When it was announced this week that Wild Beasts were to headline the second stage at Latitude it suggested the Cumbrian quartet might finally be close to that big breakthrough and you can see them in Norwich next week. Plus: Portico Quartet, Yashin, Summer Camp.
PORTICO QUARTET
Norwich Arts Centre, March 9
Portico Quartet still sound like nothing you ever heard before. The Mercury nominated outfit's unique music has expanded to embrace new sonic territories, seeing them shake off the jazz band tag which seems these days to be seen as something of an albatross.
Their third, self-titled, album draws on the inspiration of electronic, ambient, classical and dance music as they take their strange, beautiful, cinematic music to exciting new vistas. Inspiration from Burial, Mount Kimbie and Flying Lotus rubs shoulders with the textures of Arve Henriksen and Bon Iver and echoes of Steve Reich and Max Richter. But it is all underpinned by a shared joy in collective music making enjoyed by key members Duncan Bellamy, who plays drums and electronics, Jack Wyllie, saxophones and electronics and Milo Fitzpatrick, bass and electronics.
Their journey over the last five years has seen them rise from buskers on London's Southbank to countless international shows. Their self-produced debut album, Knee Deep In The North Sea, was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize. Follow-up, Isla, explored wide-angle filmic themes and textures.
Their eagerly awaited third finds the band expanding on their trademark sound of eerie hang, ethereal sax, earthy bass and drums via use of electronics and effects.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/porticoquartet
WILD BEASTS
Waterfront, March 12
When it was announced this week that Wild Beasts were to headline the second stage at Latitude on the Sunday night it suggested the Cumbrian quartet might finally be close to that big breakthrough.
Despite the plaudits heaped on them — including two Mercury nominations — it seems to have been surprisingly hard work, which is perplexing when you see far less interesting bands leapfrogging them.
Perhaps they've just too 'out-there'. Kasabian have succeeded in mobilising Oasis's fanbase, but Wild Beasts have no such obvious allies, with perhaps only Radiohead making music with similar intent and ambition.
Their stunning third album Smother, released last year, marked a big progression on their elegiac indie rock. It may not have the immediately obvious radio singles, but it was at turns joyous and beautiful.
Rapturously reviewed, it followed on perfectly from previous records, word-of-mouth success and Mercury Prize-nominated Two Dancers, which was recorded at Leeders Farm studios, near Wymondham.
The band can't be faulted for their work ethic either. They've barely been off the road in the past three years. There's a genuine sense finally that the band, despite on paper being something of a preposterous proposition - obtuse lyrics delivered largely by Hayden Thorpe's falsetto vocal - are building toward much deserved headlining success.
t Further listening: www.wild-beasts.co.uk
YASHIN
Waterfront, March 13
Yashin have been hailed as one of the UK's best upcoming live alternative bands and there is certainly a growing buzz about them. This date has been shifted from the Studio to the Waterfront main room due to demand for tickets.
The fast-rising Scottish post-hardcore/screamo outfit, formed by school friends guitarist Paul Travers and bassist Andrew McShane in Greenock, near Glasgow, in 2006, has a growing fanbase. They may still be young but they have already graced the stage with Black Veil Brides, Lostprophets, Enter Shikari, Gallows and A Day to Remember.
Their debut album, Put Your Hands Where I Can See Them, came out in 2010, and included a cover of Everytime by Britney Spears.
They arrive in Norwich as part of a 13 date tour which coincides with the release of their new single, New Year or New York, and a new version of their debut album called Put Your Hands Where I Can See Them Revolution which includes songs from their second EP Miles Away But Getting Closer re-recorded in the style they have been performing on stage for the last three years.
Support comes from Jody Has A Hitlist, With One Last Breath and Tantrum To Blind
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/theyashin
SUMMER CAMP
Norwich Arts Centre, March 15
This excellent fast-rising duo made up of real life couple Jeremy Warmsley and Elizabeth Sankey bring their dreamy, 1980s-inflected bedroom pop, full of sweet boy-girl harmonies and tales of lust and heartbreak, to the Arts Centre.
Summer Camp have been a buzz band ever since they posted their first songs online, joining a wave of American bands favouring nostalgic lo-fi synth-pop.
Both from Kingston, they met when Sankey was a drama student at Goldsmiths college and a regular at fellow students the Klaxons' house parties. The pair became firm friends, cemented by a mixtape that Sankey gave to Warmsley containing the song I Only Have Eyes for You by the Flamingos. When they recorded their own version and put it online, unannounced and unpublicised, they were deluged by hip blogs and record label A&Rs. Within hours, it was on influential music blog Gorilla vs Bear.
Their subsequent debut album, Welcome to Condale, which was funded by themselves and produced Pulp's Steve Mackey before bring released by indie label Moshi Moshi, features songs all set in fictional town. A scrapbook put together by Sankey accompanies it, telling stories of the characters in the songs.
A welcome shot of sunshine and irresistible pop, it's a collection of lushly melodic songs woven around a central narrative.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/summercampmusic
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
March 9
Portico Quartet (jazz) — Arts Centre
Billy Lockett + Lee Vann + more (indie/pop) — Open
The Stylotones (ska/reggae) — Brickmakers
Unhallowed + more (metal) — B2
Killer Hurtz (metal) — King Edward VII
The Cleavin Heavages (risqu� rock) — Brewery Tap
Rock Island Rebels (rock'n'roll) — Walnut Tree Shades
Scubaroots + Killamonjambo — Carnival (Queen St)
Norwich Folk Club: feat. Nancy Kerr & James Fagan — Christ Church Centre
Pout At The Devil (rock) — Hog In Armour
The Hustlers (rock'n'roll) — Arkwrights
Rivers (rock/indie) — UEA Bar
No Secrets (pop/roots) — Wildman
Music House Session: feat. Horses Brawl + more (acoustic) — Wensum Lodge
AJ Experience — Lakenham Cock
Tony Cann — The Farmhouse
Ricci — Perseverance
Vikki H — Fiveways
March 10
Rise To Remain (metal) — Waterfront
Future Radio Fundraiser: feat. Kamilla Lovett + Girl In A Thunderbolt + more (local/indie) — Open
Bad Touch (rock) — King Edward VII
To The Last (rock) — Boundary
Pure Floyd Show (rock/tribute) — Brickmakers
National Image (indie) — Woolpack Inn
Beyond Duplication (rock/blues) — Walnut Tree Shades
Tendahooks (rock/pop) — Hog In Armour
What's Up (rock'n'roll) — Arkwrights
Krazy 88 (rock/pop) — The Stanley
Catch 22 (rock/pop) — Horsham Social Club
Doozoot (pop/rock) — Angel Gardens
Me, Myself & I ( — Gas Club
Hard Rain (rock) — Woods End
Rob Charles (easy) — Heath House
Play The Music (acoustic/1pm) — Arts Centre
3 Up 2 Down (blues/funk) — Trowel & Hammer
Stone Cold — Blue Boar
Rob Charles (easy) — Heath House
Alan Ley — Windmill
Karen — Farmhouse
March 11
Black Stone Cherry (rock) — UEA
Egypt (rock/blues) — King Edward VII
Philip Henry & Hannah Martin (folk/roots) — Bicycle Shop
Slow Gin (blues/roots/2.30pm) — Brewery Tap
Liza Wolfe (pop/rock/4pm) — Boundary
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers
Lee Vasey (4pm) — Lakenham Cock
March 12
Wild Beasts (indie) — Waterfront
The Dubliners (Irish/roots) — Theatre Royal
Rocket From The East (music competition night) — B2
Stookey Blue (folk) — Micawbers Tavern
Brickie Sessions (open mic) — Brickmakers
Jazz Jam — B2
Jazz Night — Walnut Tree Shades
March 13
Yashin (indie/punk) — Waterfront
The Rob Holmes Band (blues/rock) — Brickmakers
Tim Huskisson (jazz) — Rackheath Green Man
Rocket From The East (music competition night) — B2
March 14
The Maccabees (indie/rock) — UEA
Sean Taylor (blues) — Olives
Lee Vasey & Friends — Trowel & Hammer
Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers
March 15
Summer Camp (indie/pop) — Arts Centre
Cate Ferris (folk/acoustic) — Bicycle Shop
Ghostriders Western Club: feat. Arizona Flame (country) — TA Centre
Sally Taylor & The Midnight Soul Band — Beluga
Blues Situation (blues) — Walnut Tree Shades
Soothsayer Promo (metal) — B2
Johnny Jump Band (blues/rock) — Micawbers Tavern
Dusty Soup (rock) — Rumsey Wells
Access To Music (local) — Brickmakers
Open Jam — King Edward VII
Open Mic — Wildman
Open Mic — Garden House
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