Summer concerts return to Thetford Forest this weekend with headline appearances from Westlife and Bryan Ferry. Meanwhile in Norwich, hardcore pioneers Agnostic Front are banjo-totting teenager Sarah Jarosz are both at the Arts Centre (though not together!).

WESTLIFE

Thetford Forest, July 15

This summer's concerts at High Lodge in Thetford Forest resume tonight with this headlining spot from mega-selling combo Westlife.

During their 12-year career the Irish boy-band have notched up an incredible 14 chart-topping singles and more than 43 million sales. In the UK alone they have scored 10 multi-platinum albums and 14 No.1 hits, making them the top-selling group of the past decade.

This prolific chart domination is attributed to hits like Swear It Again, Flying Without Wings, What Makes A Man, Uptown Girl, Queen Of My Heart, World Of Our Own, Unbreakable, You Raise Me Up and The Rose.

Critical acclaim for the group has come via numerous awards including two Brits, an MTV Europe Music Award and being the only artists to win the prestigious Record of the Year an incredible four times.

Special guests for this show will be Wonderland. The part-Irish, part English quintet – Sharon Condon, Corinna Durran, Jodi Albert, Kasey Smith and Leigh Learmont – released their debut self-titled album. Opening act for the evening will be Glenn Cal who supported Westlife on their Gravity tour.

t Further listening: www.westlife.com

AGNOSTIC FRONT

Norwich Arts Centre, July 17

New York's hardcore metal-punk scene-starters — they formed way back in 1980 — make a rare return to the UK to play from their sizeable back catalogue.

This tattooed bunch straddle the hardcore and 1980s thrash metal scenes and have outlived their now-legendary contemporaries like Minor Threat, SSD, Dead Kennedys and Black Flag.

As one of the original hardcore bands, they were one of the meanest-sounding bands to emerge in the punk genre, helping to initiate the term 'hardcore,' and placing an entire uproar on the New York map by association.

From the start, they released a catalogue of fast and violent punk tunes consisting of distinctive and aggressive drumming, bass work, and a non-stop barrage of chaotic shouting.

The title of their latest album, My Life, My Way, pretty much sums it up and goes some way to reaffirming the band's position as trailblazers — a band that every thrash and punk outfit since owe some debt to.

Now with a line-up of guitarists Joseph James and Vinnie Stigma, drummer Jimmy Mo, bassist Mike Gallo and vocalist Roger Miret, this is a must see if this type of music is your thing.

t Further listening: www.agnosticfront.com

SARAH JAROSZ

Norwich Arts Centre, July 19

Banjo-toting, Texan singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz emerged on the acoustic music scene as a mandolin wunderkind in her young teens and as she arrives in Norwich as part of her latest tour showcasing material from her new album she is still only 19.

Right from the outset, jamming onstage with bluegrass icons David Grisman and Ricky Skaggs, she played with a sure touch and real joy that belied her years. She quickly picked up the guitar and banjo.

While her instrumental talents are formidable, Sarah is an equally gifted vocalist and songwriter, talents which led then-16-year-old Jarosz to a record deal with legendary roots label Sugar Hill Records and a major in contemporary improvisation in voice at the prestigious New England Conservatory.

And what her acclaimed debut, Song Up In Her Head, suggested, her follow up album, Follow Me Down, confirms: she is constitutionally incapable of getting stuck in a rut. Her approach to acoustic music is expansive; she sees no need to choose between old-timey and modern material; between picking, singing and writing; between experimenting and reviving tradition. She does all of it, and pushes it all further.

t Further listening: www.sarahjarosz.com

SOUNDS IN THE CITY

Tonight

Throb (glam rock) — Brickmakers

Dying Breeds + more (pop/punk) — B2

Hotwired (punk) — Blueberry

Flying South (rock'n'roll/blues) — Wild Man

The Life Crisis (rock) — King Edward VII

Dave Thomas & James Goodwin (blues) — Brewery Tap

Johnny Jump Band (R&B) — Silver Road Cottage

Coupe De Ville (rock/pop) — The Woolpack

Leopard Trio (rock'n'roll) — Walnut Tree Shades

Claude Bourbon (Latin/blues) — Olives

Danny Reno — Perseverance

Joe Bloggs — Lakenham Cock

Ronnie Del Rio — Trowel & Hammer

Vikki H — Fiveways

Open Mic — Mustard Pot

Tomorrow

Bryan Ferry (pop) — Thetford Forest

Hidden Talent: feat. Ain't Misbehavin + more (local/charity) — Dragon Hall

Metal Lust: feat. 100% Pantera (metal) — Waterfront

Pure Passion + more (rock/pop) — Brickmakers

Money Shot (rock/pop) — Blueberry

Red Hot Rockers (rockabilly) — Boundary

The Yarebeats (60s) — Arkwights

Outhablues (blues) — The Stanley

Rum Brothers (Irish) — Angel Gardens

Mister Pink — The Heartsease

Steve Moyes — Trowel & Hammer

Johnny Valentine — Heath House

Alan Ley — The Windmill

Jeanette — The Marlpit

Micky Spanton — Quebec Tavern

July 17

No More Millie (3pm/acoustic) — Blueberry

Greenpeace Charity Gig (local) — B2

Outhablues (blues) — Walnut Tree Shades

Dr Misfit (4pm/rock) — Boundary

Paul Francis Le Troubadour (2pm) — Brewery Tap

Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers

Scott Wright (acoustic) — Tao

Dog Days of Summer (4.30pm) — Silver Road Cottage

Pete Allan (4pm) — Lakenham Cock

July 18

Def Core + more (punk) — King Edward VII

Jazz N Jam: feat. Lee Vasey + more — Blueberry

Brickie Sessions (open mic) — Brickmakers

Stookey Blue (folk) — Micawbers Tavern

July 19

Blind Tiger (rock) — Brickmakers

Track 3 Promo (indie/punk) — B2

Live & Direct (acoustic) — Rumsey Wells

Sarah Pitchard (jazz) — Rackheath Green Man

July 20

The AMPC + more (punk) — B2

Live Lounge — The Langtry

Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers

July 21

Thin Ice (rock/pop) — Brickmakers

Cuttooth + more (rock) — B2

Ghostriders Western Club: feat. Brushwood (country) — Royal British Legion

Born With A Tail (country/folk) — Rumsey Wells

Rum Brothers (Irish) — The Rose

Egypt (rock/blues) — Walnut Tree Shades

Open Jam — King Edward VII

Open Mic — Wild Man