Simon ParkinJON ALLENNorwich Arts Centre, TuesdaySouth Devon's finest Jon Allen sits comfortably with contemporaries such as Ryan Adams and Damien Rice, whilst being unmistakeably evocative of the folk-rock scene of the late 1960s and early 70s.Simon Parkin
JON ALLEN
Norwich Arts Centre, Tuesday
South Devon's finest Jon Allen sits comfortably with contemporaries such as Ryan Adams and Damien Rice, whilst being unmistakeably evocative of the folk-rock scene of the late 1960s and early 70s.
A confident performer - he has previously opened for the likes of Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, KT Tunstall, Jose Gonzalez and Damien Rice - who has wowed audiences in venues ranging from the miniscule 12 Bar all the way up to Wembley Arena.
His critically acclaimed first single, Going Home, was championed by Radio 1's Jo Whiley and featured on the Land Rover TV commercial in 2008 achieving a respectable 20,000 downloads from Jon's website in the process.
The proceeds gave him the freedom to self-fund the recording of his debut album, Dead Mans Suit, an eclectic range of influences, from early Rod Stewart and the Faces to the legendary and lamented John Martyn in his Solid Air era.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/jonallenmusic
THE DICKIES
Waterfront, Thursday
Inspired by the first wave of punk coming out of New York and London, The Dickies were formed in 1977 in LA. Their initial line-up consisted of cartoon-voiced lead singer Leonard Graves Phillips and guitarist Stan Lee, both of whom have remained constant throughout the band's myriad personnel shifts.
Having weathered numerous ups and downs as punk has come in and out of fashion, their brand of ultra-fast and outrageously energetic comic book punk currently sees them on a high once again. They are also often cited as an influence on more recent punk bands such as Offspring and Green Day. Their singles have included covers of Black Sabbath's Paranoid and the theme from Banana Splits.
Support comes from Love & A45 and Vanilla Pod.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/dickiesband
DAVID CRONENBERG'S WIFE
Norwich Arts Centre, Wednesday
London-based anti-folk five-piece fronted by Tom Mayne on vocals and guitar who take dark morally dubious story telling to new lengths.
Whether playing acoustic twisted lullabies or in-your-face electric hollers the lyrics catch you off your guard with their openness, black humour and troubling themes.
Mark Watts serves double duty on guitar and bass, while Thom Alder adds a little variety on guitar and violin. A further bassist, Rhi Tucker, extends the group's repertoire with the addition of keyboard skills, while drummer Stuart Saunderson completes the line-up
Their debut album, Bluebeard's Rooms, is unarguably dark with lyrics seem to match the relatively discordant mood of the piece.
Support on this Wilde Club night comes from F*** Dress, Tell Me How and The Milgram Experiment.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/davidcronenbergswife
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
t July 17
Monkey Spanner (ska) - Brickmakers
Aluminium Risk (indie) - Marquee
Mohawk (space metal) - King Edward VII
Emma Hall Band (soul/funk) - Blueberry
Coupe de Ville (rock/pop) - Reindeer
Replica (rock) - Heartsease
Rob Charles (easy) - Trowel & Hammer
Freeload - Mustard Pot
Linda James (pop/soul/country) - The Farmhouse
t July 18
Hayseed Dixie (folk/rock) - Waterfront
Mr Pink/Luna Ghost (rock/funk) - Brickmakers
Red Leaf (rock) - Boundary
The Unremarkables (indie/rock) - Blueberry
Live N Loud (rock) - King Edward VII
Starsexplode (psychedelic/rock) - Marquee
Lou & The Diamonds (60s) - Arkwrights
Bob Reeves (pop/60s/70s) - Silver Road Cottage
Emma Hall (soul/funk) - Reindeer
t July 19
Tell It To The Marines (pop-punk) - B2
Liza Wolfe & Scott Firth (pop/rock) - King Edward VII
Outta The Blues (blues) - Reindeer
Lenny T (easy) - Baker's Dozen
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) - Brickmakers
t July 20
Norwich Rocks: feat. Reece Fitz Gerald/Headz of State/Scott Martin (indie/rock) - Rivergarden
Sessions (open mic) - Brickmakers
Jam With Jazz (jazz) - Blueberry
t July 21
Tomorrow Belongs To Us (hardcore/punk) - B2
Prism (rock) - Brickmakers
Adust (metal) - Queen Charlotte
t July 22
The Kabeedies (indie) - B2
Pure Acoustic (open mic) - Brickmakers
The Session (Irish) - Cider Shed
Blues/Rock Jam (jam session) - Blueberry
t July 23
Replica (rock) - Brickmakers
Uncle Stash (funk/rock) - B2
Kevin Devine (indie/acoustic) - Marquee
Freefall (rock/indie) - Blueberry
Backdown Or Die (metal/punk) - King Edward VII
The Vagabond (rock/pop) - Rose Tavern
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