N-Dubz member and bearer of eye-catching headwear, Costadinos Contostavlos – aka Dappy — was last in Norwich for the Norfolk Spectacular this week he returns to the UEA. Plus Shed Seven, Ben Water Band and Duccess Says.
DAPPY
UEA, December 9
N-Dubz member and bearer of eye-catching headwear, Costadinos Contostavlos – aka Dappy — was last in Norwich for the Norfolk Spectacular. Here he returns to the UEA, but this time as a solo artist.
Fresh from the massive success of his debut solo single No Regrets, which entered the charts at No.1, this is one of a string of live dates across the UK.
The singer, who formed N-Dubz with his cousin Tulisa and friend Richard Rawson, is known for his love for what he describes as 'eye-catching headwear'. His trademark is a selection of woolly chullos — though, perhaps striving for a solo career not overshadowed by his headwear, he's increasingly being spotted hatless.
'I really want to earn the respect of an older audience,' he says, adding that his debut solo album, No Regrets, will have a more mature sound. 'I don't think there's any shame in trying to write music that will be recognised by people I admire, like Adele. Even Bono. I have big goals.'
An indication of where he's heading comes from him working with The Wanted and even Brian May. 'A lot of tracks have no rapping, it's just me at the piano and acoustic guitar but I'll keep a few bangers for the hip hop heads.' Support from Cover Drive and Dot Rotten.
t Further listening: www.thedappy.com
SHED SEVEN
UEA, December 14
Following the huge success of their last two sell-out tours, Shed Seven return with another of their annual jaunts this time to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their platinum selling album A Maximum High.
A Maximum High spawned four of the record five top 40 singles the band notched up in 1996, which included Going for Gold and Getting Better, and saw them break into the Britpop big league. The album went top 10 in the UK and the band toured it around the world. The album also featured horns heavily and for the first time live the band will be reproducing that sound using a three-piece brass section.
Lead singer Rick Witter said: 'It's fantastic to be getting back on the road again. I can't believe 15 years have passed since A Maximum High and it will be good to revisit one or two songs that have been untouched for many years. We've got a few tricks up our sleeve for this tour; we want to be doing something a bit different each time we go out. We'll also be playing the hits you'd expect to hear, it wouldn't be a Shed gig without Chasing Rainbows would it?!'
Support comes from singer-songwriter Chris Helme, who briefly shot to fame as the frontman of The Seahorses.
t Further listening: www.shedseven.com
BEN WATERS BAND
Norwich Arts Centre, December 15
Following a year in which he has played all over the world, Ben Waters stops off at the Arts Centre as part of a UK tour.
Renowned as a sensational live performers, he has played with the legends of rock'n'roll including Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Shakin' Stevens, Ray Davies and calls Jools Holland a friend and mentor.
Jools allowed Ben to use his studio for his current tribute album to Ian Stewart ('Stu'), founder member of the Rolling Stones who died 25 years ago aged 47 from a massive heart attack.
Profits from the album, which includes collaborations with Jools, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richard, Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger and PJ Harvey, and features cover art by Sir Peter Blake, are going to the British Heart Foundation.
Leading his talented band he will be performing some of the material from the album as well as their usual eclectic power-driven boogie-woogie and rock'n'roll interspersed with some unique original material.
t Further listening: www.benwaters.com
DUCHESS SAYS
Norwich Arts Centre, December 14
The latest Twee Off! night includes a rare live show for intense Montreal girl-led, glitchy-sounding dance-punks Duchess Says who are occasionally reminiscent of Elastica at their most self-destructive.
The band were formed in late 2003 by four influent members of the Church of Budgerigars — they claim to be part of the church worshipping the Duchess (or spiritual budgie) with the band simply acting as a medium — who decided to collaborate together in a common musical project.
They've since become well known for a repertory of 'moog rock' songs strong in images and enormously intense live performances. Their musical influences range from no wave, new wave, punk, to cinema and visual arts.
They've previously performed in unusual places such as golf courses, shop windows, vacant building sites and the like, so to see them in a normal venue (well, a converted church) is a novelty.
Also on the bill are London lo-fi punk three-piece Throwing Up.
t Further listening: www.duchesssays.com
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
December 9
Dappy (hip hop) — UEA
Spectro: feat. Toot! + more (electronic) — Arts Centre
Aftershock (pop/rock) — Brickmakers
The Pocket Gorillazs + more (rock) — King Edward VII
The Dude Coopers (bluegrass) — Silver Road Cottage
Tendahooks (rock/pop) — Blueberry
Cleavin Heavages (risqu� rock) — Walnut Tree Shades
The Proposition (country/roots) — Brewery Tap
Yes! Sir! Boss! (reggae/rock) — Knowhere Bar
The Improvement — Golden Star
The Jets (rock'n'roll) — Arkwrights
Ale Worthy Beats: feat. Mr Fingers — Rumsey Wells
Norwich Folk Club: feat. Steve Tilson — Christ Church Centre
Music House: feat. Shane O'Linski (acoustic) — Wensum Lodge
Rob Charles (easy) — Brewery Tap
Chibber (rock) — The Otter
Uprising (rock) — The Griffin
DNA — Wildman
Tony Cann — The Crown
Don Hilton — Fiveways
December 10
Peter Andre (pop) — Norfolk Showground
The Doors Alive (rock/tribute) — Waterfront
Anna Mudeka Band (world) — Arts Centre
The Hiding (rock) — Blueberry
Shrapnel (metal) — B2
To The Last (rock) — Brickmakers
Saigon Kiss (metal/rock) — King Edward VII
Acoustic & Eclectic: feat. Brooks Williams (blues/acoustic) — Olives
Stepback Band (rock'n'roll) — Arkwrights
Tattooed Cow + more (pop/rock) — Hog In Armour
Mustang Sally (rock/soul) — Kier Hardie Hall
Worlds Apart (rock) — Boundary
3 Up 2 Down (rock/pop) — Angel Gardens
Cream Horns (blues/funk) — The Stanley
Patsy Cline Tribute — Micawbers Tavern
Jim Spiers — Heath House
Tony Cann — Bread & Cheese
Pete 'Kiwi' Keegan (skiffle) — Red Lion
Rade — The Windmill
Steve Moyes — Trowel & Hammer
December 11
Professor Green (hip hop/pop) — UEA
The Stilhouettes (soul/funk) — Tao Lounge
Lou & The Diamonds (60s) — Silver Road Cottage
Hannah (3pm) — Blueberry
Chippy (4pm) — Boundary
The Bunkadoos (2.30pm) — Brewery Tap
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers
December 12
The Tiger Lillies (alternative) — Playhouse
Ginger Wildheart & Friends (rock) — Waterfront
Stookey Blue (folk) — Micawbers Tavern
Folk Band — Black Horse
Brickies Session (open mic) — Brickmakers
December 13
The Tiger Lillies (alternative) — Playhouse
Enrico Tomasso (jazz) — Rackheath Green Man
Jazz N Jam — Blueberry
December 14
Shed Seven (indie) — UEA
Vintage Trouble + more (soul/blues) — Waterfront
Twee Off!: feat. Duchess Says + more (indie) — Arts Centre
Rammerator + more (rock) — B2
Live Spot: feat. Neill Mackay + more (acoustic) — The Langtry
Barefeet Records Presents (folk) — The Birdcage
Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers
December 15
Oli Brown (blues) — Waterfront
Ben Waters Band (rock'n'roll) — Arts Centre
Aardvark (rock) — Blueberry
The Stilhouettes (soul/funk) — Beluga
Ghostriders Western Club: feat. Barhoppers (country) — TA Centre
Egypt (blues/rock) — Walnut Tree Shades
Johnny Jump Band (blues/punk) — Micawbers Tavern
Access To Music (local bands/artists) — Brickmakers
Pat Falgate Trio (Latin/jazz) — Rumsey Wells
Graham Horn — Rose Tavern
Open Jam — King Edward VII
Open Mic — Garden House
Open Mic — Wildman
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here