Gigs Of The Month

This month see our very own Adelaide's Cape return to this fine city as part of his UK tour. His lo-fi musings are not be missed as he's fresh from releasing his brilliantly rickety Last Sleep in Albion EP as well as supporting the likes of Alessi's Ark and First Aid Kit. His stock is obviously rising, so see him for under a fiver while you still can.



Adelaide's Cape, The Birdcage on 8th April, entry £4.


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Zach Braff's buddy and acoustic Americana genius Joshua Radin hits the homely Arts Centre surrounds on the 18th touring his next album, Simple Times. It could be the best £10 you spend this month, his soft and beautiful acoustica is thoughtful and pensive and unmissable.



Joshua Radin, The Arts Centre on 18th April, entry £10


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Emo stalwarts Story Of The Year finally bring their explosive shows to the Waterfront for their re-arranged show on the 26th. They've been at the peak of the scene for years, selling out shows as they go. You can see them for a mere £10 at the brilliant Waterfront.



Story Of The Year, The Waterfront, April 26th, entry £10.


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Alternatively, you could go to the Marquee to watch Britain's very own tour de force in the form of Canterbury. They very nicely gave away their debut album with a deposit box for those who feel guilty. It's a damn fine record too. And they're damn fine live too. They're on their way to being a complete band so catch them for seven of your finest pounds.



Canterbury, The Marquee, April 26th, Entry £7.


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The Kabeedies - Jitterbug (Re-edit)

Norwich's finest exports just keep getting finer. Jitterbug accompanied by a couple of acoustic versions is The Kabeedies newest chunk of happiness continuing to fight Los Campesinos for their underground crown made of twee.

The layered boy/girl vocals are sugar-topped and equally brilliant. It's frenetic and melodic at the same time, bretahless and breathtaking. Guitars are everywhere but you can't take your ears of the singing. You really never want it to end. But then when it does you're treated once again.

An acoustic version of Petroleum Jelly, bobbing and swaying its way along. "Soft like petroleum jelly/My heart sank like petroleum jelly". Try resist singing along to that. In this mode they're rivalling Slow Club, especially on 'We Make Our Own Adventures'. What better compliment than comparing them as the best of Slow Club and Los Campesinos.

Released March 15th through NROne Records

Apollo 101 - Here And Now

Synth-poppers Apollo 101 have landed touching on all bases with their new EP Here and Now, flitting between synth-pop to a glammy-grunge. Their way forward though, might not be what they were expecting.

Since debut digital single One More Chance they’ve managed to establish themselves in the Norwich scene supporting We Were Promised Jet Packs as well as scene regulars The Brownies the very impressive Barlights.

The initial 'One More Chance’ single opens Here and Now, Darkness-esque solo an’ all but since then the gain’s been turned up a notch. ‘Push’ bullys along with a crunchy driving riff underneath those vocals borrowed straight from the eighties, a point accented by the swooning synths. If ‘Push’ could grow outwards, not just upwards they really could be on to something, instead it sounds flat and predictable.

Or they could turn it the other way round, the acoustic version opens the door to a gentler, more natural path. Add to it a building piano and some brushes and ‘Push’ will prick ears up while stepping on the to of The Days. Ultimately though, the simple theme is the same throughout, driving guitars, plenty of “woah-oh’s” the odd guitar solo lacking that real variety. Something they’ll hopefully pick up in time, as it’s definitely on their side.

Adelaide's Cape - Last Sleep In Albion

Norwich-based Adelaide’s Cape, doesn’t sound like a Naarfolk born and bred kind of guy. In fact I’m pretty sure he - Sam Taylor - is Scottish, but he’s based between Norwich and Bath (Obviously I don’t mean that as a very rough geographical pin in your map, but he splits his time between the two and London.).

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Adelaide's Cape to release EP

Fresh from touring with First Aid Kit, Alessi’s Ark and Rachael Dadd, Adelaide’s Cape will be releasing his debut EP ‘Last Sleep In Albion’ at The Luminaire on 6th March. For the first time, he’ll be playing his lo-fi folk with the help of an 8-piece ‘Folk Orchestra’ which sounds frankly unmissable.

Pete Roe, Laish and Alex Sheppard will be joining him on the night for the Dustbowl Records release before he embarks on a month-long UK tour. If you aren’t lucky enough to make the launch, you’ll be able to get your hands on a copy of the mighty-fine ‘Last Sleep In Albion’ through Rough Trade, Puregroove or RecordStore.co.uk.

Get your tickets here.

Expect a review of Last Sleep In Albion soon.

Alex Sheppard's A-Coming

Good news Alex Sheppard fans, next year see's her debut album. You remember her?

If you cannae wait for that, then you'll have to pop along to see her support The Stars Of Sunday League at the Jigsaw House Presents night on Jan. 15th. at The Arts Centre. Or if that's a week too far away head on over to The Music House on the 8th then to catch a headline set.

She's been signed to Dustbowl Records recently and enlisted a band to compliment her witticisms, some would say it's a good time to get into her. I would say so. Especially before everyone else does. She's even collaborating with the brilliant Norwich/Bristol based band Adelaide's Cape, which sounds amazing already.

Alex Sheppard Myspace
Jigsaw House
Dustbowl Records

The Jo Formidable - Norwich Arts Centre

By the looks of the crowd at the Norwich Arts Centre, The Joy Formidable are popular among the middle-aged. Who would have thought it. Fresh from supporting the likes of Passion Pit and Editors, their final headline gig of the year see's them join forces with Norwich's ever impressive Wombat Wombat promotions to play their sell-out Christmas party. Because as the compere keeps telling us, “Christmas is coming up.”

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