Simon ParkinDoves bounced back from a catelogue of misfortune to release their best ever album, Kingdom of Rust, last year and now they're headlining Thetford Forest. Plus: Male Bonding, Page 44, Ana Silvera.Simon Parkin
MALE BONDING
Norwich Arts Centre, June 11
Sub Pop has a long history of bringing their latest hotly tipped signings to Norwich - from the hey-days of grunge onwards - and so it continues as Male Bonding bring their fast and furious hardcore-infused garage punk to the latest Wombatwombat happening at the Arts Centre.
The gig follows hot on the heels of the London-based noise-pop trio's debut album, Nothing Hurts, which came out on May 10.
Emerging from the fertile DIY rock scene in Dalston, north east London, the noise-pop trio play fast, so fast in fact that Nothing Hurtsis done and dusted in half an hour, and most songs clock in at little more than two minutes. But, there's much more to them than high-speed, high-impact punk. Every song on Nothing Hurts carries a melody-packed hook that's immediate.
The band were snapped up by Sub Pop after releasing a split 7' single with lo-fi band Pens, on their own Paradise Vendors imprint. Suitably therefore support comes from Pens as well as Hunt In Packs, who have a far claim to be the loudest band in Norwich. As ever, Howlback Hum will be providing the sounds and vibes in the caf�/bar.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/malebonding
DOVES
Thetford Forest, June 12
Their manager died, their studio burnt down and they missed the number one spot by just four sales, but Doves still bounced back last year with their best album yet, Kingdom Of Rust.
That came over four years since the Cheshire trio's last album, Some Cities. 'We were really proud of that record,' says Andy Williams, the band's drummer, sometime singer and co-songwriter. 'We put a lot of hard work into it and we were all really pleased with it. We were pretty sure we'd made the best record we could.'
The record, like their first two Mercury-Prize-nominated efforts Lost Souls and The Last Broadcast, picked up magical reviews and flocks of devoted Doves fans.
Here they arrive for a date as part of the first batch of open air dates in Thetford. Having played a date in Delamere Forest, in their native county, last summer, it's something they are looking forward to. Jimi Goodwin said: 'It was great experience playing to a sold-out crowd at Delamere Forest last summer so we were pleased to announce another forest gig for 2010.'
t Further listening: www.doves.net
PAGE 44
B2, June 15
This four-piece hail from Redditch near Birmingham, and mix catchy melodic tunes and entertaining live shows bursting with energy and charisma on stage.
They've performed over 180 shows in the last two years, including performing live on Channel 4's Popworld and being handpicked to perform at the NEC on the Kerrang! Stage as part of, rather bizarrely, The Clothes Show Live.
Adam Stanford (guitar and vocals), Adam Vygus (vocals and guitar), Mark Rabone (drums) and Zach Phelps (bass) developed a reputation as one of the hardest working and most determined unsigned bands going.
The band's music spans many genres from alternative rock to indie, stopping off at almost every style in-between and this has enabled them to play alongside many top bands. They have shared the stage with Boy Kill Boy, The Dykeenies, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, The Holloways, The Changes, Bombay Bicycle Club, Esser, The Ryes as well as hundreds of amazing unsigned bands.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/page44
ANA SILVERA
Norwich Arts Centre, June 16
2010 looks set to be a seminal year for this highly original singer, songwriter and musician. Having just recorded her first studio album in NYC and London, London-born songsmith's ability to weave intense, poetical story-telling into hauntingly tender melodies creates a musical journey that is widely tipped to go mainstream.
She describes her songs as of 'the lush, tender, waltzy order'. Think Jacques Brel in English, with fewer Gauloises, plus a pinch of Regina Spektor and Leonard Cohen thrown in for good measure.
'What interests me is telling archetypal stories in a new way, unfolding things from unexpected perspectives' says Ana, who performed with the English National Opera before studying English Literature. In 2004, she moved to Berlin, performing in anti-folk hideouts and renowned jazz dens.
Now dwelling in Brooklyn, Ana's eventful life has shaped her songwriting style. 'Events that we experience affect each of us and our lives in very different ways.'
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/anasilvera
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
t June 11
Simply Red (pop) - Thetford Forest
Buster James (blues/rock) - Brickmakers
Hotwired + Dirty Love (rock/punk) - Blueberry
Flying South (rock/blues) - The Nelson
Fo'c'sle (folk) - King Edward VII
Hard Rain (acoustic/rock) - Silver Road Cottage
t June 12
To The Last (rock) - King Edward VII
Raw Edge (rock) - Brickmakers
Money Shot (rock) - Blueberry
Lee Van (acoustic) - B2
Metal Lust (Dio tribute) - Hades Bar
Bass Face (drum'n'bass) - Mustard Lounge
New Blue Sun (acoustic 1pm) - Arts Centre
t June 13
Laurence & Hattie (acoustic) - B2
Storm (rock) - Boundary
Big Black Cadillac (3pm) - King Edward VII
Top Hat Alley Cat (8pm) - King Edward VII
Bluegrass Jam Night (open mic) - The Reindeer
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) - Brickmakers
t June 14
Sessions: feat. Telerei + more (open mic) - Brickmakers
Jazz N Jam (open mic) - Blueberry
t June 15
Stone Cold Sober (rock) - Brickmakers
Folk Night (open mic) - Micawber's Tavern
t June 16
Cuttooth + more (indie) - B2
Pure Acoustic (open mic) - Brickmakers
t June 17
Tweet Woof Tweet: feat. Howl Project (rock/indie) - Arts Centre
Dave Arcari (blues/punk) - Brickmakers
Sanctas Quay (rock) - B2
Something We're Not (rock/funk) - Blueberry
Track 3 Promo (indie) - Marquee
The Red Shoes (rock) - Rumsey Wells
Jam (open mic) - King Edward VII
Milkbar Presents (indie/local) - The Birdcage
Graham Horne (acoustic) - Rose Tavern
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