Preview: Norwich full gig guide January 18-24

MIGUEL

Waterfront, January 19

Currently one of the hottest soul stars in the US, Miguel comes to Norwich as one of a handful of live shows in the UK. Where other artists similarly feted by in-the-know tastemakers — and mentioned in the same breath as other 2012 breakthrough artists like Frank Ocean — might have limited their UK appearances to trendy London clubs, Miguel is putting in the effort with a small selection of date at more out of the way venues, including his Norwich date.

The young R&B superstar's latest album Kaleidoscope Dream was released at the end of 2012. Debuting at No. 3 in the US Billboard 200, it has received much praise from critics and fans alike, with almost a quarter of million sales already. There's no doubt that 2012 was his breakout year stateside, following the promise on his 2010 debut album, All I Want Is You. He's not yet as well known over here, but expect that to change in 2013.

Raised in LA, Miguel pursued an interest in making music from an early age and at 14 years old he was already songwriting and developing ideas. His sound is an assault of the senses beginning with his rich soulful and sweet vocal, combined with a fusion of electro-tinged R&B that has a hip-hop edge and all the balls of rock.

Support comes from young Manchester R&B singer Daley whose debut album Days and Nights was produced by Bernard Butler and who has previously supported the likes of Emeli Sande, Jessie J and Bobby Womack.

t Further listening: www.officialmiguel.com

BLOOD RED SHOES + WET NUNS

Norwich Arts Centre, January 21

Brighton's inexhaustible punk rock duo Blood Red Shoes return promising a more muscular and classic rock-informed sound five years on from their frantic debut Box of Secrets.

Formed in late 2004 by Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter — and taking their name from a Ginger Rogers/Fred Astaire musical, in which Ginger Rogers had turned a pair of white dancing shoes red with blood due to the amount of dancing she had done, they arrive promoting their third studio album, In Time to Voices, which has notably opened up their sound beyond their US underground punk influences

Carter said: 'With this album we totally threw out the rulebook of how we write and record. We decided we wanted to make a really ambitious record, not something which reflects our live show but something which is only limited by our imaginations and not by how many instruments we use onstage.'

Joining them for one of just two supporting slots are hell-raising duo Wet Nuns who it's fair to say had a massive 2012 and are being hotly-tipped by just about everyone. The purveyors of death-blues release a brand new EP Broken Teeth next month. And if they whet your appetite here, they'll be back again, headlining in their own right, on March 2.

t Further listening: www.bloodredshoes.co.uk

KENT DUCHAINE

Norwich Arts Centre, January 22

American delta blues guitarist Kent DuChaine makes a welcome return. The Georgia-based guitarist has been playing authentic solo blues since 1968, with earthy, guttural vocals and superb crunchy guitar playing on his battered old National Steel guitar he calls 'Leadbessie'.

At the young age of six, Kent DuChaine learned to play the ukulele from his father. At 13, after getting his first electric guitar, he and a few of his buddies formed a garage band in his hometown of Wayzata, Minnesota.

After reading the liner notes of an Eric Clapton album, DuChaine checked out a Robert Johnson album from the local library. He never looked back. The music of the Mississippi Delta stole his heart.

As the reputation of the band spread, legendary songwriter and performer Willie Dixon embraced them. Dixon arranged a recording contract and a concert sharing the bill with Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, the Howling Wolf and Margie Evans.

Deciding to go solo in 1982, he took 'Leadbessie' on the road, finally settling in the south eastern United States to be closer to the roots of the music he loved.

AN original and passionate interpreter of Delta blues he now has six solo albums under his belt, 44 plus tours overseas, and still manages to perform all over North America and Europe.

t Further listening: www.kentduchaine.com

ROZI PLAIN

Bicycle Shop, January 22

The sonorous, atmospheric swell of singer-songwriter Rozi Plain's home-built electric guitar coupled with her swooning vocal charm will be winning over an audience at the Bicycle Shop. Originally hailing from Winchester, Rozi moved base up to Bristol to form the Cleaner Collective with her brother Romanhead, and best pal Rachael Dadd. Exchanging demo tapes with Fence Records' King Creosote, Rozi and her friends soon found themselves entwined in the world of DIY lo-fi folk merchants, the Fence Collective, regularly performing at the label's legendary Home Game and Away Game events in Scotland, and playing genial host to any Fence performers travelling south. New album, Joined Sometimes Unjoined, Rozi's second solo release with Fence, follows two interim EPs Humans and See My Boat. It's boasts a warm, summer-sun blend of melody centred around Rozi's voice.

t Further listening: www.roziplain.co.uk

DODGY

Norwich Arts Centre, January 24

After their hugely successful 2012 playing most of the major festivals promoting their critically acclaimed album Stand Upright In A Cool Place, the hazy, summery 1990s band return to Norwich for a special up close and intimate acoustic trio performance.

They will be trying out some brand new songs as well as bringing out old friends from their extensive back catalogue. Expect the biggest cheers to go to their oldies though, such as Good Enough, In a Room and Staying Out for the Summer.

Support comes from Lisbee Stainton whose 2010 album Girl On An Unmade Bed led to widespread critical acclaim, national airplay and tours across the UK and mainland Europe supporting Joan Armatrading and Paul Carrack.

As one of the UK's brightest new songwriters, her latest album, Go, has seen her star continue to rise. As well as her own innovative Living Room Tour, which included a date on the nuclear submarine HMS Vigilant, Lisbee has also toured with the likes of Gretchen Peters and Seth Lakeman.

t Further listening: www.dodgyology.com

SOUNDS IN THE CITY

JANUARY 18

TWR! Live: feat. The Burning Crows + Wicked Faith + Soulborn + Blind Tiger + Enigma (rock) — Waterfront

Daniel P Carter (rock/DJ set/10pm) — Waterfront

Loki (rock/indie) — Brickmakers

We Ghosts (indie) — Brewery Tap

Salute To Kareem (Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute) — King Edward VII

Hard Rain (acoustic/rock) — Silver Road Cottage

SkaFace UK (ska/reggae) — Karma Kafe

Bare Feet Records Presents: feat. Heart Of A Dog + An Early Aeronaut + Jake Morrell Band (indie) — The Birdcage

The Gastric Band (blues/rock'n'roll) — Walnut Tree Shades

Bluemoon (rock'n'roll) — Arkwrights

Floating Greyhounds (rock) — Moles Rest

Music House: feat. Land Equivalents + Cineclub + Summer Soldier (acoustic) — Wensum Lodge

Norwich Folk Club: feat. John Ward + Mario Price — Christ Church Centre

Ale Worthy Beats: feat. Sure Delight — Rumsey Wells

JANUARY 19

Miguel + Daley (soul/hip-hop) — Waterfront

Bricktop All Dayer: feat. Agonyst + Shrapnel + Consecration + End Soteria + many more (metal/3pm start) — B2

Worlds Apart (rock) — Brickmakers

Four Play (blues/rock) — Walnut Tree Shades

The Burning Crows (rock/acoustic) — King Edward VII

The Indebtors (pop/rock) — Blueberry

Against All Odds (pop/rock) — Old Catton Maids Head

One Hand Clapping (pop/rock) — The Windmill

3 Up 2 Down (pop/rock) — Angel Gardens

Icarus Vision (rock) — The Stanley

Lowrider (rock'n'roll) — Arkwrights

Battle Of The Bands (local/competition) — Compleat Angler

Claire & Josie (pop duo) — Costessey Crown

Boogie Fever — Trowel & Hammer

Craig Powell — Kier Hardie Hall

Honey Bee — Golden Star

Tony Cann — Bread & Cheese

Lisa Marie — Heath House

Alan Ley — Quebec Tavern

Karen — Robin Hood

Pete Turner — The Champion

JANUARY 20

Hot Feet + Lauren Razavi (blues/folk) — Bicycle Shop

Len Black & The Uptown Boys + Dixie Mix (blues/jazz/6pm) — Wensum Valley Hotel

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

Floating Greyhounds (rock/4pm) — Moles Rest

Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers

Future of Music (5pm) — Silver Road Cottage

JANUARY 21

Blood Red Shoes + Wet Nuns (indie/rock) — Arts Centre

Decade + Neck Deep (pop-punk) — Blueberry

Jazz Jam: with Lee Vasey + Brendan Youngs + Ian Hireson — Silver Road Cottage

Jazz Jam: feat. Rich Buddie — Walnut Tree Shades

Brickie Sessions (open mic) — Brickmakers

JANUARY 22

Kent Duchaine (blues) — Arts Centre

Rozi Plain (singer-songwriter) — Bicycle Shop

Caligula (indie/rock) — Brickmakers

Julian Siegel (jazz) — Oaklands Hotel

JANUARY 23

Steve Cropper & The Animals (soul/blues) — UEA

The Joy Formidable + We Are Animal (indie) — Waterfront

Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers

Acoustic Jam — Micawbers tavern

Open Mic — The Birdcage

Open Mic — Garden House

JANUARY 24

Dodgy (acoustic trio set) — Arts Centre

Firewire (rock) — Brickmakers

Neon Asylum (electronic) — B2

Honeydripper (blues/soul) — Walnut Tree Shades

The Grazing Saints + Milly Hirst + The Thinking Men + Golly Ghost (rock 'n'roll/blues/roots/acoustic) — Ten Bells

Ghost Riders Western Club: feat. Jim Worton (country) — TA Centre

Acoustic Jukebox: feat Dan Scoggins — Brewery Tap

Johnny Jump Band (country/blues) — Micawbers Tavern

Loose Leaf Drifters (bluegrass/Americana) — Rumsey Wells

Acoustic Jukebox: feat Dan Scoggins — Brewery Tap

Midnight Blue — Rose Tavern