Simon ParkinAfter the recent NME tour and being crowned Best New Band at the NME Awards, Bombay Bicycle Club return to Norwich as part of a special acoustic tour of churches and art centres. Plus: Sepultura, The Shee, Orkestra del Sol.Simon Parkin
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB
Norwich Arts Centre, July 20
After concluding the recent NME tour in style by being crowned Best New Band at the NME Awards, Bombay Bicycle Club return to Norwich as part of an acoustic tour of churches and art centres.
The tour is in support of their beautiful new acoustic album Flaws which was released this week. Having finished recording their debut LP, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, in February 2009, the band went straight back into the studio days after they submitted the master for I Had The Blues and started the initial recordings for Flaws.
The more stripped down, acoustic sound, though markedly different from the majority of their debut, isn't new for the band, as almost every single they've released since their earliest days has been accompanied by an acoustic B-side.
Support comes from Brixton's original folk-steppers Melodica, Melody and Me who have just released their debut single, Piece Me Back Together, and who (probably uniquely) combine their folk influences of Bert Jansch and Victor Jara with a love of the dub of reggae heroes Augustus Pablo and Lee Scratch Perry.
t Further listening: www.bombaybicycleclubmusic.com
SEPULTURA
Waterfront, July 21
Brazilian's heaviest and certainly most successful metal outfit bring their latest UK tour to the Waterfront.
Formed in 1984 the band have been a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms of the late 1980s and early-90s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk, industrial music and extreme metal.
The band have so far released 11 studio albums, the latest being last year's A-Lex. They really made their name with a trio of mid-90s albums - Arise , Chaos A.D. and Roots, each of them selling over the one million mark worldwide.
The band has sold more than 15 million units worldwide, gaining multiple gold and platinum records across the globe. Earlier this year they supported Metallica at Morumbi Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The two concerts were attended by 60,000 people, so the tiny Waterfront will be something of a shock and a certainly is a change to see a genuine big name in intimate surrounds. Support comes from Gama Bomb and Shrapnel.
t Further listening: www.sepultura.com
THE SHEE
Norwich Arts Centre, July 21
All-girl group The Shee have undergone a name change since they started out in 2006 as The Sirens. Their repertoire is wide - traditional tunes and airs, Gaelic songs, self penned compositions and American bluegrass. Their adventurous brew of Scottish folk, Gaelic song and bluegrass has earned them fast growing recognition.
Described as 'flirtatiously funky', as well as 'boasting some of folk music's cutting-edge instrumentalists and singers', the unexpectedly funky six-piece feature original compositions alongside a wealth of traditional material. As well as successful performances at festivals, The Shee can boast an impressive array of individual musical achievements including a former BBC Young Traditional Musician award-winner and a BBC Radio Scotland's Young Traditional Musician finalist, as well as members performing with acclaimed traditional music groups such as Scottish folk orchestra The Unusual Suspects and The Kathryn Tickell Band. The current line-up includes Shona Mooney and Olivia Ross on fiddles, Laura-Beth Salter on mandolin, Amy Thatcher on accordion and foot percussion, Rachel Newton on clarsach, and flutist Lillias Kinsman-Blake, augmented by particularly fine vocals.
t Further listening: www.theshee.com
ORKESTRA DEL SOL
Norwich Arts Centre, July 22
Edinburgh Fringe favourites Orkestra del Sol return to Norwich to further explore their polygamous love affair with bombastic brass band music, anarchic humour and tall tales in a brand new show.
Bursting with anarchic humour, wildly skilful musical arrangements and a roguish sense of theatre, the ensemble delight in taking the brass band format to a whole new level.
Their well-crafted blend of rolling Middle Eastern rhythms, soaring horn lines, Guca-worthy trumpet solos and New Orleans sass has charmed audiences around the world. Band members will pit themselves against each other in a frenzy of high-speed riffs, ridiculous musical challenges, one-upmanship and brass bravado. But who will emerge on top?
This will be a performance bursting with wildly skilful musical arrangements, a roguish sense of theatre and a good dose of humour. Not to be missed.
t Further listening: www.orkestradelsol.co.uk
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
t July 16
Faith (rock/indie) - Brickmakers
Operation FM (pop-punk) - B2
The Uprising (rock) - King Edward VII
Emma Hall Band (soul/funk) - Blueberry
Lisa Wolf (pop/rock) - Trowel & Hammer
t July 17
World's Apart (rock) - Brickmakers
Killer Hurts (metal) - B2
The Planks (soul) - Blueberry
NMS Promo (metal) - Marquee
Play The Music Showcase (acoustic/1pm) - Arts Centre
Rawkus (rock) - King Edward VII
Voodoo Blues (blues) - Boundary
Mister Pink (glam rock) - The Leopard
Rob Charles (easy) - Trowel & Hammer
t July 18
Mucked Up Funkies (rock/funk) - Boundary
The Dude Coopers (bluegrass) - Cider Shed
Chris Cooper Quartet (jazz) - Rackheath Green Man
Floating Greyhounds (rock) - Heartsease Pub
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) - Brickmakers
t July 19
Sessions (open mic) - Brickmakers
t July 20
Tenassee Tuesday: feat Overdrive (country) - Brickmakers
This Sudden Injury + more (pop-punk) - B2
Folk Night (folk) - Micawbers Tavern
t July 21
Black Bonzo (rock) - B2
Lee Vasey & Friends (blues) - Trowel & Hammer
Pure Acoustic (open mic) - Brickmakers
t July 22
Super Action Heroes (rock) - Brickmakers
Varma Piolets (funk/rock) - B2
Fourplay (rock/blues) - Blueberry
Monk Inc (jazz) - Rose Tavern
Dove & Boweevil (blues) - Rumsey Wells
Open Jam (open mic) - King Edward VII
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