The Wall

Gigs Of The Month

2010-04-03T05:04:00.000-07:00

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.

View Larger Map

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

View Larger Map

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.

View Larger Map

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.

View Larger Map

The Kabeedies - Jitterbug (Re-edit)

2010-04-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-02T06:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

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.).

Read On

Adelaide's Cape to release EP

2010-02-22T04:31:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-17T02:43:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

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.”

Read On

Apollo 101

2009-10-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

(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

2009-10-02T02:33:00.000-07:00

(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.

Read On

Adelaide's Cape

2009-10-02T02:12:00.000-07:00

(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.

Read On

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

2009-09-28T09:09:00.001-07:00

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.

Read On

Fanfarlo - 01/06

2009-06-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

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.

Read On

Pics by Lewis Gibbs

Scott Matthews - Elsewhere

2009-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

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.