Preview: This week’s gig guide

He's riding high in the charts, now local boy made good Ed Sheeran arrives back on home turf for a record breaking three sold out nights at the Waterfront. Also this week Sea of Bees, Polar Bear Club and the latest Thetford Forest headliners, The Script.

ED SHEERAN

Waterfront, July 11-13

Beg, steal, borrow — or just hope for returns. That's your only options for a ticket for these triumphant homecoming gigs of man-of-the-moment Ed Sheeran, who's become the first artist to sell out the Waterfront in Norwich for three nights on the

trot.

Ed, a former winner of the Evening News-backed Next Big Thing musical showcase, has scored massive online and chart success with his debut major label single The A Team, featuring his trademark folky/hip hop stylings.

The singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran narrowly missed out on the number spot in the singles chart last week – but still made the top three. But he was delighted with the position anyway, and posted on his Twitter feed: 'Having a top three on my debut single means the world, thank you everyone who has supported it.'

Ed, from Framlingham, signed a six-album deal with Atlantic Records at the start of the year after building up a reputation on the UK live circuit and releasing five self-funded EPs, the last of which got to number two in the iTunes charts.

His debut album, entitled '+', is due to be released in September. He will be back in Norwich on October 23 with a gig at UEA.

And, yes, he's sold out that one too... and he's at Latitude too, of course.

n Further listening: www.edsheeran.com

SEA OF BEES

Norwich Arts Centre, July 11

After supporting Smoke Fairies at the sold out Arts Centre show in January, Sea Of Bees return to headline their own much anticipated show.

Not a swarm of stinging insects, Sea of Bees is the musical project of Julie Ann Baenziger, a singer-songwriter from Sacramento, California. She sings, writes the songs, and plays lots of musical instruments and has a beautiful lulling voice.

Backed by Rough Trade as one of the female voices to watch, the self-trained marimba, glockenspiel and slide guitar player, puts her influences from rebels, nomads, short stories to films, and the beloved people in her life, into her album. Citing references from local Sacramento band The Honeytrees to Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes, she works with an off-kilter folk sound, at times a sorrowful lament, at others brimming with hope.

Her emotional debut album, Songs for the Ravens, was released in the UK in March to much acclaim as well as winning over a number of high-profile fans.

Combining elements of folk, indie and Americana, and featuring a host of unusual instruments such as the glockenspiel, organ and marimba, her music is rooted very much in folk and rock but wildly experimental; some crazy, beautiful, wonderful sounds.

n Further listening: www.seaofbees.com

POLAR BEAR CLUB

Waterfront, July 14

Post-hardcore/indie rock band Polar Bear Club, who hail from Syracuse, in genteel upstate New York, formed in 2005 combining members coming from a variety New York-based hardcore punk and indie rock bands.

The band's debut full-length, Sometimes Things Just Disappear, was released in 2008, receiving glowing reviews from a wide variety of webzines and great reception from their rapidly growing fanbase. Their UK profile rocketed after a debut tour with The Gaslight Anthem and Frank Turner, and a small string of UK headlining dates subsequent to the tour.

The band's second album, Chasing Hamburg, built on this success. They arrive in Norwich for this headline slot — originally slated for the sadly now closed Marquee, but subsequently shifted to the Waterfront, as part of a short tour while they take a break from recording their third album. So expect some new material to get an airing.

Support from Man Overboard, Basement and Britishteeth.

n Further listening: www.myspace.com/polarbearclub

THE SCRIPT

Thetford Forest, July 14

Irish trio The Script are the latest band to take to the High Lodge stage as part of this summer's live dates in Thetford Forest.

The band's eponymous debut album quickly secured them the status of an international act to watch. A musical blend of rock, pop, hip hop and soul, singles like We Cry and The Man Who Can't Be Moved brought the band to the fore with a number one album in the UK.

Their single Breakeven went on to sell over 1.7 million downloads in the US alone.

This initial success was reflected by their performing as special guest with music heroes U2, Take That and Paul McCartney on their respective stadium shows.

The Script's second album, Science & Faith, released last September again hit the top spot in the charts and has already generated the hits Nothing and For The First Time.

The band's Spring 2011 UK indoor arena tour dates sold out in record time, so now surprise that this forest date has already sold out.

n Further listening: www.thescriptmusic.com

SOUNDS IN THE CITY

July 8

Karenins Smile + more (rock/indie) — B2

Cornerstone (rock/blues) — King Edward VII

The Honeycombs (60s) — The Talk

The Toy Hearts (bluegrass/swing) — Olives

Higher on Maiden (metal/tribute) — Brickmakers

Big Black Cadillac (rockabilly) — Walnut Tree Shades

The Kingcats (rock'n'roll) — Arkwrights

Floating Greyhounds (rock) — Blueberry

Dumbfoundus (indie) — Karma Kafe

Tickled Pink — Lakenham Cock

Against The Odds (rock/pop) — The Stanley

The Proposition (roots/acoustic) — Brewery Tap

The Killer Tomatoes (60s/70s) — Gas Club

Rockin Johnnies (rock'n'roll) — Gatehouse

Crumbs For Comfort (folk/indie) — Silver Road Cottage

Tony Cann — Preseverance

Janie K — Fiveways

Graham Chat — The Champion

Ricci — Trowel & Hammer

July 9

Tilting Sky: feat. Olympians (indie) — Waterfront

Tom Paley & Michael Roach (folk/blues) — The Forum

Raw Edge (rock) — Brickmakers

Truescape + more (indie/rock) — B2

Contempt + more (punk) — King Edward VII

Section IV (rock/hip hop) — Blueberry

Stolen Pony (rock) — Wild Man

Flying South (blues) — The Stanley

Doozoot — Angel Gardens

16th Minute (rock) — Boundary

Undercover — Lakenham Cock

Vic Salter — Gatehouse

Mark Anthony — Trowel & Hammer

Shannon — Quebec Tavern

July 10

Keno Kings (rock/blues) — Boundary

The Vagabond (2.30pm) — Brewery Tap

Bill Downes (acoustic) — Tao

Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers

Graham McGrotty (4pm) — Lakenham Cock

Haley Moyses & The Bluesgrass Forum — Silver Road Cottage

July 11

Jazz Session: feat. Lee Vasey + more (jazz) — Blueberry

Studio Lab: feat. James Pearce + more (folk/acoustic) — Olives

Stookey Blue (folk) — Micawbers Tavern

Brickie Sessions (open mic) — Brickmakers

July 12

Steve Kennell & The Simon Brown Trio (jazz) — Rackheath Green Man

Brickies Blues Club: feat. Jimmy Roe Trio (blues) — Brickmakers

Open Mic — Steam Packet

July 13

Show Me The Coastline + more (pop-punk) — B2

Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers

Acoustic Singaround (folk) — Micawbers Tavern

July 14

Red Shadow Quartet (jazz) — Brewery Tap

Aftershock (rock/pop) — Brickmakers

Lena Black (jazz/blues) — Rumsey Wells

Laurence (acoustic) — Blueberry

Woodland Creatures (folk/acoutsic) — The Rose

Party Time Blues — Walnut Tree Shades

Open Mic — King Edward VII

Open Mic — Wild Man