Preview: Norwich full gig guide May 3-9

MICALL PARKNSUN

Waterfront Studio, May 3

Micall Parknsun — seemingly universally known as Parky — rose to infamy with the release of his critically acclaimed debut album The Working Class Dad in 2005 which featured anthems like So What and the Beat Butcha produced I Don't Wanna Stay Here.

His growing reputation was further solidified in 2006 with the release of The Interview Mixtape and the anthem Dunya (My World) the lead single from Jehst's production album Underworld Epics Vol. 1.

His 2009 sophomore album, First Second Time Round, further solidifying Parky's reputation as a force to be reckoned with. With the help of producers Apa-Tight, long-time collaborator LG, Jehst, Ghosttown and Australia's M-Phazes, saw him deliver a perfectly rounded set chock-full of beat-driven bangers that put a modern-twist on the classic hip hop sound.

Since then he has firmly established himself as one of the most exciting and dynamic MC's to emerge from the UK with a captivating stage presence, unmistakable rugged voice and effortless flow.

He has also earned his status as one of the finest wordsmiths this side of the Atlantic. Yet unbeknownst to most, he's also been dabbling behind the boards and developed into a more than proficient beat maker.

He pays a rare Norwich visit in support of his third full-length album, Me Myself & Akai, on which he finally sheds light on his production prowess.

Support comes from half-Swedish, half-Gambian MC Galaxy High, who's music is a lush blend of hip hop, jazz and world music. Opening the night will be a showcase of some of the best local MCs around Including Streaks, Charlie Snacks, Frost D and Woodz.

t Further listening: www.micallparknsun.co.uk

DAEDELUS

Norwich Arts Centre, May 4

Expect dreamy electronica galore from dapper LA's experimental hip hop dude Alfred 'Daedelus' Darlington, whose style encompasses beats, glitch, off-kilter pop and electronic psychedelia in equal measure.

Daedelus isn't a paint-by-numbers musician. From how he looks — (hipster alert) he has a fondness for early Victorian Dandyism — to how he makes music his is a very individual outlook, chopping up sweet acoustic melodies with avant electronica. (Head-nodders beware: His live sets can be a lot more dance-oriented than his recorded work).

Santa Monica-raised, he was classically and jazz-trained in a number of instruments. As teenager he joined rock bands, jazz bands and ska bands, but feeling musically limited he discovered electronic sounds via British labels Warp and Ninja Tunes.

DJing under the name Daedelus (reflecting a childhood obsession with Greek mythology) he first made waves on the LA scene releasing his debut album, Invention, in 2002. Remixers included Madlib, who later took Daedelus' accordion parts and used them on 2004′s Madvillain record.

Subsequent albums have seen him delve into pastoral and Brazilian sounds. His last album, Love To Make Music To, came out on Ninja and he has recently remixed or been remixed by all of his LA scene peers including Flying Lotus, Nosaj Thing and Gaslamp Killer.

Also performing will be Sunda Arc, an electronic duo, based in Norwich and Leicester, who influences include electronica, idm, hip hop and modern jazz; and Duke Slammer.

t Further listening: www.daedelusmusic.com

SAVAGES

Norwich Arts Centre, May 5

Eliminating hype-band scepticism with furious wails and psychedelic poise, post-punk quartet Savages are being tipped as the next guitar band worth watching. Need evidence? Check out the rave reviews for recent shows at SXSW in Texas and the Coachella festival in California.

The London-based all-female four-piece band consisting of Jehnny Beth, Gemma Thompson, Ayse Hassan and Fay Milton certainly look the part, outfitted in nearly all black and delivering a menacing guitar rock that's venomous and vicious — think minimalist pop-punk with echoes of kraut-rock.

Live they take no prisoners with you-can't-take-your-eyes-off-her singer Jehnny Beth letting her arms do the talking and her voice do the hollering.

They're about to release their much anticipated debut album, Silence Yourself, and will precede it with this headline slot at the latest Twee Off night.

They will be joined on the bill by album producer and performer in his own right Johnny Hostile, who performed and wrote with Jehnny Beth as the duo John & Jehn.

t Further listening: www.savagesband.com

WOODY PINES

Norwich Arts Centre, May 9

Last time suavely hatted and bespeactacled honky-tonkin' North Carolina country-blues band Woody Pines toured the UK, reviewers were falling over themselves to declare them to be one of the most exciting acts on the Americana circuit.

The four-piece here visit Norwich as part of their biggest tour this side of the Atlantic so far to promote their new album, Rabbit's Motel, a jaunt that will culminate with a headline slot at this year's prestigious Shetland Folk Festival.

The band includes Zack Pozebanchuck on upright bass, Lyon Graulty on clarinet, guitar and vocal harmonies, drummer Mike Gray, and Woody on guitar, harmonica and vocals.

Theirs is an intoxicating blend of rural and urban stringband, country blues, ragtime and jug band music. A typical example is their song Counting Alligators, which puts listeners straight into the backseat of a convertible with Doctor John and Professor Longhair, whipping around the back roads of the Delta on a crisp, autumn night.

Several other songs by the band, such as Nashville and Delta Bound, evoke thoughts of a Southern gossip or a post-Civil War America where the blues weren't just a style of music, but a way of life.

'We pick and choose the best sounding music in the world,' says Pines, 'and sing our own words and put our hearts and souls into that backdrop,' thus creating a truly unique, and infectious style, never heard before…

Live, the group infuses a hundred years of American music into their performance – everything from early 20th century acoustic blues and Rock-a-billy, to the sounds of the White Stripes and The Black Keys. They'll even drop some hip hop vibes in the mix. It's a fast-paced, swinging, high-energy show.

t Further listening: www.woodypines.com

SOUNDS IN THE CITY

MAY 3

Simple Minds (rock) — UEA

Micall Parknsun (hip hop) — Waterfront Studio

Joe Gideon & The Shark + The Grazing Saints (indie) — Arts Centre

Nubiyan Twist + Killamonjambo (ska/afrobeat/reggae/hip hop) — Epic

Lee Vann (full band/pop) — Brickmakers

Loki (rock) — King Edward VII

Without Feathers (indie/acoustic) — The Birdcage

Agonyst + Masochist + Grimace (punk/new wave) — B2

The Cream Horns (blues/funk) — Walnut Tree Shades

Ramon Goose (afrobeat/blues) — Brewery Tap

The Floating Greyhounds (rock) — Blueberry

One Hand Clapping (pop/rock) — Silver Road Cottage

Rum Dogs (bluegrass/country) — Temple Bar

Drop The Clutch — The Otter

Gimme Shelter (rock'n'roll) — Rumsey Wells

Cuban Party (Latin) — Revolucion de Cuba

Music House: feat. Kodeta + Arch Denton + Mathew Wright (acoustic) — Wensum Lodge

Norwich Folk Club (folk) — Christ Church Centre

Anna Marie — Fiveways

Folk Night — Olives

MAY 4

Spectro: feat. Daedelus (electronic) — Arts Centre

The Burning Crows (rock) — Waterfront

Dave McPherson (singer-songwriter) — Waterfront Studio

Floating Greyhounds + Salute To Karem (rock/funk) — Brickmakers

Ashes To Ashes (goth/punk)

Saigon Kiss (rock) — King Edward VII

Replica (rock) — Blueberry

Four Play (rock) — Glitz Bar

Chris & Lucy — Old Catton Maids Head

Shake, Rattle & Roll (rock'n'roll) — Arkwrights

Dog Days Of Summer (bluegrass/folk) — Freedman

To The Last (rock) — The Stanley

Stonecold — Angel Gardens

Tim Lane — Golden Star

Mick Stevens — Union Street Coach & Horses

Tony Cann — Quebec Tavern

Pat James — Keir Hardie Hall

Hannah — Robin Hood

Rob Charles — Gas Club

Maison — Pig & Whistle

Bobby Graham — Royal British Legion

Janie K — The Windmill

Jim Spiers — Heath House

MAY 5

Twee Off: feat. Savages + Johnny Hostile (indie/punk) — Arts Centre

Lordi + Kaledon + Hostile (metal) — Waterfront

Burn The Headlines + Depth + Freyr (rock) — Waterfront Studio

Nylon Sky (hip hop/rock) — B2

Burn The Headlines + Depth + Freyr (rock) — Waterfront Studio

Lou & The Diamonds (60s/3pm) — Brewery Tap

Norwich Rocks Reunion: feat. Slighly Offensive Steve + The Vagaband + Ame Just Sing + Jack Pout + Killamonjambo + The Rumble + T Bone & The Horn (alldayer) — Gibraltar Gardens

Red Jack (rock/blues) — The Stanley

Floating Greyhounds (rock) — Old Catton Maids Head

Electricity (blues) — Silver Road Cottage

Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers

Pyevarotti — Walnut Tree Shades

Folk Club (acoustic/folk) — The Lounge

MAY 6

Brickie Session (open mic) — Brickmakers

Jazz Jam: feat. Brendan Young + Lee Vasey + Ian Hireson + Mark Jolley + Matt Furness (jazz) — Silver Road Cottage

Jazz Jam: feat. Rich Buddie — Walnut Tree Shades

Pat James (2pm) — Royal British Legion

MAY 7

We Butter The Bread With Butter + For The Imperium (deathcore) — Waterfront

Harry Bird & The Rubber Wellies (folk) — Bicycle Shop

Caligula (garage rock/punk) — Brickmakers

Norwich Jazz Club: feat. Jim Mullen Trio (jazz) — Epic

Phab Club: feat. Roger Parsley (pop) — Vauxhall Centre

Traditional Folk Night — Beehive

Jam Night — Rumsey Wells

MAY 8

Under The Influence + Let Us Proceed + Settle For Second + Differential (pop punk) — Waterfront Studio

Sykelig Englen + Immortal Empire + Broken Mirrors (metal) — B2

Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers

Out Workers — The Windmill

Traditional Irish — Gatehouse

Open Mic — Garden House

Acoustic Singaround — Micawbers Tavern

MAY 9

Woody Pines (Americana) — Arts Centre

Dr Bluegrass & The Illbilly + Cakes & Ale + Feral Mouth (folk/roots) — Open

Bloodstock: Metal 2 (competition) — Waterfront Studio

Jude Garrod (acoustic/singer-songwriter) — The Birdcage

Access To Music (local) — Brickmakers

The Planks (blues/soul) — Walnut Tree Shades

Cruisin For A Blusin (blues) — Rose Tavern

Ghostriders Western Club: feat. Travis Logan (country) — TA Centre

Jazz At Olives — Olives

Johnny Jump Band (roots/blues) — Micawbers Tavern

Open Mic — Lounge

Open Mic — Wildman

Open Mic — Union Street Coach & Horses