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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Apollo 101

(Image courtesy of myspace)

Troels Hansen from Alphabeat told me once that Scandinavian charts are mainly filled with dull indie, and what we get isn't really indicative of what they're overloaded with. Maybe we should have caught onto this and made our own chirpy pop to oust the supposed “R'n'B” and indie pap. After all, the 2000's have been good to Scandinavians and their happiness. Well, finally we may have one.

Sounding like The Shout Out Louds with an English tweak, Apollo 101 are scampering around the bristling Norwich scene, synths abound. They're not Swedish, or Danish or Norwegian for that matter, but they did drive a Skoda. You won't be surprised to hear that they consider a-Ha to be a big influence either.

Apollo 101 are pretty darn eighties too, you can even see singer Chris Walker fronting the biggest collar and an even bigger fringe. Maybe even occupying a sparkly keytar and platforms. Actually that would have to be backing vocalist and synth man, Josh Rayman.

These kids don't seem too sane, which helps. Take one look at their artwork on their myspace and you're transported to the dodgy cartoons that littered the nineties- and still going on in fact. They steal a smile from you no matter what, be it with their catchy synth pop, their doodlings or with their strange and obscure- Scandinavian- music tastes.

Expect new single One More Chance on iTunes from November 15th through Jigsaw House, but keep an eye out for their video, no doubt it's going to be absolutely bonkers.

Alex Sheppard

(Picture courtesy of Jetstone Promotions)

Girls with guitars are ten a penny so when you are a) female and b) play an acoustic guitar, you need to find a new hook to get yourself noticed. In a well thought-out bid not to be missed, Alex Sheppard sings with a scathing dry wit and an angsty anti-folk guitar.

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Adelaide's Cape

(Picture courtesy of The Educated Fox Photography)

The nomadic folk band Adelaide’s Cape will become a name you’re very familiar with soon, as they wander into your consciousness.

The year 2010 is going to be a big one for Adelaide’s Cape. A debut EP will find it’s way into anyone who is anyone’s record collection, they’ll be hitting the continent on a mini tour and generally bothering your mind by getting you addicted to their music.

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The Barlights - If It Wasn't For The Light, The Dark Would Have Killed Us

Everybody has heard how good the Norwich music scene is getting by now, the underground scene is ready to explode out to the rest of the country. Mainly the bands are shouty punk-pop concoctions, The Brownies, Bearsuit and UH OHs et al, The Barlights on the other hand are taking a more measured approach.

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Fanfarlo - 01/06

After Fanfarlo released their debut long player Reservoir, one of the best albums of this year, they've been high on the list of must-see bands. And rightfully so, Reservoir was near on faultless. Whether they can recreate it live though is another matter entirely.

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Pics by Lewis Gibbs

Scott Matthews - Elsewhere

The Ivor Novello winning Scott Matthews released Elsewhere last week, the follow up to the timeless Passing Stranger. Read the review here to find out whether he's kept up the good work.

The Brownies - 12/04

Well these reviews keep trickling in, here's the review of the impressive Norwich 5-piece, The Brownies. Click here to read the review on 4ortherecord. Click here here to go to their myspace. Their debut album is out in May, so watch out for it, could well be one to look out for.