The new pop-up listening bar series Toki-O Nights will visit venues in London, Manchester and Edinburgh from June to December 2026.
Suntory Toki Whisky and Technics are set launch Toki-O Nights: a new series of free and ticketed music-led events inspired by Tokyo’s kissaten and listening bar culture.
Launching on 3 June at Spiritland King’s Cross, Toki-O Nights will run through to December with events taking place twice a month across listening bars and music venues in London, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Venues include Spiritland, Equal Parts, Mitsu, The Listening Room, Mad Cats, Archive & Myth and Jazu in London, Bar Shrimp in Manchester, and Caley Bar in Edinburgh.
Created by Toki in partnership with Technics, the series pairs Japanese Highballs with vinyl-led DJ sets and listening sessions. Each event will feature a different selector and venue-specific Toki Highball Serves.
Technics will curate the line-up, with artists including Nina Yamada, Mari Kimura and My Analog Journal’s Zag Erlat playing sets spanning jazz, soul and electronic music.
Events will use Technics SL-1200GR2 turntables and EAH-A800 headphones, while selected venues will also host dedicated listening stations throughout the series.
Alongside the free Wednesday DJ performances, Toki-O Nights will also introduce a limited series of ticketed sessions, ranging from intimate Q&As with Technics hi-fi experts to immersive workshops exploring Japanese vinyl culture. During these sessions, guests will also be invited to discover the art of creating the perfect Japanese Highball.
Newly confirmed additions to the programme include: Listening Room at Moi: Kay Suzuki & DJ Alex from Tokyo, and Archive & Myth: Nariaki Obukuro & Ayana Homma.
“Toki-O Nights brings together two rituals I have always loved: the Japanese Highball and the art of truly listening,” said Raffaele Di Monaco, UK House of Suntory Brand Ambassador and Japanese Spirits Specialist. “The beauty of the Highball lies in its precision; it is crisp, refreshing and seemingly simple, but every detail matters. Paired with the atmosphere of Japan’s listening bar culture, it creates a moment that feels both considered and social. We’re excited to bring that energy to the UK through a series that celebrates Toki’s spirit of old meets new.”
“Technics has long been rooted in precision sound and authentic listening experiences, making this partnership with Suntory Toki Whisky a natural fit and extremely exciting,” added Frank Balzuweit, Technical Marketing Lead for Technics. “Toki-O Nights is about more than music; it’s about creating space for people to connect and come together to truly appreciate sound, inspired by Tokyo’s legendary kissaten culture.”
Further details, including the free-to-access Wednesday DJ spotlights, ticketed event information and full DJ line-up can be found here.
