Preview: Norwich full gig guide November 16-22

THE WEDDING PRESENT

Waterfront, November 16

They may have been around for more years than they'd care to remember, but 2012 has been one of the busiest years ever for The Wedding Present.

After a barnstorming appearance at the SXSW Music Festival in Texas [playing 10 shows in four days] they have toured to adoring audiences across the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong.

But the Leeds indie stalwarts saved the best for last bringing energetic shows to the UK consisting of new songs from their critically acclaimed latest album Valentina, a string of beloved favourites and, best of all, the long awaited live performance of their intense Seamonsters album, which has been hailed as almost a piece of performance art.

Fascinating support comes in the shape of Japanese all girl three-piece TOQUIWA. The first band outside of The Wedding Present (and side project Cinerama) to release a debut on the Scopitones lebel, the Tokyo band formed in 1998 under the different The Pinky Piglets. Their Trojan horse assault of cute moves and explosive punk rock riffs left such an impression on Wedding Present's David Gedge that they adopted the band. 'Of all the support bands we've ever had, I've never seen an audience blown away by the support band quite like TOQUIWA,' he enthuses.

t Further listening: www.scopitones.co.uk

UGLY DUCKLING

Norwich Arts Centre, November 19

After five albums and more than a decade of touring, Ugly Duckling continue to hold underground hip hop integrity and are huge favourites in Norwich.

Young Einstein, Dizzy Dustin and Andy Cooper formed Ugly Duckling way back in 1993 in their hometown of Long Beach, California. Growing up in the 1980s, they were raised on a classic hip hop diet but were especially influenced by the mostly New York-based and production-focused groups of the late 1980s and early 90s such as A Tribe Called Quest, The Beatnuts and Gangstarr.

The trio still remain happily naive when it comes to the latest industry attitudes, fashion trends, and state-of-the-art production techniques preferring to stand by their own signature sound.

'We've seen so many phases come and go that it all seems silly to us now,' says Andy. 'Good music and top level live performance are really our only concerns.'

They've earned acclaim and respect and done so completely on their own terms. What's the secret? 'Stay young at heart and never stop moving,' says Dizzy.

t Further listening: www.uglyduckling.us

SONIC BOOM SIX

Waterfront Studio, November 20

This Manchester band mix dancefloor-savvy elements of reggae, jungle and ska with the rigorous commentary of hip-hop whilst retaining enough grit and aggression to be an active fixture of the UK's punk scene.

This date will see them performing songs from their latest album, City of Thieves, released on their own Rebel Alliance Recordings. The album is built on the bedrock of the band's ska-core/hip-hop/jungle hybrid but adds dubstep, electro, dub and even glam rock to the mix, all the while retaining the snarling live edge honed by recent tours of the UK, Europe and the US with acts such as Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake.

Collaborators involved in the record include production duties by Peter Miles (The King Blues) and guest appear-ances from Al Rumjen (King Prawn, Asian Dub Foundation), Robin Leitch (Random Hand) and New York ska legend King Django.

Support from Imperial Leisure, 24 Robbers and Popes Of Chillitown.

t Further listening: www.myspace.com/sonicboomsix

PAPER AEROPLANES

Norwich Arts Centre, November 22

Richard Llewellyn and Sarah Howells of Paper Aeroplanes grew up 30 miles from each other along the coast of west Wales, in houses you could see the sea from. They spent their formative years walking on cold beaches, messing in rock pools and finding records in charity shops — a two hour drive from the nearest music scene.

Their music has been described as folky, acoustic, well-crafted, haunting and emotive -but let your ears make up their own mind at this date, part of a UK tour coinciding with the release of a new six track EP Time To Be.

In 2009 they released their debut album, The Day we ran into the Sea, distinguished by emotionally charged, captivating and heart breaking melodies. It gained the Welsh duo some impressive fans including on air acclaim from Steve Lamacq, Chris Hawkins, Lauren Laverne, Huw Stephens and BBC Wales.

The duo have toured heavily throughout 2012, playing their own headline tour, a support slot on the Ellen and the Escapades tour and numerous festivals.

They have also been busy in the studio recording their new album with sound engineer Phill Brown (who has worked with Talk Talk and Laura Marling), which is due for release in 2013.

The new six track EP Time To Be will be available to buy at the show before its official release on November 26. Support comes from Jess Morgan.

t Further listening: www.paperaeroplanesmusic.com

SOUNDS IN THE CITY

NOVEMBER 16

The Wedding Present (indie) — Waterfront

Horse McDonald (singer-songwriter) — Arts Centre

Heather Findlay (rock) — B2

Solko + Feral Mouth + Smokes, Shoots & Leaves (indie/EP launch) — Epic

The Stylotones (ska/reggae) — Brickmakers

Howling Mat (blues/rock) — Blueberry

Killer Hurts (metal) — King Edward VII

Murphy's Lore (folk/roots) — Brewery Tap

Pied � Terre (roots) — St Catherine's Church Hall

The Planks (soul) — The Moles Rest

Electric Ducks (rock) — Walnut Tree Shades

Floating Greyhounds (rock) — Boundary

Lucas (soul) — Old Catton Maids Head

Norwich Folk Club: feat. The Old Wild Rovers — Christ Church Centre

Music House: feat. Bella McKendree + Takeda + Broad Cut Drifters (acoustic) — Wensum Lodge

NOVEMBER 17

Architects (metal/rock) — Waterfront

Kidsuke & Jealous Guy (hip hop/electronic) — Arts Centre

Lazy Habits + Killamonjambo (jazz/soul/hip hop) — Epic

Pure Floyd (rock/tribute) — Brickmakers

Drongos For Europe (punk) — King Edward VII

Hot Cold Ground (blues) — Walnut Tree Shades

To The Last (rock) — The Stanley

The Booze Brothers (rock/blues) — Trowel & Hammer

Lou & The Diamonds (60s) — Arkwrights

The Dirigibles (pop/rock) — Golden Star

Barry Lee (pop/rock) — Heath House

Julie Bunn (pop) — Old Catton Maids Head

Imogen Smith — The Champion

Danstar — Angel Gardens

Sabastian — Sprowston Social Club

Kevin Solo — Bread & Cheese

Daaron — Coach & Horses

Barry Lee — Heath House

Alan Ley — The Windmill

Tony Cann — Quebec Tavern

Karen — Robin Hood

NOVEMBER 18

Easy Star All-stars (reggae) — Waterfront

The Searchers (60s/pop) — St Andrew's Hall

Electric Ducks (rock) — King Edward VII

Dave Thomas Band (blues/soul/3pm) — Brewery Tap

Lena Black's Swing Style Playboys — Hog In Armour

Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers

Pyevarotti — Boundary

NOVEMBER 19

Ugly Duckling (hip hop) — Arts Centre

Netsky + Ayah Marar (dance/ecletronic) — Waterfront

Aviator (rock/pop) — The Woolpack

Jazz Jam: feat. Rich Buddie — Walnut Tree Shades

Brickies Jazz Jam (open mic) — Brickmakers

Jazz Jam — Silver Road Cottage

NOVEMBER 20

Frank Turner (punk/acoustic) — UEA

Sonic Boom Six (ska/punk) — Waterfront Studio

Neil Halstead & Matthew P (indie/acoustic) — Bicycle Shop

Save Ferries (rock) — Brickmakers

Oxfam Fusion: feat. Inlay (indie) — Bedfords

Hollowlands (Americana) — Vauxhall Centre

NOVEMBER 21

Adam Ant & The Good, The Mad & The Lovely Posse (rock/pop) — UEA

Peter Hook & The Light (indie) — Waterfront

Martin Rossiter + Raevennan Husbandes (indie/pop) — Open

Jack Pout & The Dirt Level (blues/rock) — The Langtry

Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers

Open Mic — Garden House

NOVEMBER 22

Paper Aeroplanes (indie) — Arts Centre

Royal Republic + Kopek (punk/funk) — Waterfront Studio

Slow Gin + Outathablues + Jad Grand (blues) — Epic

Faith (rock/indie) — Brickmakers

Stone Pony (blues) — Walnut Tree Shades

Ghostriders Western Club: feat. Muddy Botts (country) — TA Centre

Johnny Jump Band (blues/country) — Micawbers Tavern

Inlay — Rumsey Wells

Graham Horne — Rose Tavern