Simon ParkinNorwich Sound & Vision is a new music and multi-media convention that its hoped will bring leading industry figures to the city - and provide a perfect showcase for local bands and artists to showcase their music. SIMON PARKIN reports.Simon Parkin

Norwich Sound & Vision is a new music and multi-media convention that its hoped will bring leading figures from music, film and entertainment to the city - and provide a perfect showcase for local bands and artists to showcase their music. SIMON PARKIN reports.

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Every March, the great and the good of the music and entertainment industries - together with literally thousands of hopeful bands, musicians and artists of all persuasions - flock to Austin, Texas for the annual South By Southwest.

From relatively humble beginnings, SXSW has grown into the must-be-seen-at event on the music calendar with more than 2,000 performers playing in more than 90 venues over four days.

Bands from around the globe - including some from Norwich - have beaten a path to the Texas desert in the knowledge that some of the most powerful people in the music business - from record labels to magazine reviewers to promoters - are in town looking for the hot new thing.

Next week a little bit of the SXSW buzz will be generated right here as Norwich Sound & Vision, a new entertainment festival at least partly model on the Texas shindig, will get underway.

Norwich Sound & Vision 2010 will take place for the first time from September 16 to 18. The event will comprise of a conference featuring expert speakers from the music, film, TV and games industries. There will also be live music, film screenings and other interactive performances.

Los Angeles-based music supervisor Andrea von Foerster, who has worked on TV series Stargate Universal and the hit movie 500 Days of Summer, will be amongst those attending, offering advice on how local bands can get their music in TV shows, films, adverts and computer games.

There will also be representatives from SXSW and Sony games are expected to attend, while hotly-tipped bands Serena Maneesh and Dinosaur Pile-Up will be amongst those playing.

Norwich Sound & Vision, the idea of BBC Norfolk Introducing presenter Adrian Cooke, is billed as being Norwich's 'taster' of SXSW.

Charlene Katuwawala, who is handling the PR and marketing for the event, said: 'It's a small take on the SXSW music and film conference, which is on a much bigger scale. We're bringing to Norwich for the first time a conference which offers a platform for people to not only make music but to know what to do afterwards.'

The three-day event will see a range of talks, performances and a short film festival. On September 18, there will be conferences on how to make a living from music, using web tools to promote and distribute music and how to get touring and on the festival circuit.

Adrian, who is also development director for Community Music East and founder of Norwich-based Hungry Audio record label, said: 'We know there are plenty of brilliant Norwich bands and we have a really strong music scene here.

'Through my involvement with the radio shows and Hungry Audio, you get to hear all the good stuff out there and I'm in a position to be able to do this event and bring the education aspect to it through my work with CME.

'It's taken a lot of hard work and a strong will - it hasn't been easy at times, but nothing like this ever is. I want Norwich Sound & Vision to be a significant event on the global music calendar.'

Ms Katuwawala, a former UEA student, added: 'It's very, very new for Norwich and it's not really happened that much even in London. We are getting people SXSW coming which is amazing and people who work in film. We are hoping that if it goes well this year then we can make it bigger next year, much bigger.'

t Norwich Sound & Vision 2010 takes place at Norwich Arts Centre and The Forum. Conference tickets will be sold for the day at �35 (�25 cons).

t Wristbands costing �15 cover entry to all three main Sound and Vision gigs: Serena Maneesh, Here We Go Magic and Dinosaur Pile-Up at Norwich Arts Centre, plus events at the Bicycle Shop, Ten Bells, Hog In Armour and St Gregory's Arts Centre: 01603 660352, www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk

www.norwichsoundandvision.co.uk

NORWICH SOUND & VISION MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS

t Serena Maneesh/Sennen/Pumajaw

Norwich Arts Centre, September 16, 8pm, �7 adv/�8 door, 06103 660352.

Fast-rising Norwegians Serena Maneesh headline the opening night with their psychedelic sounds that mix everything from MY Bloody Valentine and Velvet Underground influences to classical. They are joined by Norwich's indie rockers Sennen and Scotland-based electronic duo Pumajaw.

t Jess Morgan/A Civillian/Sam James Hill

The Bicycle Shop, September 16, 6pm-9pm, free admission.

An evening of local acoustic singer-songwriters, including Jess Morgan whose folk and roots music is inspired by both British folk and Americana.

t Norwich Covers Norwich

St Gregory's Centre for the Arts, September 16, 7pm-10pm, free admission.

Local artists cover their favourite songs by national and regional favourites.

t Here We Go Magic/The Lost Levels/These Ghosts

Norwich Arts Centre, September 17, 8pm, �7 adv/�8.00 door, 01603 660352.

Here We Go Magic are the new project of Luke Temple, and see him letting his psychedelic impulses take over, sounding not unlike fellow Brooklynites Grizzly Bear. The Lost Levels and These Ghosts are two of Norwich's best upcoming bands.

t Dinosaur Pile-Up/Bearsuit/Fever Fever

Norwich Arts Centre, September 18, 8pm, �7 adv/�8 door, 01603 660352.

Leeds trio Dinosaur Pile-Up have recently been joined by Norwich drummer Mike Sheils and are being heavily supported by Radio 1's Fearne Cotton. They are backed by Norwich's lo-fi faves Bearsuit and pop punks Fever Fever.

t The Kabeedies/The Barlights/Red Suns/Follow Your Heart/Lady Panther/Tawny Owl/We Can't Dance/Arcadia Lake/Takeda/King Laconic/Girl in a Thunderbolt/Alloy Ark

Hog in Armour, September 18, 1pm-9pm, free admission.

This is truly a not-to-be-missed all-day bill of top local talent. Hugely diverse there is something here to suit every musical taste