[Narita City Music Event Report] Going to Narita Hub Groovin Vol. 3!

We participated in Narita Hub Groovin, held on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the former Chiba Bank site on Narita Omotesando, by providing support in the form of audio equipment!

We were blessed with perfect weather and just the right breeze, making for an amazing start♪
First, let’s take a look at the gear we used!!

The venue was a wide open space like this! (before setup and preparation)

Main Speaker

- QSC KC12 3-way 3000W Column Speaker

Setup is incredibly easy. One person can quickly assemble the system, and with just a few knob adjustments, anyone can achieve premium sound quality.
Featuring one of the largest 12-inch subwoofers in the column speaker category, the low end is absolutely impressive.
Combined with its powerful 3000W amplifier, the feeling of the sound projecting effortlessly across the space is seriously addictive.

DJ Monitor Speaker

- QSC CB10 Battery-Powered Active Speaker

Last time, we had a pair of JBL 305P MKII speakers on both sides of the DJ table, but they sometimes got in the way when DJs needed space for laptops or controllers. So this time, we chose the CB10, which can be placed directly on the ground using its tilt-back design.

With the tilt-back positioning, the speakers were properly angled toward the DJ, so monitoring was no problem at all.
And don’t underestimate the compact 10-inch size. Despite its portability, it delivers solid sound pressure along with the clear, easy-to-hear sound quality you’d expect from QSC.

Analog Mixer

MACKIE/onyx16

The Onyx16 features intuitive color-coded controls, making it easy to operate while also delivering excellent sound quality.
For this event, we connected the DJ mixer’s main output, booth output, and a dynamic microphone for MC use.

By the way, what do you do when you need an additional stereo output but your mixer doesn’t have group outs or control room outs?

If your mixer has two AUX sends like the Onyx16, there’s actually a workaround.
AUX 1 (MON1): Left channel
AUX 2 (MON2): Right channel
Using them this way allows you to create a stereo output.
I personally didn’t know about this trick before, so it was a great learning experience.

There are probably several ways to approach it, but picking up practical little life hacks like this is one of the best parts of working at live events.

There are many different standards for what people consider to be “good audio equipment,” but one of my personal criteria is this: “It should allow anyone — even beginners with little PA knowledge — to easily produce great-sounding audio that feels pleasant to listen to.”

The kind of sound that audiences unconsciously perceive as ‘normal’ is actually very difficult to achieve. Behind that seemingly effortless sound is a PA engineer combining knowledge, experience, and technical skill to create it.

These QSC speakers, however, delivered a highly usable sound simply by turning the knobs while keeping everything set flat. And when you imagine a professional PA engineer making additional adjustments on top of that, it really feels like giving a powerful advantage to someone already strong — the perfect combination.

And the real ‘unsung hero’ of this event was this right here:
Instead of using commercial power or a generator, the entire sound system was powered by portable power stations from Anker!
We started playing music at 10 a.m. and ran the system nonstop at a fairly solid volume until 5 p.m.

The unit on top was the 1000W model, the C1000.
It powered the Onyx16, DJ mixer, and two turntables for seven hours, and the battery level only dropped by around 30%.

The unit below was the 3000W model, the F3000.
It continuously powered two KC12 speakers and two CB10 speakers for the same seven-hour period, and still had roughly half its battery remaining.

What’s especially impressive is the complete lack of engine noise compared to a traditional generator. This event proved that portable power stations are more than capable of handling professional PA applications!

The vendors at this event were just as amazing as ever!!
Here are a few highlights♪

Kumomi-Factory

Instagram: kumomi45factory

An absolute genius at transforming upcycled used records into art pieces!
They looked so cool that I already have two of them at home lol.

SMOKO

Instagram: smoko_2022

A galette shop using locally produced Shimokko Soba buckwheat flour from Narita.
The non-alcoholic lemon beer and soba lemonade were refreshing and absolutely delicious.

MEEMOOBOO

Instagram: meemooboo

A Narita-based restaurant serving incredible lamb, beef, and pork dishes — true to the “Mee (Baa),” “Moo (Moo),” and “Boo (Oink)” in the name.
This time I had the lamb dog, and Junpei’s original sauce was unbelievably good.

PLANTS

Instagram: dub_plants

A vintage American clothing shop located in Ibaraki.
Last time, I instinctively bought a T-shirt just because the design caught my eye, and this time I got to dig through the racks again and picked up a KISS baseball T-shirt♪
I definitely need to visit the store in person next time!

RISA

Instagram: risa_attitude

RISA recreates famous artist artwork in a one-of-a-kind ‘sleepy eye’ style!
Last time I bought a magnet, but this time I found a T-shirt with the same design. I was obviously ready to buy it, yet somehow still stood there hesitating for a while before finally taking it home with me lol.

MBP-wfe_p

Instagram: mbp.wife_p

A booth filled with adorable handmade goods♪
One item that looked like a stitched vinyl record turned out to be a dishwashing sponge!!
As the person in charge of washing dishes at home, I bought it instantly lol.

Wednesday

Instagram: wednesdayskateboardshop

A skateboard shop based in Narita.
They hosted a free skateboarding trial session, and it was hugely popular again this time. I was amazed to see that one of the kids who tried skateboarding here for the first time at the previous event is now riding around smoothly with confidence. Narita Hub Groovin is the kind of place where kids can discover something they truly become passionate about!

3QUESTIONSCLUB

Instagram: 3questionsclub

A shop based in Hanazaki-cho, Narita, sharing original merchandise and local information.
Their Narita Citizen Blog is a fantastic read. The deep and incredibly entertaining content about Narita is absolutely worth checking out!

Narita Citizen Blog

2525studio

Instagram: 2525studio

If you want beautiful photos of someone important to you, this is an easy recommendation!!
They’ll take your photo on the spot, print it right there, and hand it to you as a keepsake.

And once again, many DJs performed throughout the day.

Each DJ brought their own style and genre selection, but everyone did an amazing job choosing tracks that perfectly matched the atmosphere of the event. There aren’t many opportunities to DJ outdoors, so hearing people say things like, “This was so much fun,” and “Thanks for inviting me to an event like this,” really made me happy.

Narita Hub Groovin is a wonderful event in Narita where everyone — from adorable little kids to adults, from locals to international visitors — gathers in the same place, listens to the same music, and shares the same sense of fun♪

It was a great day that truly showed how this event serves as a hub connecting people, T-shirts, food, shops, music, and so many different kinds of culture and experiences.

The speakers were exposed to direct sunlight for long hours, so I was a little worried, but they kept delivering great sound all day without any overheating issues. Great job, everyone!

Throughout the entire day, it was genuinely heartwarming to see people moving to the music playing throughout the venue and enjoying themselves with big smiles on their faces.

I’ve had the chance to participate in several music events in Narita over the years, and there’s one simple thing I can always say about the organizers, vendors, and DJs involved:

They’re all just genuinely great people!!

And because they’re that kind of people, it naturally makes you want to support and help out as well.
I think it’s through these growing circles of mutual respect that both the community and the events themselves continue to thrive and become more exciting.

I’m already looking forward to seeing everyone again at the next event♪

＜ Event Details ＞

[Block Party on Narita Omotesando]