Simon ParkinTEITURNorwich Arts Centre, May 29Born in the Faroe Islands, Teitur first came to the attention of the world with the release of his 2003 debut album Poetry & Aeroplanes with songs mixing the intense, folk-inspired sound of Jose Gonzalez with the freewheeling musical eclecticism and intricate instrumentation of Bjork.Simon Parkin
TEITUR
Norwich Arts Centre, May 29
Born in the Faroe Islands, Teitur first came to the attention of the world with the release of his 2003 debut album Poetry & Aeroplanes with songs mixing the intense, folk-inspired sound of Jose Gonzalez with the freewheeling musical eclecticism and intricate instrumentation of Bjork.
His follow-up, Kata Hornio, was recorded in his native language and perhaps that explains where some of the mystery, searching and soul within his music stems.
'There is no getting away from the fact that the Faroe Islands have influenced me,' he says. 'The place is very dramatic, the weather conditions are averse, there is a lot of silence, it's a part of me, it's in my dreams, it is hard for me not to put some of that atmosphere into my music as I feel so attached to it.'
For last year's The Singer he travelled to an island off the coast of Sweden called Gotland with his sound engineer Jonas and arranger Trondur recorded on a 19th century estate normally a summer hotel destination, but in the winter months a beautiful, windswept and somewhat deserted piece of tranquillity.
Interrupted only by the various musicians and singers who came to play or sing on the album, who all stayed at the hotel, during their work on the album.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/teitur
KID BRITISH
Norwich Arts Centre, June 2
This four piece - who recently polled above Oasis in a survey of Manchester's best bands - ally Britpop songwriting craft to a ballsy hip hop production.
The results are a rude boy mix of club-friendly beats and bedroom-styled harmonies as evidenced on last year's Leave London EP and their recently released debut album, Are You Alright? Meanwhile, a riotous live sound has them earmarked as one of the new bands to see in 2009.
'We're a product of the iPod generation,' says beat-maker Sean Mbaya. 'We've been influenced by so many different bands from Nirvana through to The Beatles because music is constantly on shuffle. We like rap, reggae, jazz, indie, rock…and we bring all of those ideas to the music.'
They're not just a bunch of pretty tunes, either. Their razor sharp lyrical wit has seen them compared to The Streets and Lily Allen among others. 'We don't want to impose our views on people,' says vocalist James Mayer. 'We want our songs to be fun. We wrote single, Lost In London after spending a couple of days in the capital. Everyone we asked for directions was a tourist, it was so funny. We wanted to capture the fun and excitement of living in a multi cultural society rather than making a heavy political statement.'
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/kidbritishmusic
DINOSAUR PILE-UP
Norwich Arts Centre, June 3
Like the lumbering pre-historic creatures they've taken their name from, this Leeds three-piece are that endangered thing - a hulking monster of rock machismo - splayed legs, riffs, insane drumming and a bass sound turned all the way up to 11.
But actually DPU began life as a lo-fi indie pop project by Matt Bigland (formerly of Mother Vulpine), who is actually from Kendal but is now based in Leeds.
After being inspired by the Foo Fighters, in the indie sound morphed into something altogether heavier. 'I'm obsessed by that first [Foo Fighters] album and the second album. I just think they're genius. I'm not into where they've gone now but those two albums I listen to them daily," enthuses Bigland.
Featuring loud dynamics and Bigland's grunge slacker drawl, the result is equal parts their heroes, Weezer, Pavement and just a touch of Biffy.
Bigland writes all the songs which he records on an eight-track recorder. Their self-released single, My Rock'N'Roll, was well received last summer, being chosen as a 'single of the week' on the Zane Lowe show on Radio 1.
But where did that name come from? 'I went to see King Kong,' says Bigland. 'There's just this bit in it where this huge gang of brontosauruses get ambushed - the front one falls over and they all trip over it and roll down a hill in a ridiculous chain of events.'
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/dinosaurpileup
THE BEAT/NEVILLE STAPLES BAND: FEAT. PAULINE BLACK
Waterfront, June 4
Thirty-years since it burst into the nation's consciousness and 2-Tone is enjoying its strongest year since those heady days of 1979 - it must be something to do with the recession blues.
This line-up offers a sprinkling from the 2-Tone holy trinity: The Specials, The Beat and The Selector and will feature some of the all time rude boy classics.
Formed in the suburbs of Birmingham, The Beat from the outset tackled messages of hope and peace with an insight into socio-political topics that became the hallmark of 2-Tone.
The original line-up consisted of Dave Wakeling on vocals and guitar, Andy Cox on guitar, David Steele on bass, Everett Morton on drums, Ranking Roger on vocals and toasting. The band mixed soul, reggae, pop and punk to create an infectious dance rhythm on a string of hits, most noticeably their chart-topping cover of Smokie Robinson's Tears of a Clown.
Reformed in 2003, the current line-up includes Ranking Roger, Everett Morton, Mark 'Chico' Hamilton and Roger's son Matthew accompanying joining him on vocals.
Neville Staples finds time out from the reformed Specials tour to bring his own band, with a special guest spot from Pauline Black the lead singer with The Selecter.
t Further listening: www.thebeatofficial.com, www.nevillestaple.co.uk
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
May 29
Washed Up (punk/glam) - Marquee
The Lidi Berlins (pop/acoustic) - B2
The Collective (funk/soul) - Brickmakers
Emma Hall (funk/soul) - King Edward VII
Floating Greyhounds (rock) - Blueberry
The Shanklin Freak Show (industrial/glam) - Queen Charlotte
Unlawfully Yours (rock) - Regal
Beyond Duplication (rock) - Walnut Tree Shades
A Floydian Slip (tribute/rock) - Lakenham Cock
Pete 'Kiwi' Keegan (skiffle) - The Nelson
May 30
Jose Ferrera & Guateque (Latin) - Arts Centre
Murphy's Lore (Irish) - Cider Shed
Abdoujaparov (punk/electronica) - Marquee
Aftershock (rock/pop) - Brickmakers
Slide (indie/rock) - Blueberry
Lucas (soul) - Silver Road Cottage
Menumitno (rock) - Boundary
Rockin Johnnies (50s/60s) - Gatehouse
Chrissy - The Nelson
The Wild Ones (rock/pop) - The Windmill
Gary Numan tribute - King Edward VII
May 31
Nell Bryden/Gabby Young/Lizzyspit/Lana (country/folk) - Arts Centre
Misty's Big Adventure (alternative/pyschedelia) - Queen Charlotte
Chris Steinhauer & Catherine Fitzpatrick (2.30pm - blues) - Cider Shed
Sun of Cash (Johnny Cash tribute) - King Edward VII
Hayley Moyses (bluegrass) - Unthank Arms
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) - Brickmakers
June 1
Fanfalo (indie) - Arts Centre
Norwich Idol 2009 (talent show) - Silver Road Cottage
June 2
Operation FM ( - B2
Bad Touch (rock) - Brickmakers
June 3
The Session (Irish) - Cider Shed
June 4
James Morrison (soul/pop) - Thetford Forest
Led Bib (punk-jazz) - Arts Centre
Underline The Sky (pop-punk) - B2
Polar Bear Club (hardcore/rock) - Marquee
Third Time Lucky (rock) - Brickmakers
NYA (metal) - Queen Charlotte
iBand (rock) - Blueberry
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