Preview: This week's gig guide

KATIE MELUA

Thetford Forest, July 10

Katie Melua takes to the stage tomorrow night as the final headliner at this year's series of concerts at Thetford Forest.

With nearly 10 million combined sales generated from her first three albums, Call Off The Search, Piece By Piece and Pictures, Katie was, without doubt, one of the greatest musical success stories of the last decade.

Now, having spent last year writing songs for her fourth studio album including teaming up with song-writing partner Guy Chambers - perhaps best known for Robbie Williams' Angels and Millennium - she has just emerged from the studio after finishing the record with producer William Orbit, the man who was at the controls for Madonna's award-winning album Ray Of light.

During the process, Orbit kept a running commentary of the studio sessions on Twitter and Facebook including 'this is shaping up to be one of the finest things I've ever been involved with. I am hearing what can only be described as magic'. The resulting album, The House, finally emerged in May to mixed reviews for its notably darker edge with slow dramatic ballads featuring Katie's fragile vocals. The songs are sure to feature heavily here.

t Further listening: www.katiemelua.com

JESSE MALIN

Norwich Arts Centre, July 10

After three critically acclaimed solo records, Jesse Malin is back on the road with his new band the St Marks Social.

From his days fronting seminal hardcore trio Heart Attack and infamous glam punks D Generation, then seven years on the road as a solo artist, Malin has cultivated a devout and diverse fan base.

He has previously shared stages with everyone from The White Stripes to Counting Crows, The Hold Steady to Lucinda Williams, but a couple of years ago he contemplated going back to school or becoming a stand-up comedian and even started work on a documentary film about hardcore Rastafarians The Bad Brains.

In typical punk-rock fashion, a brush with the law for trespassing inspired him to form his new band with impresario Don DiLego, drummer Randy Schrager, guitarist Matt Hogan, and bassist/DJ Tommy USA, and bash out an album's worth of gritty anthems. Fast, loose and raw, the new sounds encompass Malin's roots from hardcore thrasher to punk/folk singer-songwriter. Support comes from The Killing Floor and Allan Fox.

t Further listening: www.jessemalin.com

MICHAEL HOLT

Cider Shed, July 11

Cult Toronto-based singer-songwriter Michael Holt stops off at the Cider Shed, Lawson Road, Norwich, this Sunday (between 2.30-5pm) for an unpredictable musical journey on piano and guitar.

Currently on his second tour of Europe, Michael has an extensive series of solo albums, recorded with friends from The Lounge Lizards and They Might Be Giants.

Since relocating to Toronto in 1999, Holt has collaborated with such artists as Ron Sexsmith, The Hidden Cameras, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, David Celia and Mushroom.

In this free-entry gig Holt will also be playing instrumentals, improvisations, and creative covers of everything from Dylan to Scriabin to Dizzy Gillespie to Fela Kuti.

His own songs range from Beatles-esque pop ditties on the guitar, through Ravel-esque art-ballads on the piano, to bugged-out Fellini-esque lounge music on the cheesy organ.

t Further listening: www.myspace.com/mikeyholt

ALL OR NOTHING

Marquee, July 13

All Or Nothing pride themselves on having always played their own blend of fast-paced punk-rock, without overlooking killer hooks. It's this formula that has seen them playing shows alongside the likes of heavyweights such as Funeral For A Friend, Kids In Glass Houses, Gallows, Frank Turner and You Me At Six.

In keeping with their fierce DIY ethos, the band released their debut EP, Is Pretty Hot Right Now, through micro-indie label Zone 6 Records and even got it a release in Japan.

The international toe-dipping doesn't stop there either, they became the first unsigned UK pop-punk band to tour Russia. A six-date tour saw them drawing 300-400 people a night and concluded with a support slot with Bring Me The Horizon in Moscow.

With half a dozen UK tours already under their belts, the band last year released a split EP with Brighton-based pop-punks, Chaos Days, and are preparing to release their long awaited debut full-length. Support comes from Tell It to The Marines, Maycombe, Atlas & I and Ship to Shore.

t Further listening: www.myspace.com/allornothing

SOUNDS IN THE CITY

t July 9

The Saturdays (pop) - Thetford Forest

Hugh Lupton & Big Sky (choir/poetry) - Arts Centre

Tin Man (indie) - B2

The Project Presents Space Rave: feat. Joshua Holiday + more (live bands/DJs) - Bedfords

The Glamtastics (glam rock) - Brickmakers

Bad Touch/Blind Tiger (rock) - King Edward VII

Hello Bear (indie) - B2

Mad Haddock (rock) - The Stanley

Keith Brown + more (pop/indie) - Take 5

Flying South (rock'n'roll) - Cat & Fiddle

The Jets (50s) - Arkwrights

t July 10

Rise (rock) - Brickmakers

Leskye (hardcore) - B2

Dirty Little Habit (rock) - King Edward VII

3 Up, 2 Down (rock/pop) - Cellar House

Pete 'Kiwi' Keegan (skiffle) - The Champion

t July 11

Fate of A Stranger (emo/rock) - B2

The Ten Belles: feat. Violet Violet + more (indire/folk) - Ten Bells

Johnny Jump (R&B) - Silver Road Cottage

Bluegrass Jam Night - Reindeer

Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) - Brickmakers

t July 12

Sessions (open mic) - Brickmakers

t July 13

Howlback Hum: feat. Spidermilk (indie) - Arts Centre

Brickie Blues Club: feat. Stone Cold Sober (blues) - Brickmakers

Abandon All Hope - Marquee

Musically Stacked Collective (acoustic) - Rumsey Wells

Trad Acoustic (folk) - Beehive

Folk Night - Micawbers Tavern

t July 14

We Can't Dance (indie) - B2

Mister Pink (rock) - Chicagos

The Session (Irish) - Cider Shed

Pure Acoustic (open mic) - Brickmakers

t July 15

Storm (rock) - Brickmakers

Knotted (folk/pop) - B2

Girls Last Choice (pop punk) - Marquee

Ben Weston Trio (jazz/funk) - Rumsey Wells

Killamonjambo (rock/dub/funk) - Rose Tavern

Open Jam (open mic) - Blueberry