COUNT DOWN 1999/2000.

2000: Featuring "After hours 2000 in the beginning" event. DJ TIESTO for PLANET LOVE. Go Hiromi performs live. EMMA HOUSE 2000 and avex COUNT DOWN event featuring Every Little Thing, hitomi, Do As Infinity and more.

2001: Featuring PLANET LOVE ~Slinky Japan Tour~ featuring resident DJs Tim Lyall and Grary White. Also, HYPER TECHNO MISSION presents JULIANA's 21. Also the beginning of Cyber TRANCE with a Cyber TRANCE 20 HOURS event in May 2001, an Oricon Night featuring Gospellers Live, avex rave 2001, Cyber TRANCE presents ayu-trance" release party for Hamasaki Ayumi, J-POP 2001 Final Live featuring EXILE and Koda Kumi and Cyber TRANCE COUNT DOWN to 2002 which brought in 6,000 people.

2002: Featuring SEF MACH. Also the beginning of the Velfarre Cyber TRANCE TOUR. ViVi Night featuring EXILE and Koda Kumi. a-trance 2002 spring in MESSE and Cyber TRANCE 1st Anniversary which brings in 5,000 people. GTF meets Cyber TRANCE 2002 Summer and Velfarre celebrates 8th Anniversary and Countdown Event.

2003: Featuring system F "TOGETHER" Japan Tour", J-WAVE Night featuring Sowelu LIVE, Codigo:Tango at Velfarre and club celebrates its 9th anniversary.

2004: Featuring After Hours—PLANET LOVE. Also, the renovation opening of velfarre feat. BODY & SOUL Live in Tokyo 2004. Also, Mickey Fickey Mix Japan Tour Pt. 8 with special guests XZIBIT and KRONDON and [GIGA] YOJI BIOMAHANIKA, LAB-4. Featuring LOUD Autumn House, PLANET LOVE with Johnny Vicious and "HALLOWEEN WEEK 2004. Velfarre celebrates its 10th Anniversary.

2005: Featuring DJ DRAGON and DESTINY'S CHILD Official After party. SEF GOLD, velfarre celebrates 11th Anniversary, ViVi Night features O-ZONE, DJ KAORI and more. Cyber TRANCE Count Down to 2006 brings in 5,000 people.

2006: Featuring MINISTRY of SOUND in TOKYO, DJ OZMA
DJ Ozma
DJ OZMA, born as on April 26 in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, and legally known as , is a Japanese pop singer and musical artist. He first came to prominence in early 2006 and is notorious for his performance at the 57th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, during which his female dancers stripped themselves of...

 release party, SEF GOLD, JUNIOR VASQUEZ in Tokyo 10 hours set, 2006 FIFA World Cup Public Viewing, Special PIA SUPER LIVE GROOVE #18 feat. Live Dept.4 #10, ViVi night 13—Summer Carnival 2006—featuring Rinka and MINMI and the announcement that velfarre will be closing its doors. Final release with "Velfarre Complete Best 1994–2006" and "Velfarre Cyber TRANCE COMPLETE COLLECTION" on November 29, 2006. Final performance nights leading up to COUNT DOWN event which would be the final for the club. Doors to close at noon on January 1, 2007.

Influence

Velfarre played a significant role in the Para Para
Para Para
is a synchronized group dance that originated in Japan. Unlike most club dancing and rave dancing there are specific synchronized movements for each song much like line dancing...

 scene. In 1998, velfarre hosted its first Para Para
Para Para
is a synchronized group dance that originated in Japan. Unlike most club dancing and rave dancing there are specific synchronized movements for each song much like line dancing...

 event called SEF HYPER; SEF being an acronym for Super Euro Flash. The weekly Para Para event at velfarre underwent two name changes over the years, first changing to: SEF MACH! (from the 3rd Para Para
Para Para
is a synchronized group dance that originated in Japan. Unlike most club dancing and rave dancing there are specific synchronized movements for each song much like line dancing...

 boom); and ending with SEF GOLD.

Hi-NRG Attack Studios produced several Eurobeat
Eurobeat
Eurobeat is a form of italo-disco/hi-NRG music that developed in the late 1980s.In the United States, Eurobeat was sometimes marketed as Hi-NRG and for a short while shared this term with the very early freestyle music hits....

 songs dedicated to Velfarre, including:
  • Velfarre 2000 by Bazooka Girl
  • Hey Hey Velfarre by Bazooka Girl
  • Super Euro Flash by Franz V.I.P. Tornado & Bazooka T.C.V. Girl
  • Everybody Velfarre by Bazooka Girl
  • The Class Of Velfarre by Bazooka Girl
  • Velfarre 2006 by Garcon
    Garçon
    Garçon is the French word for boy.In English, and various other languages, it was adopted in the specific meaning of a waiter, especially of low rank in a larger establishment, who serves customers food and/or drinks. However, in France, it is considered rude to address a waiter as garçon...

  • Velfarre 10 by Franz Tornado & Bazooka Girl

TCV stands for The Class of Velfarre; the nickname of Velfarre's VIP Floor.

Velfarre hosted many world-class Trance DJs, such as Johan Gielen and Ferry Corsten
Ferry Corsten
Ferry Corsten, also known under the alias System F, is a Dutch producer of trance music, in addition to being a DJ and remixer. He also hosts his own weekly radio show, Corsten's Countdown. He routinely plays at events all over the world with crowds in excess of tens of thousands. In 2009 Ferry...

. Trance was a fundamental part of Velfarre. John Robinson first introduced it at Millenia and PLANET LOVE. Cyber Trance was a natural evolution from the movement started by John Robinson at PLANET LOVE. Johan Gielen also played a significant role with Cyber Trance at Velfarre. When he was working under John as a resident DJ from 1995 to 1997 - trance was a major part of their sets. Gielen was at the final Cyber Trance at Velfarre; John was the DJ for the final New Year countdown, Johan played after John ~ there then followed a succession of DJs who had played at Velfarre over the years before John returned at 11am and played the final set before Velfarre's oversized mirror ball was dimmed for the very last time.http://velfarre.avex.co.jp/200612/061230.html

Albums

Legend has it that Ayumi Hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...

 first met her future producer, Max Matsuura
Max Matsuura
, better known as Max Matsuura, is a record producer and president of one of the largest music labels in Japan, Avex Group. He is known mainly for discovering and developing new artists and converting them into big stars. Ayumi Hamasaki is the most famous example of Matsuura's work...

, one night at velfarre. Ayumi was known to frequent velfarre in her teenage years.http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover3.html

Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...

 recorded a live album at Velfarre in 1995; they were the only notable music group to do so there.http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Earth_Wind_and_Fire/Discography/Index/P4156/1/

Closing

Velfarre opened on December 2, 1994 and closed their doors on January 1, 2007. After 12 years of operation, velfarre cited considerable losses and an inability to find a new buyer.

On December 31, 2006, velfarre hosted its final countdown event, "Countdown to the Future", and on January 1, 2007, featured "the LAST DANCE", the final event for velfarre and the first dance of 2007. Velfarre closed its doors and ended its 12-year history at noon on January 1, 2007.

At the Cyber Trance FINAL event on 30 December, 2006, Komuro Tetsuya stated on stage that, "Velfarre will be back!" It is known that Niwango
Niwango
is a Japanese company that manages Nico Nico Douga. Its headquarters are in the in Shibuya, Tokyo. It is a subsidiary of Dwango....

, which is operating Nico Nico Douga
Nico Nico Douga
is a popular video sharing website in Japan managed by Niwango, a subsidiary of Dwango. Its nickname is "Niconico" or "Nico-dō", where "nikoniko" is the Japanese ideophone for smiling. Nico Nico Douga is the thirteenth most visited website in Japan...

, will operate Nicofarre in place and is planned to open on July 2011
July 2011
July 2011 was the seventh month of the current year. It began on a Friday and ended after 31 days on a Sunday.- Portal:Current events :This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from July 2011....

 .

Events

Although velfarre's schedule varied, velfarre hosted the following weekly events:
  • Every Thursday from 7pm-12am: TOKYO GO NIGHT (until 2000) (Classic Techno)
  • Every Thursday from 7pm-12am: SEF GOLD (Para Para
    Para Para
    is a synchronized group dance that originated in Japan. Unlike most club dancing and rave dancing there are specific synchronized movements for each song much like line dancing...

    /Eurobeat
    Eurobeat
    Eurobeat is a form of italo-disco/hi-NRG music that developed in the late 1980s.In the United States, Eurobeat was sometimes marketed as Hi-NRG and for a short while shared this term with the very early freestyle music hits....

    /Hyper Techno)
  • Every Thursday from 7pm-12am: MILLENIA (Trance
    Trance music
    Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...

    ) (until 1999) / REGGAE PUNCH (Reggae
    Reggae
    Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...

    )
  • Every Friday from 1am-5am: SOUND BASE (R&B/Hip Hop
    Hip hop music
    Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...

    )
  • Every Saturday from 7pm-1am: PLANET LOVE PM (Trance
    Trance music
    Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...

    )
  • Every Saturday from 7pm-1am: CYBER TRANCE (Trance
    Trance music
    Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...

    /Cyber Trance)
  • Every Sunday from 5am-12pm: AFTER HOURS (PLANET LOVE, LOADED, END UP↑) (Trance
    Trance music
    Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s.:251 It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 bpm,:252 repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout a track...

    )


Other regular events included:
CLUB IBIZA, HAWAII NIGHT, SALSA LIBRE, TOKYO DISCO NIGHT, KOI NO OTACHIDAI (恋のお立ち台), SUPER RAVE, SCREW, J-WAVE NIGHT, a-NATION and others.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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