ROLO TOMASSI ARE TOURING THE UK (AND I WON'T BE THERE. SAD FACE.)

So, my favourite mathcore types from up North are circumnavigating these fair isles in October, by which time their new album should be upon us and wreaking havoc with your speakers. They will be playing:

As sayeth the poster, tickets go on sale on Friday 1st June, which is 2 days' time. I urge you to go and buy them, as Rolo's live show is simply stunning - considering how frankly mental their music is, in terms of technicality and general disregard for time signatures, they are musically perfect live. I'm mildly gutted that I won't be around for the Norwich date (or any, for that matter) as I should be in Spain by then...take the hint guys. PLAY SPAIN. x

I DONE DID SOME MORE REVIEWS

Check out these reviews I recently did on SoundNorfolk's website! If you like what you read, share this, SoundNorfolk and most importantly, go and check out the song the review is about! If they're on Spotify, then I'll add them to my summer Spotify playlist that I wrote about here. But anyway, I hope you enjoy the reviews!


Creeping by 2:54


Time And Place by Last Dinosaurs


Tapes And Money by Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

MY ONGOING SUMMER PLAYLIST - JOIN IN!

In an attempt to become slightly more interactive, more than just my usual 'I post something, you read it' routine, I have decided to make a summer playlist on Spotify so that I can share my musics for le summer, whether it be like it is now (i.e. actually sunny) or normal British summer.

Either way, subscribe to it, so I can hopefully share with you lovely people, my readers, some new music that will be added to your own summery soundtracks. And for those of you who think I just like rock, there'll be a few curveballs in there too. Mwuhahaha. Etc. It'll be ongoing, in that I'll constantly be adding stuff to it as I hear it, and please, give me some of your own suggestions - introducing new music goes both ways. x

LIVE REVIEW: NEWTON FAULKNER

Here it be, at last:

LIVE REVIEW;

Newton Faulkner (w/ Charlotte O'Connor, Amy Holforth)

Norwich Open

12/5/2012

***** 5 stars

With a new album slated for release in early July, and on the back of a new EP that came out in mid-April, British folk star Newton Faulkner hit UK roads to give fans a chance to hear some of the new album, while treating the crowd to some of his best-known tracks as well. Practically skipping out on stage and grinning ear-to-ear the whole night, he played an absolutely superb set.

First up was Newcastle songstress Amy Holforth, who coped very well in front of an already large crowd, despite it being the early part of the evening. Blessed with a remarkably powerful and soulful voice, she delivered a composed performance full of beautiful and personal tracks. Very well received by the crowd, her set started the evening on a very good note - **** 4 stars

The second support slot came from Blackburn-based singer Charlotte O'Connor. Giving a more quirky and distinctive performance, her set did not go down quite as well as Holforth – seemingly beset with nerves, hers was a performance that may be in need of more refinement and vocal control in the future. Nonetheless, her slightly eccentric songs went down fairly well, and although she maybe would have been better suited as first support, her set was still decent - *** 3 stars

Testament to his popularity, by the time Faulkner skipped out onto stage the Open was packed out, and he played a fantastic show that went down an absolute storm with the fans. Smiling constantly, cracking jokes and generally chatting with the crown between every song, there's a sense that he could play Wembley Stadium and still make it feel like a very personal and intimate show. With a mix of his best-known tracks, such as fan favourite 'People Should Smile More' and 'UFO', and a selection of new songs from the as-yet unreleased album, he dazzled Norwich with his feel-good music. Also an incredibly clever guitarist and musician, he utilised a kick drum, some effects pedals and his signature guitar tapping/hitting the guitar body for further drum beats to add remarkable depth to his set, considering it was just the man himself. Also playing covers of Massive Attack's 'Teardrop' and Stevie Wonder's 'Superstition', he finished the evening with his classic 'Dream Catch Me' and another new song, putting the perfect finishing touches to a great evening.

I'D LOVE TO SAY I'VE BEEN TOO BUSY TO POST.

But in reality I've been geeking out playing Metal Gear Solid 3 for days now. That's my flimsy excuse anyway. 


Sooo...I'm just going to publish my Newton Faulkner review up here, as it's been 2 weeks since the gig. I also have a handful of single reviews I've done for SoundNorfolk as well, from bands I've never even heard of in Feist, 2:54, Last Dinosaurs and (well, I'd sort of heard of these guys) Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, so check them out and discover something new. What is it with the word Dinosaur in band names?


I'm also rather excited that my Japanese Voyeurs CD is on its way. Being slightly music-hipstery here, I'm happy because only 250 copies of the B-Sides and Rarities album are being made, and I'll have one - I shall review it upon arrival. I also found a hand-drawn (well, hand-drawn originally, then photocopied) JV poster which I may do some form of giveaway for at some point, maybe in conjunction with the CD's arrival.


Just proving I'm still alive to any of you who kindly follow this on a regularish basis. x

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA RELEASING LIVE DVD/CD

Dead & Alive will (so says their Facebook) contain 2 hours of music, with live footage and some behind-the-scenes as well. Despite the unassuming artwork, all I can say is...


YESSSSSSS!


I'm psyched for this, because I bloody love TDWP. Both the band and the film for that matter, but that has no bearing on this. But they rank among my favourite metal bands, and this should be goooooooood.


It's got a good tracklisting as well;
1. Dead Throne
2. Untidaled
3. Escape
4. Sassafras
5. Born To Lose
6. Mammoth
7. Kansas
8. Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?
9. Vengeance
10. Outnumbered
11. Assistant to the Regional Manager
12. Dez Moines
13. Dogs Can Grow Beards All Over
14. Chicago
15. Constance
16. Danger:Wildman


Pre-order this here badger at http://tdwpstore.com/ in America, or from Amazon if you're here - it's out, according to Amazon, on June 26th.

ANOTHER BAND TO ADD TO MY FAVOURITE METAL BANDS

I recently talked about my newfound love of metalcore outfit The Chariot, but there is another band I can now add to that list - While She Sleeps, another export of what seems to be the UK's prime metal scene in Sheffield. Seriously, what is it with the North?


I'm just loving them at the moment, they've got depth, don't rely too heavily on generic breakdowns (but do them so well when they do happen), powerful vocals - they just make great metal. Dare I say it, the best new metal act in the UK right now. There are aspects that remind me of Cancer Bats, Architects and BMTH to name a few, but they're distinctive in their own right.


They have an album on the way (August 6th) called This Is The Six, a current single of the same name, a track entitled Dead Behind The Eyes available for free download from Facebook, and the EP The North Stands For Nothing. Great band, with a whole wealth of live dates upcoming on the UK festival scene, as well as some abroad - get in on it. I'm gonna try go see them before I jet off to Spain in September or whatever.

MUSE RUNNING WITH THE OLYMPIC TORCH

Damn straight monsieur Bells. Courtesy of It's a Muse Thing, You Wouldn't Understand

JAPANESE VOYEURS RELEASING B-SIDES/RARITIES ALBUM

It'll be out tomorrow (22nd May), comprising of their rare bits. Tracklisting is;


1. Godzilla
2. Heart Is A Fist (Demo)
3. Closer
4. Ah Ah Shame
5. Double Cheese (Demo)
6. Hand Me Down
7. Scare Bear
8. Milk Teeth (Demo)
9. Cry Baby - Remix
10. Live Doom


Can't wait for this. Again, I shall express my sadness at their split. It's unfair that they had to come unstuck, and it was before their time to break up. I will miss them.

LOST BLOODY PROPHETS: A RANT.

Normally, I don't believe in slating bands, because most slating is opinion based and therefore just what someone thinks. But there are a few bands I truly hate and feel content to rant about. Lostprophets are one of these.


They're just so generally shit. I will state, for the record now, that I like a few of their songs. Shinobi vs Dragon Ninja, We Are Godzilla You Are Japan are among them, but they're so few and far between that I can't remember half of them. But they have the remarkable ability to put me off a song of theirs in its opening seconds. 


First on that list is Rooftops, which is so irritating. Particularly when paired with the video, creates that w*nk opening shot of Ian Watkins looking like the pretentious c*ck he is standing, on a rooftop, with his top hat, cane and general air of w*nkerishness. They all seem a bit knobbish, but Watkins shines over them all with his tw*ttery. Take one scene in the Where We Belong video, where it focuses on him, for a good couple of seconds, checking his obscene fringe in a mirror. Gah, you pretentious pr*ck. 


They've achieved as much as Rooftops again with their new 'un We Bring An Arsenal. Good God. I mean, come on, it's a massive pile of w*nk. I could barely stand until the first chorus, it was so annoying. Them all chanting a very football-esque bunch of words-that-aren't-words, way-oh way-oh na na naaaa, na na naa. And then they're all being all matesy, laughing as they laddishly jump on each others shoulders and chant. It's all so cliched. 


I could go on for a while, and I acknowledge they do, as most bands do, have their redeeming features - I've heard their live show's pretty fun, and as I've said, I like a few of their song. However, these don't make me like them as a whole entity. I wouldn't care if they never made music again. 


Rant over. Sorry, I do go on a bit when I get a good rant going.

NEW VIDEO FOR YOUNG GUNS 'DEARLY DEPARTED'

For some reason, I really want to go and buy some Drop Dead clothing...can't place why. Anyway, enjoy.

GRATUITOUS COOL MUSE PHOTO

Because yes. Yes to Bellamy, extra yes to the Wolstenbamf.


Unsurprisingly, nothing on that album title yet. Unless I've been struck down with internet blindness.


Thanks to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-a-Muser/123446347721644 on FB. Go like.

SOMETHING FUNNY FOR Y'ALL

Youtube comedian Julian Smith makes some pretty funny songs, and this is the latest, Bless You.

EMO FRINGES AND EYESIGHT PROBLEMS. OR NOT.

There was a story the other day that claimed there was a link between having a 'heavy fringe' haircut, i.e. the 'emo' fringe, could be a contributing factor to lazy eye syndrome. As a former purveyor of such a hairstyle, I couldn't help but wonder if this would be a problem(o). Maybe I just wanted to get that frankly terrible written pun in. 


Regardless, it's "nonsense", so says an eye expert. Provided of course, that you're sporting a mahusive fringe up to the age of 7, which apparently is the age at which lazy eye syndrome can develop. 


Hooray for science.

FREE ENTER SHIKARI LIVE EP

Over the last few weeks, Shikari have put out a few live videos from a very tiny gig they did in London's Kentish Town NW5. Now this is available as an EP. And it's free.

Tracklisting is;

1. System / Meltdown
2. Gandhi Mate. Gandhi
3. Destabilise / Motherstep / Mothership
4. Arguing With Thermometers

Effectively a 6-track EP, with 24 minutes of a beast of a show, for nada. It's brilliant. If you have never seen Shikari live, this should give you all the motivation you need. 

http://www.entershikari.com/downloads/

While you wait, here's Gandhi Mate, Gandhi.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVA SPENCE (ROLO TOMASSI)

Another day, another birthday in the rock community!


Eva Spence is (I believe) 22 today, so happy birthday to you! My mini-tribute today comes in the form of the official (live) video of Kasia from second album Cosmology, my favourite Rolo song.



Also take a look at Eva's clothing line The Night Of The Living Thread while you're at it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH HOMME!

The musical genius that is Senor Homme is 39 today. So my mini-tribute to him is my favourite QOTSA song ever, The Fun Machine Took A Shit And Died, live from the Over The Years And Through The Woods DVD. Which is a fantastic live album. Buy it. NOOOOOWWWWWW.





Keep an eye out at 2:51 for the best facial expression you'll ever see Josh pull. 

SUCKER PUNCH (AS IN THE FILM) SOUNDTRACK

I've previously extolled the virtues of film soundtracks for various reasons - revision soundtrack, or just to appreciate the music - here. And now adding to that list is the soundtrack to the film Sucker Punch, which I watched the other night.


Ignoring the film itself (I didn't actually think it was very good, although stylish), the music is fantastic. It's got Queen, Bjork and Skunk Anansie among others, but most notably were 3 songs performed by the film's lead Emily Browning. The best of these was an interpretation of the Eurythmics' classic Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), which is beautiful. But I recommend the rest of the album as well.


The soundtrack made up for the film, which was just a bit confusing to be honest.

AN ADDITION TO MY FAVOURITE METAL BANDS

I first heard of them after their vocalist (and currently, only original member) Josh Scogin appeared in The Fox And The Wolf, the closing track to Bring Me The Horizon's There Is A Hell..., and I was struck by the sheer abrasive brutality of their songs.


That band is The Chariot. On the basis of that absolute brutality, in the raw vocals of Scogin and the thrashy nature of the guitar work. I will say, for most people they'd be a hard band to like, but my view of metal is that it is music for a time and a place, and that time (for me) has been the last few days.


I also wanted an excuse to embed a Spotify link, as I'm just teaching myself basic HTML (call me a geek if you will).

ENTER SHIKARI TO PLAY UK'S BEST SMALL VENUE

Which unfortunately wasn't Norwich Arts Centre in the end, that honour went to the Tunbridge Wells Forum. 

But on June 5th, Enter Shikari will play the venue in a one-off show celebrating Tunbridge Wells' triumph, and the capacity is only 220. Thus, tickets will be hard-as to get hold of. Which is where NME are stepping in. If you point your browser to http://www.nme.com/win/1919 then they are giving away 75 tickets to the show. 

You have to answer a very difficult question...so it'll be die-hard fans only. LOLJK.

Congrats to the Forum though, shame it wasn't the Arts Centre but hey ho.

MUSE NEWS. SORT OF.

Ha, Muse news rhymes. It's a burden being so unintentionally hilarious.

I digress. Word on the street (read: Facebook) is that the title for the new album is set to be revealed this coming week... 

Excitement...more on this as it happens. If it happens.

NEWTON FAULKNER RELATED STUFF

Firstly, the review's done, so as soon as it goes up on SoundNorfolk's website I'll put it up here. 


Secondly, last night was the first time I've seen the man, and indeed spent any time actively listening to him. He's got a new fan in me. I bloody loved him. He's fantastically talented on the old six-stringer, and what a lovely guy. Awesome.


Also, best wishes to Pippa, who had a bit of a rough night to say the least.

PARAMORE IRELAND-BOUND

Paramore are playing a one-off show in Ireland, at Belsonic 2012 in Belfast's Custom House Square on August 9th. Tickets are on sale NOW! Go forth. They're £30 + booking fee btw.

Hopefully they might have a bit of new material to showcase, if the album is progressing well. And also, hopefully this is a precursor to some mainland UK shows...at the very least.

SUPPORT TOM GABEL (AGAINST ME!)

I've only just learnt of the news that Against Me!'s Tom Gabel is transgender, and will be undergoing hormone and electrolysis treatment to eventually become Laura Jane Grace. 


While AM! aren't a band I've ever listened to, that's irrelevant, and this is an instance where us, as part of the rock community, should unite behind her and show her all the support that we can possibly give - I can't personally fathom the difficulty she must have had in making this decision, and making it public for that matter, and to anyone who decries it in any way, I say to you what reason do you have to do so? 


My thoughts also go out to her wife, who is staying with Laura/Tom through this. But mainly, to Laura Jane Grace, you're commendably brave, and we're behind you.

BIFFY, Y U SO MYSTERIOUS?

They're recording a new album, we know that much. But there's so much cloak and dagger...

First this;

I mean, what? There's six strings, but what's with the space between them? It looks cool as though. 

Secondly, there's a mysterious video bereft of any coherence. Just sound and flashing images, kinda like some sort of dubstep orgasm. No, I don't know either. It's on their official site and I can't embed it here. Interestingly, they're doing a 24 hour live stream from the studio next week sometime, which should be good to watch. I'm up for spending all of said 24 hours in front of my computer screen (since I bought GTA: Vice City, it's all I've really been doing anyway, albeit in front of a TV)...


Lastly, you lucky people in and around Swindon will be able to go see them before they headline Download's Saturday night - the 8th of June at the Oasis Centre. I'm tempted, I'll be honest. Don't know about tickets yet though. 


x

SERIOUSLY, LIMP BIZKIT?

Stampede of the Disco Elephants. This, friends, is the name of Limp Bizkit's new album. 

I just...I have never thought that LB were that good a band - sure, they have their good moments, but they're primarily the singles and I think Fred Durst is a tool. He suffers from the same condition as Tim Westwood - WGTIBGB (White Guy Trapped In Black Guy's Body) syndrome - and I just think that it's a really, really dim name for an album, that I don't even find amusing. GROW UP. 


Wes Borland's cool though, I like the body paint thing, although I'm sure he's crazy.

WE BE JAMMIN'.

Spent an enjoyable few hours jamming in the excellent Plug Studios here in sunny (read: rainy) Norwich with my mates Simon (on guitar) and Gonzalo (Animal from The Muppets), and myself slappin' da bass (n.b. I can't play slap, and I harbour a general dislike for it. Unless we're talking about Undisclosed Desires by Muse).


Simon's got skillz (but his guitar, clearly an Epiphone SG, says it's a Les Paul. lolwut), Gonzalo's a quality drummer (and while you're here, check out his ska band Caipiroska on Facebook), and I like to think I'm quite handy when it comes to bass, and between us we only lightly ruined a few songs; namely, A Beautiful Lie by 30 Seconds To Mars, Muse's Plug In Baby, the beast that is Show Me How To Live by Audioslave, and the Red Hot Chilis classic Californication. We also messed around with a few others, turning out a semi-recognisable rendition of System Of A Down's Toxicity and something that started life as Bullet's Your Betrayal.


Altogether I had a fun (and mildly deafening. Teach me to not bring ear protection...even improvising with headphones, oddly, does nothing) evening, which was also the first time in I don't know how long that I've actually played music with other people. Makes a change from my standard sit-in-my-room-learning-songs-that-are-too-difficult-cough-Mastodon at the very least.


A quick word on Plug Studios; not much to fault them on. Cheap and well-equipped rooms - we had a room for 3 hours, complete with bass/guitar amps and cabs, mics/PA system and a full drumkit for the sum of £20. Bargain. Didn't entirely appreciate being told to leave 10 minutes before our time slot was up because another band was due in - waiting out in reception afterwards at 5 past 9, and nobody was in the room we'd had. Just sayin'...


Lastly, Simon has a band too - he sings and plays bass for a popular music ensemble by the name of Miscreations, so swing by their Facebook on that link and give 'em a listen. And with that, I'm out!

VANS WARPED TOUR UK: MORE BANDS!

Alongside the already announced Bring Me The Horizon are; Lostprophets, New Found Glory, Architects and Bury Tomorrow and Awolnation. Also lining up are;

3OH!3, A Loss For Words, A Skylit Drive, The Acacia Strain, Blood On The Dance Floor, Bowling For Soup, Breathe Carolina, Crossfaith, Dead Sara, Family Force 5, Less Than Jake, Me Vs Hero, Middle Finger Salute and Yashin.


More tba. If I'm honest, this is so far not doing a great deal for me, but I can't go either way. To be fair, the majority of bands here are not ones I've listened to, so I'll be open-minded. 3OH!3 seem like an odd inclusion, as do Awolnation, but hey, a bit of diversity in the ranks is good I suppose.

GIVE TIME TO LISTEN TO THINGS PROPERLY. IT'S GOOD.

Too often I find myself sticking an album on when I'm doing something like tidying yo-yo of chaos that is my room, cooking etc, and I don't really give them the full attention they often deserve. That's why every now and then, I just stick on an album I haven't listened to in forever, and just sit and listen to it in full. I think it's a really brilliant way to spend time, if like me, you have time to kill. It is a bank holiday, after all... 


Today, I've listened to Rolo Tomassi's first album Hysterics, which is utterly great. I think Rolo are vastly underrated, because I believe they're true pioneers in the British rock scene, and no band I've ever listened to sound remotely like them, yet they just don't seem to be as big as they deserve for such musically creative minds. And the 14 minute Fantasia at the end is prog genius. I accept that they are something of an acquired taste, to put it one way, as Eva's screams are, well, brutal, and put some metalcore etc bands to shame. But the songs are so cleverly layered with all the synths, guitars, soft and screamed vox, the creation is something to just sit and lose yourself in. So, my recommendation for the day, Rolo Tomassi's Hysterics. 


Hmmm...what to listen to now? 

SLIPKNOT TO RECORD NEW ALBUM EARLY 2013

Well, provided this isn't another one of the 'one band member says they are, then Corey says NO' stories, that is. Such are the perils of having 8 men in your band...

This time, Sid's said that once Slipknot are done touring, after a break over winter, and when Corey's finished touring with Stone Sour, that "we'll be back in the kitchen with Slipknot," adding that "Actually before Stone Sour finish touring we'll be in the studio preparing for Corey's return, keeping the irons hot."

The promised album is going to be "brutal" and it will be really interesting to see how things are without Paul. 

UPCOMING REVIEW; NEWTON FAULKNER

On May 12th I shall be going to see Newton Faulkner at the Open in Norwich, so I'll share my SoundNorfolk review with all you, my lovely readers. 

MAN WHO NEARLY KILLED MATTHEW LEONE (MADINA LAKE) NOT GUILTY

"We're utterly baffled", says Nathan Leone. Whilst not in possession of any understanding of the US justice system, this seems farcical and wrong, and I wholeheartedly agree with Nathan. 


2 years ago, Matthew Leone stepped in to stop the accused, Justin Pivec, assaulting his wife, only to have Pivec turn on him and give him a fractured skull, jaw, and a broken nose. The worst part of that is that he had to have a third of his skull taken out to allow the swelling in his brain to go down.


"Admittedly, we're not well versed in the justice system but today a vicious coward was given a free pass for beating his wife and almost killing my brother. This has taken a tremendous toll on all of us for two years and though we're devastated. We will continue to focus on the positive. which is that Matthew is still with us and hopefully this has spread awareness for victims of domestic violence. More later as we attempt to comprehend this." (Nathan Leone)


This seems absolutely despicable from my perspective; man violently attacks another, causes near-fatal injury with months and months of recovery needed, found not guilty of attempted murder. Even if the intention to kill had never been there, it still stands that he beat him to near-death. I assume the decision will be appealed, and I shall keep my eyes peeled for updates.

TENACIOUS D; 'RIZE OF THE FENIX' VIDEO

The first video from the upcoming album of the same title. They are so back, and daft/incredible as ever. This vid's the clean, friendly version however. I'm sure they'll do a regular D and extend it to a full one.

SOUNDGARDEN; 'LIVE TO RISE' (FROM MARVEL'S AVENGERS ASSEMBLE)

Just saying; greatest film I've ever seen. I could write an entire blog on how much I loved The Avengers/Avengers Assemble/whatever. They shouldn't let anyone except Joss Whedon near a Marvel film again.


Regardless, this, from Soundgarden, is one of the tracks from the soundtrack to this most epic of films, and it is pretty damn good. A very cool riff and a well-written song, awesome solo too. I also thought the guitarist was The Edge from U2, from a distance anyway.

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU

Yes, I'm doing one, just before it becomes May 5th. This did the viral rounds a couple months back, just bringing it back for this special Star Wars Day.

FEI COMODO CALL IT A DAY

Today brings with it the sad news that Fei Comodo are no more. In an official statement, the band said that 


"For a number of reasons beyond our control, it has taken around 3 very long years to get this album released. Over that period we have grown a lot as friends and as a band and although we are pleased to finally be releasing ‘Behind The Bright Lights’ for you all to hear, we simply are not that band anymore and can no longer pretend to be. The reality is that in the time that has passed between us recording this album in November 2009 and releasing it now in 2012 we’ve changed both as a band & as people. To continue when we’re not 100% into what were doing is just not possible for us any longer."


It will be sad to not see them progress any further, so FC, you will be missed. 


They will be taking to the road at the end of July, putting back the original dates, and the album Behind The Bright Lights will be out soon, although an official date is still tbc. In the meantime, go listen to EPs They All Have Two Faces and The Life They Lead on Spotify, or just the video for Break The Ice from They All Have Two Faces.

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM'S 'HANDWRITTEN' GIVEN RELEASE DATE

July 23rd folks, that's when we can expect to receive some Gaslight Anthemy goodness in the form of new album Handwritten.

We've been promised a return to the punk roots of the band, can't wait! To sate your appetite, here's new single 45. I absolutely LOVE this song, I'm very excited for the album now.

ENTER SHIKARI; 'SYSTEM // MELTDOWN' LIVE

You want something to make your day better, yes? Watch this. Footage from Shikari's small London show of System // Meltdown which is bloody amazing, and then a bit better. Best live band in Britain atm.

TENACIOUS D'S 'RISE OF THE FENIX' - WANNA HEAR IT?

The album's officially out in 2 weeks, on May 4th, but...they're streaming it online for freesies! ENJOY! And buy it, when it comes out.

NORWICH ARTS CENTRE UP FOR NME'S 'SMALL VENUE OF THE YEAR'!

NME are searching for Britain's best small venue, and picking one from every region in the country to go in their shortlist. And, the good news for us Norfolk folk, is that the Norwich Arts Centre has made the cut!

The shortlist is as follows;
South East: Tunbridge Wells Forum
South West: Bristol Thekla
Wales: Bridgend Hobos
Midlands: Stoke Sugarmill
London: 100 Club
East Anglia: Norwich Arts Centre
North East: Leeds Brudenell Social Club
North West: Hebden Bridge Trades Club
Scotland: Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh
Northern Ireland: Belfast Limelight

It'd be fantastic to see NAC do well, because I've been to some great gigs there in the last year and a half, among them Rolo Tomassi, Young Guns and Francesqa, and it's an excellent place for intimate shows. If it was possible to vote, I'd encourage you guys to spam. 

But it's down to a (knowledgeable, it must be said) panel containing Frank Turner, T in the Park promoter Geoff Ellis, Reading/Leeds boss Melvin Benn, Jo Dipple, head of UK Music, Radio 1's Huw Stephens and NME writers Krissi Murison, Mike Williams and Luke Lewis.

Regardless, it's really good to see the tiny venues get recognition, because they're where bands start, and where they come back to when they've grown up and got big and famous to treat the true fans. Fingers crossed for the NAC!