Canadian boy/girl electro-punk duo Crystal Castles, whose sound ranges from the dreamy to the ferocious, return with new tracks taken from III, their imaginary titled third album. Plus: Carlos Bonell, The Revival Hour, Maia and a showcase by Bare Feet Records.
CRYSTAL CASTLES
UEA, November 23
Canadian boy/girl electro-punk duo, whose sound ranges from the dreamy to the ferocious, return with new tracks taken from III their imaginary titled third album.
The album doesn't see the Toronto-based duo break their own mould but then they've never exactly blended in to the mass market. The follow up to 2010's equally as inventive II, sees cyber-banshee Alice Glass continue to deliver her trademark violent vocals while producer Ethan Kath tortures his array of electronic instruments like some sort of synth terrorist.
Kath, the creative force, traded in all their keyboards and effects pedals for analogue synths before setting out on this darkly sober opus. And softer, warmer elements do surface among the claustrophobic beats and brusque production.
However it is arguable whether this new found depth will emerge amid their notoriously ferocious live show, where dark echo-laden beats, tortured punk vocals and tinnitus electro-glitch are more the order of the day.
They are undoubtedly a thrilling live experience however. And Glass's frantic yelping and Kath's dirty beats and thrash guitar, worm their way into the mind like an exhilarating pop-drug.
t Further listening: www.crystalcastles.com
CARLOS BONELL
Norwich High School for Girls, November 23
World renowned concert classical guitarist Carlos Bonell performs at Norwich High School for Girls, which is renowned for its music education.
The acclaimed guitarist who's latest album, Magical Mystery Guitar Tour, went to No. 1 on classical iTunes chart and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Adele and Coldplay in the UK Top 10, was inspired to do an album of Beatles songs after helping Sir Paul McCartney with his own guitar concerto. He will also be performing some of the most famous pieces from the guitar repertoire.
This Norwich concert is one of a string of UK dates which have included the Royal Albert Hall and St Barnabas Church on Penny Lane, Liverpool, where Paul McCartney himself once sang as a choir boy.
He said: 'It is a great honour to perform at such a highly regarded school which in turn does so much to promote music education. I always hope that the people coming to my concerts leave knowing more about the classical guitar and music in general.'
t Further listening: www.carlosbonell.com
THE REVIVAL HOUR
Norwich Arts Centre, November 23
Over the past five years, Twisted Folk tours have become known for adventurous, hand-picked line-ups representing the best in modern folk and twisted popular music. Past tours have included London based electronic folk outfit Tunng teaming up with desert bluesman Tinariwen, Vashti Bunyan playing with Adem & Vetiver, Dizraeli with Chris Wood and many more besides.
Their latest comes to Norwich featuring The Revival Hour, a new collaboration between John-Mark Lapham and David Stith.
Texas-born Lapham was the sounds-and-samples component of Manchester-based The Earlies, purveyors of a kaleidoscopic brand of folk-tronica explored over two celebrated albums, and recorded a mini-album for 4AD with fellow Texan Micah P Hinson under the name The Late Cord. The Buffalo-born Stith, meanwhile, released an equally revered debut album, Heavy Ghost, in 2009 on Sufjan Steven's Asthmatic Kitty label, a record much admired by the likes of Bat For Lashes and Grizzly Bear.
When John-Mark Lapham realised David Stith's voice was exactly what was needed to finish a piece of music he'd been working on, neither knew the collaboration would work so well that they'd go on to strike up a partnership, name it The Revival Hour after a groundbreaking American evangelist radio show of the 1930s, and dedicate most of the next two years to invest their music with all the rousing and intimate emotion that such a name warranted.
Support comes from acclaimed harpist, pianist and singer-songwriter Serafina Steer.
t Further listening: www.therevivalhour.com
MAIA
Bicycle Shop, November 27
Norwich acoustic venue the Bicycle Shop hosts upcoming Huddersfield folk-pop four-piece Maia the day after the release of their new album Pepper Stars.
The success of Mumford and Sons has opened the door for a vast number of faux-folk wannabes however their refreshingly unpredictable debut proves there is more to them than the fey-copyists, mixing a weird and wonderful mix of delicate folk-pop to electro bleeps and whirrs.
The band combines ukulele, cajon, trumpet, banjo and mandolin to create a unique sound they themselves describe as 'disco sci-fi folk pop'. They boldly combine folky guitars, brass sections, psychedelic arrangements, medieval sounds and some way-out cosmic elements.
Think equal parts folk, Talking Heads and David Bowie
The album has already been well received and builds on the success of their Alligator EP which received radio play this summer from the likes of Guy Garvey and Frank Skinner.
Support comes from Nick Edward Harris, a progressive acoustic singer-songwriter.
t Further listening: www.maiatheband.com
BARE FEET RECORDS SHOWCASE
Open, November 29
Norwich independent record label Bare Feet Records who have been putting on gigs, releasing EPs and organising tours for the best part of five years now, stage their end of year showcase.
The event marks the end of a rather successful 2012 for BFR who have released 4 EPs, organised two tours and hosted a heap of sold-out shows in Norwich.
Six bands will be playing including Heart of a Dog, a lo-fi folk collaboration between Samuel Leonard Keith Leonard and Jonathan Allen; Wooden Arms, a currently clandestine quartet featuring piano, violin, cello, and guitar with four-part harmonies (influences Cinematic Orchestra, �lafur Arnalds, Chopin and Andrew Bird) who are currently writing and recording their, as-of-yet untitled, debut EP in a basement flat somewhere in Norwich; and singer/songwriter King Laconic —aka Brendan Bennett. His sophomore record, The Many Moans, follow-up to his debut EP Muddy Snow, boasted a fuller and altogether more confident sound.
There will also be sets from Norwich folk-songstress-trouble-maker Milly Hirst, Sam James Hill, who plays mandolin, laptop and keyboard and who will be previewing material from his new album Troubles/Worries, and singer-songwriter Tristan Mckelvey, who released his second EP Elms this summer to great acclaim.
t Further listening: www.barefeetrecords.co.uk
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
NOVEMBER 23
Crystal Castles (indie/electronic) — UEA
Twisted Folk: feat. The Revival Hour (folk) — Arts Centre
Purple Havana (pop/rock/EP launch) — Epic
Carols Bonell (guitar) — Norwich High School for Girls
It's All About The Kids: feat. The Stylotones + Shake 101 + more (Mod/ska) — Waterfront
Claire Barker Band (pop/funk) — Brickmakers
The Marksmen (punk) — King Edward VII
The Dirigables (rock'n'roll) — Brewery Tap
The Dandy Tricksters (rock/punk) — Blueberry
Big Black Cadillac (rockabilly) — Walnut Tree Shades
Rockin TJ (50s/60s) — Boundary
Hank Bemarvin (50s/60s/tribute) — Lakenham Cock
Chibber (rock/indie) — The Otter
Chris and Lucy (pop/rock) — Old Catton Maids Head
Lena Black's Swing Style Playboys — Hog In Armour
Lucas (soul) — Old Catton Maids Head
NOVEMBER 24
Caravan Palace (jazz/pop) — Open
Dingus Khan (indie/world) — Arts Centre
Buckcherry (rock) — Waterfront
Higher On Maiden (metal/tribute) — Brickmakers
Voodoo Ghost Town + The Speed Kings (punk/rockabilly) — B2
Saigon Kiss (metal) — King Edward VII
Egypt (blues/rock) — Blueberry
16th Minute (pop/rock) — Walnut Tree Shades
Re-Souled (soul/funk) — The Leopard
Super Action Heroes (rock/pop) — The Woolpack
Honeydripper (blues/soul) — Eaton Cottage
The Misfit Collective (skiffle/bluegrass) — Micawbers Tavern
Johnny Jump Band (country/blues) — Golden Star
Second Opinion (60s) — Arkwrights
T-Bone & Horn (funk/rock) — Union Street Coach & Horses
Call The Cops (90s) — The Lounge
T.J. Solo (rock'n'roll) — Boundary
Death Disco — The Stanley
Andy One-Legged Elvis (tribute) — The Falcon
Alan Ley — Trowel & Hammer
Terry Adams — Angel Gardens
Shannon — Bread & Cheese
Tim Ballad — Heath House
Vic Allen — Keir Hardie Hall
Janey — Robin Hood
Peter Turner — The Champion
NOVEMBER 25
The Doors Alive (rock/tribute) — Waterfront
Big Black Cadillac (rock'n'roll/3pm) — King Edward VII
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers
Hard Rain (acoustic/4pm) — Buck Inn
The Proposition (Americana/3pm) — Brewery Tap
NOVEMBER 26
Alabama 3 + Jar Family (punk/blues) — Waterfront
Mud Morganfield Band (blues/soul) — Arts Centre
TRC + Polar (hardcore/punk) — Waterfront Studio
Brickie Sessions (open mic) — Brickmakers
Jazz Jam: feat. Rich Buddie — Walnut Tree Shades
Jazz Jam (open mic) — Silver Road Cottage
NOVEMBER 27
Maia & Nick Edwards (indie/folk) — Bicycle Shop
Nigel King Band (70s/70s) — Brickmakers
Phab Band: feat. Roger Dowe (pop/folk) — Vauxhall Centre
NOVEMBER 28
The Blockheads (funk/pop) — Waterfront
Father John Misty (Americana/folk) — Arts Centre
Adam Moss + DJBB + Bill Downs (pop/acoustic/reggae/charity) — Waterfront Studio
Norfolk Blues Society — Walnut Tree Shades
Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers
NOVEMBER 29
Bare Feet Records: feat. Heart Of Dog + Wooden Arms + King Laconic + Sam James Hill (indie) — Open
Sarah MacDougall (folk/roots) — Bicycle Shop
Unsung Lilly + Kamilla Lovett + Alex Louise + Phoebe York (indie/pop/acoustic) — Epic
Martin Simpson Trio (folk) — Arts Centre
Whole Lotta Led (rock/tribute) — Waterfront
My Extraordinary Tour (indie/rock) — B2
Pirate Radio (pop/rock) — Brickmakers
Ghostriders Western Club: feat. Bob Keeley (country) — TA Centre
The Planks (blues/soul) — Walnut Tree Shades
Dove & Boweevil (folk/acoustic) — Rose Tavern
Movements (folk) — Ten Bells
Johnny Jump Band (country/blues) — Micawbers Tavern
Acoustic Jukebox with Dan Scoggins — Brewery Tap
Albert Cooper's Jazz Life — Rumsey Wells
Jam Session (open mic) — King Edward VII
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