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