Preview: This week's gig guide

THE TWANG

Waterfront, October 11

Having been almost universally tipped as ones to watch in 2006, prompting a record label scramble to sign them, Brummie indie rockers The Twang arrive in Norwich still promoting their second album Jewellery Quarter.

They were one of the talking points of 2007 with their debut album, Love It When I Feel Like This, which produced the Top 20 hits Either Way and Wide Awake.

This second album that has been equally praised for its 'euphoric harmonies' (Uncut) with 'melodic, everyman appeal' (Zoo), though they've not yet made the sort of break through the early hype suggested.

The album features the first single, Barney Rubble, as well as the forthcoming single Encouraging Sign which is released on October 18.

Support comes from Newcastle outfit Little Comets who are set to release their first major label single, Adultery, on October 26.

t Further listening: www.thetwang.co.uk

GO: AUDIO

UEA, October 11

Following three successive sold out tours, Go: Audio play the UEA as part of their biggest UK tour to date. This summer they added to a growing fan base on the festival circuit including appearances at Download, T in The Park and Reading and Leeds Festival.

Nominated for Best Newcomers at the Kerrang! Awards 2008, the band released their self-released debut album Made Up Stories in May, written, recorded and produced by the band themselves.

Despite their clear pop-punk dynamic, the band experiment with electronic sounds, synthesizers and programming to produce something as catchy as it is aggressive.

Vocalist James Matthews said: 'Being on the road is the part we all love the most and with the increased size of the venues this time around, it will be pretty special. It's the first time we'll be touring when our album is in the shops, so should make for some awesome shows.'

t Further listening: www.myspace.com/goaudioband

NME RADAR TOUR

Waterfront, October 12

The NME Radar Tour - one of three annual tours the music bible now promotes - aims to showcase the best in new music, and is as well as mixed bag of the hopeful and the hyped.

Headliners Golden Silvers (pictured) are a London-based pop-psych trio. Early singles Arrows Of Eros and Magic Touch led to a bidding war, with XL Recordings winning the band's signature. Their debut album, True Romance, came out in April and contained the same synth-driven beauty that powers MGMT.

Also on the bill is Welsh/Greek songbird Marina & the Diamonds, who after releasing a single, Obsessions, and The Crown Jewels EP through indie label Neon Gold Records earlier this year, is about to release her debut major single, Mowgli's Road.

Adding a US flavour, will be Local Natives, who hail from Silver Lake, Los Angeles, and who mix the rhythmic lightness of Vampire Weekend, the hippie-barbershop harmonies of Fleet Foxes and the sense of elegiac and epic that you get from Arcade Fire, and four-piece Yes Giantess, who will fly the flag for US electro-pop.

t More details: www.nme.com/newmusic/tour/lineup

SONIC BOOM SIX

UEA, October 14

Manchester's Sonic Boom Six have been delivering a kick up the backside of the DIY punk scene, mixing samplers, rapping and hip hop into the ska-punk mix.

Following their early rough-and-ready releases on Moon Ska Europe and Deck Cheese the band, with typically do-it-yourself attitude, decided to release their own material on their own Rebel Alliance Recordings label.

Not being on a major label has not held them back though. They have just had their busiest festival summer yet, including appearances at Summer Sundae, the Boom Town Fair and opening the main stage at the Reading and Leeds Festival.

Currently midway through a UK tour they have just released a new single, Back 2 Skool, which is lifted from their latest album, City of Thieves.

Joining them will be The Skints, new signings to Rebel Alliance Recordings. Opening will be Norwich ska and street punk outfit Faintest Idea.

t Further listening: www.myspace.com/sonicboomsix

Sounds in The City

t October 9

Hollow Earth (prog rock) - Brickmakers

Dirty Little Habit (rock) - King Edward VII

Murphy's Lore (Irish) - Cider Shed

Sweet Arlita (rock) - Marquee

Dog Days of Summer (bluegrass/metal) - B2

Replica (rock) - Blueberry

Coyote Rocks (blues/rock) - Walnut Tree Shades

Johnny Jump (R&B) - The Nelson

UB Marley (reggae) - Lakenham Cock

t October 10

Charlie Landsborough (country/folk) - Theatre Royal

Eilen Jewell & Band (folk/country) - Arts Centre

Sleep Arena (alt-pop) - Marquee

The Rock Doctors (rock) - Brickmakers

Rawkus (rock) - King Edward VII

The Sweetbeats (ska) - Belverde Centre

Money Spanner (ska/reggae) - Blueberry

Headspace (rock) - Boundary

Honeydripper (R&B) - The Canary

Barry's White (tribute) - Lakenham Cock

t October 11

Curtis Stigers (jazz) - Theatre Royal

Hell Yes! Fest: Future of Left + more (indie) - Arts Centre

Big Black Cadillac + Outathablues (rock'n'roll/blues) - King Edward VII

Nitrous X (rock/blues) - The Stanley

James Goodwin (blues) - Cider Shed

Stonewood (rock) - Boundary

Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) - Brickmakers

t October 12

The Proclaimers (pop/folk) - UEA

David Essex (pop) - Theatre Royal

Zion Train (reggae) - Arts Centre

Crazy Arm (punk) - Marquee

Awakened By Silence (metal) - B2

t October 13

Hell Yes! Fest: Micachu & The Shapes + more (indie) - Arts Centre

The Chill (indie/rock) - Brickmakers

Rebop (jazz) - Rackheath Green Man

Musically Stacked (acoustic) - Rumsey Wells

t October 14

Noisettes (rock) - UEA

Sonic Boom Six (punk) - Waterfront

The Unthanks (folk) - Arts Centre

t October 15

Calvin Harris (electro/pop) - UEA

Nouvelle Vague (new wave/lounge) - Waterfront

Pout At The Devil (glam/metal) - Brickmakers

Abandon All Hope (metal/rock) - B2

Egypt (rock/blues) - Walnut Tree Shades

Camp Freddie (indie/pop) - Blueberry

The Rum Borthers (Irish/country) - Rose Tavern