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