Preview: This week's gig guide

THE PADDINGTONS

Norwich Arts Centre, December 12

Norwich promoters All Sorted!?! welcome Hull's finest political indie punks as headliners of their Arts Centre Christmas party tomorrow night.

Formed in 2002, the five-piece were one of the bands signed to Alan McGee's Poptones record label and their debut album, First Comes First, was produced by Owen Morris, producer of Oasis's Definitely Maybe.

Four successful singles from that album saw them tour the world and pick up a legion of devoted fans. However, the adulation would soon take its toll as the band grew disillusioned by the music scene and disappeared for the next five years. The band's second album, No Mundane Options, only emerged in 2008.

The band are currently in the studio recording an EP which is due out early 2010, but to coincide with this tour they have released a new single, Shame About Elle.

The bill also includes Norwich's 60s-influenced indie rockers The Interpreters, Dead Delta and Hemingway.

t Further listening: www.thepaddingtons.net

SHED SEVEN

UEA, December 14

Sometimes you just have to wait to get your just deserts. So it seems with Shed Seven who enjoyed moderate success in the 1990s but have scored more acclaimed since reforming in 2007.

The band, who enjoyed a run of 15 consecutive Top 40 hits from 1994 to calling it a day in 2003, initially reform for a one-off Greatest Hits tour but were clearly so taken aback by its success that its become an annual event.

This December's outing is a 15 date tour, which coincides with a live album recorded on the 2007 reunion tour which has been available track by track as a free weekly online download.

Frontman Rick Witter said: 'The reaction to our reunion tour of 2007 was amazing and after a couple of memorable festival appearances last summer we couldn't resist the urge to play live together again this year. Fans can expect to hear all the singles plus other past favourites that we didn't get the chance to revisit in 2007.'

The band will be playing all their big hits including Going For Gold, Speakeasy and Chasing Rainbows. Support will come from North London stop-start cheeky street-urchin punks, The Holloways.

t Further listening: www.shedseven.com

THE BLOCKHEADS

Waterfront, December 16

Though sadly now without the late great Ian Drury, there is no doubting that The Blockheads remain the most lovable, eccentric, cocky, funny, schoolboy-rude and artful characters from the punk era.

Together with Ian Dury they created songs that were clever, insightful, subversive and, more often than not, just plain fun. Clever Trevor, Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 3, What A Waste and, the anthem for their generation, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, all carried the same trademark mark mix of humour, wonderfully witty wordplay and extreme musicianship.

The band celebrated their 30th Anniversary in 2007 and have released of the well-received new album, Staring Down The Barrel, proving that there is life after Ian.

The line up features Chaz Jankel (who wrote the music that accompanied Ian's lyrics), Mick Gallagher, John Turnbull, Norman Watt-Roy, Dylan Howe and Derek The Draw, who has fronted the band since 2002.

Support comes from Garry Roberts and Simon Crowe, the driving force behind The Boomtown Rats, who are joined by Peter Barton and Darren Beale to perform hits like I Don't Like Mondays. Opening will be The Alarm's Dave Sharp.

t Further listening: www.theblockheads.com

PAMA INTERNATIONAL

Norwich Arts Centre, December 16

Eight-piece reggae outfit Pama International were the first new band in 30-years to sign to the legendary Trojan Records a few years ago.

They caught the ear with songs that featured an impressive array of vintage ska and reggae guests including Rico Rodriguez, Dennis Alcapone, Dawn Penn, Derrick Morgan and the first recording since the 1970s from Dave and Ansel Collins.

The collective's line-up has been fluid since then but revolves around a core of lead vocalist Finny, keyboardist Sean Flowerdew, Bentley Rhythm Ace drummer Fuzz Townsend and Lynval Golding and Horace Panter, better known as the guitarist and bassist with The Specials.

'All the things I've done with Pama have been fantastic' says Lynval. 'I've know Sean and Finny for 15-years. People ask if I'm going to make new music with The Specials but I tell them I have been making new music, it's just not heard a lot.'

Last year the band released Love Filled Dub Band. Their most dubbed album to date it featured vocals from Michie One, one half of the female reggae-pop rap duo Louchie Lou & Michie One.

t Further listening: www.myspace.com/pamainternational

SOUNDS IN THE CITY

t December 11

The Joy Formidable (indie) - Arts Centre

Discharge (punk) - King Edward VII

Aftershock (rock) - Brickmakers

Sacred Mother Tongue (metal) - B2

King Catastrophe (punk/ska) - Marquee

The Planks (soul) - Blueberry

Fourplay (rock) - Walnut Tree Shades

t December 12

NROne Xmas Bash: feat. The Brownies + more (indie) - B2

Screaming Ground ( - Marquee

Egypt (rock) - King Edward VII

The Divide (rock) - Brickmakers

Rock Doctors (rock) - Blueberry

Flying South (rock/blues) - Lakenham Cock

Johnny Jump (R&B) - The Nelson

t December 13

The Saw Doctors (rock/indie) - UEA

Keno Kings (rock/4pm) - Boundary

Leopard Trio (rock'n'roll) - King Edward VII

The Dude Coopers (bluegrass/2.30pm) - Cider Shed

Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) - Brickmakers

Mustang Sally (rock) - Bakers Dozen

t December 14

Crocus (punk) - Marquee

Musical Tapas (various) - Take 5

t December 15

San (blues/rock) - Brickmakers

Crimson Shell (blues) - B2

Abandon All Hope Presents (indie) - Marquee

t December 16

Cold Hands (indie/rock) - Marquee

t December 17

Oli Brown (blues) - Waterfront

Lost Levels (indie/electro) - Arts Centre

Rodney P & Skitz (hip hop) - Po Na Na

Serillian (metal) - B2

Egypt (rock) - Walnut Tree Shades

Keno Kings (rock) - Blueberry