Though there are no shortage of London-based rappers these days, but Natty has long since swapped his hoodie for dreadlocks. Also back in the city is Tinchy Stryder, Turin Breaks and the much anticipated return of Guillemots.
NATTY
Norwich Arts Centre, November 11
Though there are no shortage of London-based rappers these days, Natty has long since swapped his hoodie for dreadlocks and offers a thoughtful take on what it is to be young in the inner city today, using a surprisingly broad range of sounds from around the world, not just Jamaican reggae influences.
After several years of touring, the singer took some time off to travel, explore new cultures and sounds, spending a lot of time in Africa, inspiring him to return with his latest EP Change (an album is in the works).
With a mother from Lesotho, the tiny kingdom that sits within the borders of South Africa, and an English father of Italian descent, Natty's music breaks the mould: he moves effortlessly from a classic reggae groove on his latest single, the title track Change, to West African horns on the hypnotic track JJ (Don't Go).
Emphasising the point that he's open to musical influences, the EP also includes a beautiful ambient cover of Armand van Helden's U Don't Know Me and SS I Love You, a spacey ballad. Tongue only slightly in cheek, he describes his music as 'Damian Marley meets Neil Young'.
He arrives in Norwich fresh from his first US tour, supporting Ziggy Marley.
t Further listening: www.nattymusic.com
TINCHY STRYDER
Waterfront, November 12
No stranger to Norwich thanks to his Star in the Hood links, Tinchy Stryder returns once again to coincide with the release his latest single, Off The Record, produced by Calvin Harris.
It's his follow up single to this summer's top five hit Spaceship, his collaboration with N-Dubz's Dappy and is the second cut to be released from Tinchy's forthcoming album due sometime in the Spring.
Since bursting on the scene in 2009, Tinchy was that year's biggest selling male solo artist in the UK having reached number one with the self-fulfilling single Number 1.
In the past two years, he has also scored two further chart-topping singles and a gold certified album, embarked on two nationwide sell-out headline tours, opened the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury and supported Akon and Rihanna on UK arena tours.
This date is part of his first nationwide UK tour since 2009. Thoufgh he could probably easily sell out far larger venues, it's deliberately designed to feature intimate shows that will offer perfect opportunity to hear him perform past hits alongside showcasing exclusive new material. Support comes from Dirty Danger and hotly-tipped Lowestoft singer Ria Ritchie.
t Further listening: www.tinchystryder.com
TURIN BREAKS
Waterfront, November 13
The trend for bands to perform classic albums continues. The wheeze now appears to have picked up by artists who have outlived their hey-days go and see an opportunity to recapture some of that earlier magic.
Indie folk duo Turin Brakes — comprising Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian — will here be perform their debut album The Optimist in full to mark its 10th anniversary.
Calling the album a classic is perhaps pushing it, but it was critically on its release and cemented the duo's place in the so-called 'new acoustic movement'.
It spawned two modestly successful singles, Underdog (Save Me) and Emergency 72, and received a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize.
Their second album, Ether Song, was a departure from the acoustic sound that had brought them success. Recorded in Los Angeles, it was popular enough to reach number four though.
Turin Brakes have often been compared to many of the new acoustic movement bands spawned in the late 1990s such as Elbow, Starsailor, and the Norwegian band Kings of Convenience, whose 2001 album entitled Quiet Is the New Loud is a helpful indicator of the band's first album. Support comes from Jersey Budd
t Further listening: www.turinbrakes.com
GUILLEMOTS
Waterfront, November 15
Following a brief hiatus and a solo album by frontman Fyfe Dangerfield, Guillemots return on the back of their third album, Walk the River.
Following the Mercury Music Prize nominated 2006's Through the Windowpane, 2008's Red and last year's gold-selling solo debut Fly Yellow Moon by frontman Fyfe Dangerfield, Walk the River sees the band embracing a number of musical influences from rock, folk, pop and jazz; creating epic yet quirky, tuneful yet sometimes experimental music.
After Red, the band went into somewhat of a hiatus. At the time, Fyfe said: 'It's good – it feels like the end of the first phase of the band.'
They announced their return with a series of secret gigs in London earlier this year that firmly cemented the band's status as one of the most spellbinding live acts around, making this date one not to be missed.
A highlight of the live shows is guaranteed to be the ethereal new single I Don't Feel Amazing Now. Produced by Dave Kosten (Bat for Lashes, Everything Everything), it is a bleak but beautiful song of loss and longing must be one of the most moving things recorded by Guillemots to date.
Support comes from Kyla La Grange.
t Further listening: www.guillemots.com
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
November 11
Motorhead + UK Subs (metal/punk) — UEA
Women in Punk: feat. The Raincoats + more (acoustic) — Olives
The Bunkadoos (acoustic) — Brewery Tap
Starsexpolde + more (rock) — B2
Pure Passion (rock/pop) — Brickmakers
Uprising (rock) — King Edward VII
Norwich Folk Club: feat. Steve Turner — Christ Church Centre
Outta Town Vandals (drum n bass) — Mustard
The Planks (soul) — Blueberry
White Collar Crimes (indie) — Red Lion Bishopsgate
Music House: feat. Shane O'Linski + more (acoustic) — Wensum Lodge
The Borderlines (rock'n'roll) — Arkwrights
Leopard Trio (rock'n'roll) — Walnut Tree Shades
Sirens — Lakenham Cock
Back Pages (Bob Dylan tribute) — Olives
The AJ Experience — Fiveways
Terry Adams — Perseverance
Hard Rain — Trowel & Hammer
Vic Salter — Gatehouse
Leon — The Farmhouse
November 12
Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings (rock/blues) — Theatre Royal
Adam Cohen (pop) — UEA
Unlit Festival: feat. The Neutrinos + more (indie/alternative) — Arts Centre
Thirteen (jazz/funk/rock) — The Stanley
To The Last (rock) — King Edward VII
Rawkus + more (rock) — Brickmakers
The Floating Greyhounds (rock) — Blueberry
Audio Junkie (rock/pop) — Walnut Tree Shades
Play The Music (acoustic/1pm) — Arts Centre
Second Opinion (rock) — Arkwrights
This Little Girl & The Dillicats (rock'n'roll) — Sprowston Social Club
Loose Change — Lakenham Cock
Rox Off (rock) — Boundary
Davie J — Angel Gardens
Jonesy — Gatehouse
Ronnie Ceroc — Heath House
Alan Ley — Bread & Cheese
Tony Cann — Quebec Tavern
November 13
Jordan Reyne (Irish/folk) — The Bicycle Shop
Oxjam 2011 (local/charity/5pm) — B2
Be Bop Da Jig (2.30pm) — Brewery Tap
Jade Jade (3pm) — Blueberry
The Planks (soul/3pm) — Silver Road Cottage
Freeload (rock/soul/4pm) — Boundary
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers
November 14
The Damned (punk/rock) — UEA
Islet (indie) — Arts Centre
Deadstring Brothers (alt-country) — Olives
Stookey Blues (blues) — Micawbers Tavern
Jazz N Jam (open mic) — Blueberry
Brickie Sessions (open mic) — Brickmakers
November 15
Pinewood Sax Quartet (jazz) — Rackheath Green Man
November 16
Dimmu Borgir (metal) — Waterfront
Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmakers
Open Mic — Angel Gardens
November 17
Madina Lake (rock) — Waterfront
Digital Carnival (electro) — B2
Electricity (rock/blues) — Walnut Tree Shades
Johnny Jump Band (rock/pop) — Micawbers Tavern
Sally Taylor & The Midnight Band (soul) — Beluga
Access To Music Showcase (local) — Brickmakers
Matt Parker (blues) — Rumsey Wells
Stretch Monkeys — Blueberry
Midnight Blues — Rose Tavern
Open Jam — King Edward VII
Open Mic — Garden House
Open Mic — The Wildman
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