Evergreen Mancunian favourites The Fall — still with, of course, stalwart Mark E Smith at their helm — are back in Norwich. Few UK bands have carved a more inventive, original and fascinating path through music. Plus: The Zombies, Benji B, Then Jericho.
THE ZOMBIES
Open, May 10
Sixties psych-rockers The Zombies is strangely aptly named — they're a band that has lived on long after their premature death.
Last year marked their 50th anniversary and they seem to have been around forever. However in their 1960s heyday they were only together about three years — splitting up just as they were on the cusp of major success.
Formed in St Albans in 1962, they had a hit with She's Not There, which was only the third song Rod composed and was later covered by Santana. Further success eluded them until the release – in America – of the album Odessey and Oracle. The album spawned the classic single Time of the Season and the album has since become one of the most feted albums ever.
The band, which features original members Rod and singer Colin Blunstone, along with bassist Jim Rodford (ex-Kinks and Argent — and Rod's cousin), guitarist Tom Toomey, and Jim's son Steve Rodford on drums, here returns to hits such She's Not There, along with songs from their recent album, Breath In, Breathe Out, plus hits from Colin and Rod's solo careers.
Their revival began in 2008, four decades after the release of their swansong Odessey & Oracle album, when the original members reunited to perform three special live concerts. The result was a triumph and critically acclaimed by the press with five star reviews.
They've been touring ever since and a new generation seems to have discovered their music. In a recent Top 100 British Albums chart in the NME, Odessey & Oracle was placed at Number 32, with the accompanying comment: '…British psychedelia with a kaleidoscopic vision that rivals even The Beatles.'
t Further listening: www.thezombies.net
BENJI B
Open, May 11
Plugg — the musical offshoot of clothing shops Dogfish & Sevenwolves — continue their track record of bringing some top talent to Open, with one of the UK's most respected DJs Benji B and a live acoustic set from Andrew Ashong.
Having worked non-stop since first falling in love with London's club culture at an early age, Benji B can currently be heard on Radio 1 after eight years of broadcasting on its digital sister station 1Xtra, but there is more to him than just spinning the latest obvious tunes.
Devoted regulars at his own critically acclaimed club night, Deviation, will tell you the depths of his crates and experience, means just about all the big names from soulful electronic music to hip hop, house and beyond have been given an airing by him.
He has aired exclusive mixes from everyone from Carl Craig, Odd Future, James Blake, Hype Williams, Jamie XX to Larry Heard, Juan Atkins, J Rocc and Kode 9 to name but a few.
Over the last six years, Deviation has also hosted the likes of Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawke, Joy Orbison, Floating Points and Skream Moodymann, Dam-Funk, Theo Parrish, Omar-S and many more, and is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and important club nights in London.
He will be joined by Andrew Ashong, a Ghanaian-British artist who's first solo release Flowers won 'Track of the Year at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards 2013. A new acoustic EP is due this spring, so expect new tracks.
t Further listening: www.mixcloud.com/benjib
THE FALL
Waterfront, May 15
Evergreen Mancunian favourites The Fall — still with, of course, stalwart Mark E Smith at their helm — are back in Norwich.
The John Peel favourites recorded an amazing 24 sessions over the years, with the DJ famously describing them as 'always different, always the same'. Throughout their various line-up changes (6 Music DJ Marc Riley and television presenter Brix Smith-Start being among many former members) the band have managed to maintain their cult status over the years.
Few UK bands have carved a more inventive, original and fascinating path through music than Mark E Smith's enduring post-punk gang. Their ever-evolving style that still maintains a foundation of jagged guitars, sing-speak vocals, and keyboards to create experimental, abrasive and dense musical cacophony.
Equally likely to be a shambolic disaster as an utterly compelling groove machine, they change line-up more often than the sharp-tongued, crumple-faced curmudgeon changes his socks. The current line-up is on form too, assuming Smith doesn't fire everyone (aside from his wife, keyboardist Elenor Poulou) before the gig, which given their track record he might.
Support comes from Norwich scuzz-surf band There's Someone In The Pond.
t Further listening: www.visi.com/fall/
THEN JERICO
Waterfront, May 16
Following sell-out shows on their reunion tour in 2012, 1980s rockers Then Jerico return to Norwich as part of their Reprise Tour with all original band members.
Lead vocalist Mark Shaw, drummer Steve Wren, guitarist Rob Downes, bassist Jasper Stainthorpe, guitarist Scott Taylor have been reunited for 13 dates around the UK.
Then Jerico first found fame in 1986 with the release of their debut album, First (The Sound Of Music. The record featured hit singles Muscle Deep and The Motive which remained in the UK Top 40 chart for three months, becoming the most-played record on Radio 1 in 1987.
The track brought Then Jerico worldwide recognition and saw them selling-out headline shows along with support tours with Iggy Pop and Propaganda, amongst others.
Their follow-up album, 'The Big Area', cemented their status, selling over 100,000 copies within the first 40 minutes of its release.
In recent years, Mark Shaw has enjoyed a successful solo career, releasing several solo and live albums, and has branched into film and stage acting.
He said: 'All of us in the band are really excited to be hitting the road again for our first full UK reunion tour. The musical chemistry between us is stronger than ever and our 23 years apart has made us all better musicians and better friends, so it's going to be great to play together again...'
Support comes from Mike Marlin
t Further listening: facebook.com/ThenJericoOfficial
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
MAY 10
The Zombies: feat. Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent (psych/rock/60s) — Open
Bootleg Boss (Bruce Springsteen tribute) — Brickmakers
The Thinking Men + King & Crows + Smokes, Shoot & Leaves + The Smoke (indie/roots) — Open Club Room
Hang The Bastard (metal) — Waterfront Studio
Heart Of A Dog (folk/indie) — The Birdcage
Norwich Folk Club: feat. Belshazzar's Feast (folk) — Christ Church Centre
Black River Falls (rock) — Blueberry
Enigma (rock) — B2
Benny V (rock) — King Edward VII
Danny & The Seniors (rock'n'roll) — Walnut Tree Shades
Heavin Cleavages (risqué rock) — Brewery Tap
Transmission (indie/folk) — Olives
The Mob (rock/pop) — Freedman
The Planks (soul) — Trowel & Hammer
Music House: feat. Andrew Taylor + Wooden Arms + Copperplate + Two-Bit Operators (acoustic) — Wensum Lodge
Pyevarotti — Costessey Glitz Bar
Janie K — Fiveways
MAY 11
Bo Ningen + Deaf Club (psych/rock) — Waterfront Studio
Benji B + Andrew Ashong (electronic/dance) — Open
Dressed To Kill + Surreal Panther + The Fuel Girls (rock/tribute) — Waterfront
The Glamtastics (glam rock) — Brickmakers
Mastema (metal) — B2
Magic Panda (indie/album launch) — The Birdcage
16th Minute (rock) — Walnut Tree Shades
The Mob (rock/pop) — Freedman
The Burning Crows (rock) — King Edward VII
Play The Music: feat. Silver + David JR Jones + Floorboy + Alice Rayner (acoustic/1pm) — Arts Centre
Agnosy + Medows Menshivik + Jackals (punk/new wave) — Blueberry
Dropping Science + Arcadion + Ghosty + Diplomat (indie) — Bedfords
SkaFace UK (ska/punk) — Heartsease
Single Thread (indie/rock) — Murderers
One Hidden Frame (punk/indie) — The Stanley
The Dirigibles (roots) — Golden Star
Second Opinion (50s/60s) — Arkwrights
Lunar Ghost (rock/pop) — The Windmill
The Planks (blues/soul) — Trowel & Hammer
Lee Statham — Boundary
Ricci — Quebec Tavern
Lisa Marie — Robin Hood
Tony Cann — The Marlpit
T-Bone & The Horn — Union St Coach & Horses
Steve Moyse — Angel Gardens
Shannan — Bread & Cheese
Loose Change — Horsford Social Club
Steve Alan — Heath House
MAY 12
NNF: Soul Rebels (jazz/funk/hip hop) — Theatre Royal
The Story So Far + The American Scene + Gnarwolves (punk/metal) — Waterfront
The Indebtors (pop/3pm) — Brewery Tap
Floating Greyhounds (rock/4pm) — Moles Rest
Blind Spot (rock) — King Edward VII
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers
Ricci (4pm) — Old Catton Maids Head
Gary (4pm) — Robin Hood
Folk Club (acoustic/folk) — The Lounge
MAY 13
NNF: WoodKid + A/C/O (indie/hip hop) — Theatre Royal
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
MAY 14
NNF: Mariza (world) — Theatre Royal
Norwich Jazz Club: feat. Robert Peck Quartet (jazz) — Thunder Lane Cottage
Sleeping With Sirens (post-hardcore) — Waterfront
Bloodstock 2: Heat 2 (metal/competition) — Waterfront Studio
Backdraft (rock) — Brickmakers
Phab Club: feat. Liz Reed (folk) — Vauxhall Centre
Traditional Folk Night — Beehive
Jam Night — Rumsey Wells
MAY 15
NNF: Bang On A Can All-Stars (jazz/rock) — Theatre Royal
NNF: Kayhan Kalhor (world) — St Peter Mancroft
The Fall + There's Someone In The Pond (indie) — Waterfront
Song Noir (jazz) — Café Marzano
Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers
Traditional Irish — Gatehouse
Acoustic Singaround — Micawbers Tavern
Open Mic — Garden House
MAY 16
NNF: The Bad Plus (indie/jazz) — Norwich Playhouse
Then Jerico (rock) — Waterfront
Sheesh (punk-pop) — B2
Umgawa Kagooga (ska) — Brickmakers
Tattooed Lies + Wicked Faith (rock) — Brickmakers
Stone Pony (blues) — Walnut Tree Shades
Ghostriders Western Club: feat. Two-Card Trick (country) — TA Centre
Jazz At Olives — Olives
Johnny Jump Band (roots/blues) — Micawbers Tavern
Faith — Rumsey Wells
Open Mic — Lounge
Open Mic — Union Street Coach & Horses
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