As winter chills descend, the Norwich Arts Centre is set to heat up with an eclectic mix of performances that promise to captivate the senses and ignite the imagination. From the soulful harmonies of Christina Alden & Alex Patterson to the razor-sharp wit of comedian Robin Morgan, this December's lineup is a celebration of creativity in its many forms. Join us as we delve into this month-long artistic journey, where music, comedy, and cultural expressions converge to create unforgettable experiences.

Embrace the Artistry: A December to Remember at Norwich Arts Centre

True Stories Live is a lively, moving and unpredictable event where people tell true stories about their lives in front of a warm, supportive audience. There is no audition process or strict set of criteria – you just have to have a story to tell, based loosely on the set theme.

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True Stories Live: Rituals

Norwich Arts Centre

The star of EastEnders, Extras, Life’s Too Short and more recently a million viral videos, Shaun has taken the music scene by storm, bringing BARRIOKE to thousands of music lovers at venues and festivals across the UK.

Barrioke

Are you ready to jingle your bells? This festive season we are proud to present our Christmas drag-stravaganza hosted by Arts Centre drag royalty, Liv!

A decadent evening awaits full of epic drag performances, ridiculous party games and all the warmth and magic of the holidays – except there’s no aunties asking you, ‘what even is a nonbinary?’.

Christmas with Liv

Mama Oh No continue to rise, after their debut LP being released last year by HMV’s new label 1921 Records, and touring the UK. This year is busy too, with lots of gigs, and incredible new singles galore. Crunchy, fuzzy, surfy, wobbly soulful 60s inspired stuff, with great harmonies and incredibly catchy songs. The best live band in the area. Whatever area they happen to be in. This will be a special set, with appropriately special guests. Miss it at your peril.

It’s a Norm’s Xmas

After garnering massive support from the international media world (KEXP,BBC 6,Gilles Peterson, Soulection, WDR, FIP etc) of the back of their debut album “Susuma” in 2022, Jembaa Groove come forth with their second studio album  “Ye Ankasa/We ourselves”.

Round Midnight presents Jembaa Groove

The Baghdaddies’ exuberant and rampant brand of world music is an exhilarating cocktail of Balkan melodies, ska and latin grooves and sizzling brass played with furious energy and theatrical humour, making them as unforgettable on stage as they are when performing as wandering brass troubadours.

The Baghdaddies

We welcome back the wonderful John Otway, English singer-songwriter who has built a sizeable cult audience through extensive touring, a surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona.

The John Otway Band

Using the traditional music of the North East of England as a starting point, the influence of Miles Davis, Steve Reich, Sufjan Stevens, Robert Wyatt, Antony & The Johnsons, King Crimson and Tom Waits makes The Unthanks a unique band, earning them a Mercury Music Prize nomination and international acclaim along the way.

The Unthanks in Winter

Epic Studios Norwich

Tropical Shakedown is back with DJs Amy Nomvula, Ronnie Orbit and Keith Slater alongside guests to be announced.

Norwich’s longstanding original tropical music party with the best in Afro Beat, Highlife, Latin & Reggae spiced up with some of the latest dance floor genres.

Tropical Shakedown

Westcountry folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of his album Kitty Jay in 2024.

Seth was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005 for Kitty Jay.  His thrilling solo performance of the eponymous title track on live television won him unanimous praise and started him on an incredible solo journey which has included record deals, 11 album releases (including 6 Top 40), BBC Radio 2 playlisted singles, a clutch of awards and touring all over the world.

Seth Lakeman

deep tan’s stripped-back, minimal sound is a vehicle for songs that engage with contemporary themes, from deepfake revenge pornography to gender-expansive ideology and stories of furry hedonism. They emerge from the fatalistic side of life with a flash of cynicism and a rumble of venomous intent.

GIGGY presents deep tan

As featured on BBC Two’s Mock The Week and BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, Robin Morgan is back on the road with a hilarious brand new show, The Spark – his biggest tour to date.

His previous shows have dealt with a proposal, marriage, kids and a vasectomy. So what’s next on the list? Divorce? No, not divorce. It’s about how to keep the spark alive. Not just in a marriage, but also in yourself?

Robin Morgan: The Spark

Christina Alden & Alex Patterson are multi-instrumentalists and songwriters deeply inspired by the natural world. Their music is rich with intertwining harmony, sensitive accomplished musicianship and a creative songwriting style that is both delicate and moving. They have a keen environmental eye to craft stories with nature at its heart, reflecting on the relationship between humans and the wild.

Christina Alden & Alex Patterson

Snazzback’s seven-sided dance dynamism folds together UK jazz and broken beats with dub flourishes. Their hybrid sound has captured imaginations as far and wide as Glastonbury festival, Ronnie Scott’s and beyond. This tour sees the collective delve deeper into their love of UK dance music. They take threads from the driving dubstep sounds of DMZ and breaks inspired by the sounds of Source Direct and explore them with a joyous freedom that leans more on the likes of Miles Davis and the late Pharaoh Sanders.

Round Midnight presents Snazzback

Cult legend and all-round hero ‘Beans on Toast’ will take to the road this winter for The Wild Goose Chase, an extensive tour of the UK, visiting towns and cities often missed out on the UK tour circuit.

Beans on Toast

Erland Cooper is a Scottish composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist originally from Stromness, Orkney. As a solo artist, he has released five acclaimed studio albums, including a trilogy of work inspired by his childhood home, as well as themes of nature, people, place and time. His work combines field recordings with traditional orchestration and contemporary electronic elements. Through music, words and cinematography he explores landscape, memory and identity. He develops these themes further by partnering with other artists, writers and poets. Cooper also works across mixed media projects including installation art, theatre and film. He’s widely known for burying the only existing copy of the master tape of his first classical album in Scotland, deleting all digital files and leaving only a treasure hunt of clues for anyone to seek it. The tape was found in 2023 and the album will be released, exactly as it sounds from the earth, this year along with its world premiere of the completed score.

Tone presents Erland Cooper

Forest Swords is electronic producer, composer and visual artist Matthew Barnes, based in Liverpool, UK. Barnes is known for rewiring sounds into innovative and unique new worlds, most recently on acclaimed album ‘Bolted’ (Ninja Tune), remixes for the likes of Bjork, and collaborations with Massive Attack and Neneh Cherry.

Tone presents Forest Swords

For the first time, Funke and the Two Tone Baby and Samantics join forces and head out on a double-headline UK tour taking in no less than 20-dates, with the finale being their biggest ever headline show, The Exeter Phoenix. In November ‘23, Samantics was invited to join Funke as a special guest at the Bristol show of his album tour. The loopers’ musical output, ethos and fan base complimented each other’s so well that Samantics was then invited to do the same at three shows on Funke’s Spring tour earlier this year. Again, the shows brilliantly jelled together in such a unique way that both Funke and Samantics agreed that more of their fans should get to experience such a perfect pairing of musical talent. And so, the KAOSS TOUR ’24 was born

Funke and the Two Tone Baby & Samantics

The Natyapriya Dance Company invite you to an evening of joyful Bharatanatyam dance, to watch fascinating stories of characters from Indian mythology come to life. Beautiful music, vibrant costumes, energetic and meditative dancing will transport you to a world where the human merges with the divine. Join us for an unforgettable cultural experience!

Ananda 2024

Immerse yourself in an enchanting world of as the mesmerising quartet CALAN grace our stage with their unique brand of power-folk. This musical odyssey combines original tunes and songs written as bespoke gifts for individual fans, with ancient melodies unearthed from the National Library of Wales. Join us for an extraordinary evening featuring tracks from their highly anticipated album, ‘Nefydd’.

Calan

One of the most talked-about folk bands of the 21st century, Talisk have been tearing apart stereotypes and redefining the genre for almost a decade. With over 15 million streams, 10,000 albums sold worldwide, and sold out shows across five continents – from Paris to New York, London to Tokyo, Glasgow to Vancouver – alongside headline appearances at festivals the world over, the Scottish trio have amassed a global, die-hard following.

Talisk

Psychosomatic is a major new work by artist Richard Layzell using material gathered over a seven-year research period, and is his first feature-length film. The work exists fleetingly as a not-to-be-missed event, screening with a live performance in which Layzell intervenes in the narrative of the film.

Richard Layzell: Psychosomatic

Youth Action Now is a landmark drop-in event for all ages, celebrating the power of community and helping to galvanise a new generation of activists.

Discover new perspectives on wildlife, conservation and the environment, experience a nature walk and art workshops, and find out how you can make a difference for nature in future.

Green Shoots & Norfolk Wildlife Trust present Youth Action Now

The Bug Club’s name does a good job of introducing the band and their music: a tight-knit, collaborative effort focussed on telling tales of the everyday that we often take for granted, shot through with humour and riffs-a-plenty.

PONY UP presents The Bug Club

Scotland’s finest alt – rockers Twin Atlantic are back at their guitar driven best; raw, loud and packed with a punch.

Twin Atlantic

The Adrian Flux Waterfront

Nine Below Zero released their classic debut LP ‘Live at the Marquee’ in 1980, the band kept the momentum going with ‘Don’t Point Your Finger’ in 1981 before releasing their third and final LP on A&M Records, ‘Third Degree’ (1982).

Nine Below Zero toured with The Who and The Kinks around the time of this LP and also appeared on ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’, and ‘The South Bank Show’.

Nine Below Zero & Dr. Feelgood

New York City’s most diabolical rhythm and blues street gang aren’t back, they never left. In dark times, DADDY LONG LEGS continue to shine their light everywhere they go, leaving a piece of themselves on stage every night because it’s in them and it’s got to come out.

Daddy Long Legs

This is not a musical. Milton Jones is tone deaf and has no sense of rhythm, but at least he doesn’t make a song and dance about it.

Milton Jones

Ridiculous things always happen to Harriet, but this year it’s out of control. She’s got to rebuild her whole life but she cannot work out which way the building blocks go.

Harriet Kemsley: Everything Always Works Out For Me

‘Orwin takes on social media and the dynamics of public performance with a lightness of touch that seems almost perverse – until its meaty, knotty innards leave you reeling’
– Louis Hilton, Senior culture writer, The Independent.

Live Art Club presents FAMEHUNGRY

Brown Horse make twangy and thoughtful indie rock, delicately arranged, but unafraid of building a yowling wall of guitars, accordion, banjo and pedal steel. Distorted, teary-eyed and country-tinged, this is music for long lonely drives and late, late nights in strange places.

Brown Horse

Kweku Sackey aka K.O.G (Kweku of Ghana) is a multi-dimensional creative force, combining exquisite writing skills with shamanistic live performance, fierce raps, perfectly on pitch singing across a massive vocal range and some absolutely wicked dance moves. Not to mention his skills as a percussionist, arranger, bandleader and art director. A true poet and storyteller, he uses a mix of English, Pidgin and Ga to paint sonic pictures that reach deep into the souls of everyone ready to listen

Round Midnight presents K.O.G

North Carolina–based songwriter Rosali makes songs that take their time in revealing their full power. What might appear to be restrained, introspective compositions will stretch slowly outward, snagging your attention with a sideways guitar lead or an exceptionally raw lyric you didn’t catch the first time around.

Rosali

Robert Finley releases his anticipated fourth studio album Black Bayou, an 11-track tour de force that coalesces gospel, blues, soul, and rock into a raw, thundering tribute to Finley’s home state of Louisiana. Telling tales of the bayou from childhood to now, the 69-year old Finley takes listeners on a journey that showcases his growly vocals, sultry falsetto and cements him as a living legend.

Robert Finley

True Stories Live is a lively, moving and unpredictable event where people tell true stories about their lives in front of a warm, supportive audience. There is no audition process or strict set of criteria – you just have to have a story to tell, based loosely on the set theme.
Our speakers come from a wide range of different backgrounds. If you perform regularly in another context, you’re welcome. If you haven’t been on a stage since your best friend’s karaoke party, you are also very welcome. And if sharing your story isn’t for you, come down and join our fast-growing audience.

True Stories Live: Too Hot To Handle

Constructing a Witch (Bloodaxe) fixes on the monstering and scapegoating of women. The poems examine the nature of superstition and the necessity of magic and counter-magic to gain a fingerhold of agency, when life is chaotic and fragile. They investigate the witch as outsider, cultural representations of the witch, female power and disempowerment, the menopause, and how the female body has been used and misunderstood for centuries.

Helen Ivory Book Launch

Since forming in 1989, Mercury Rev has made a career out of boldly exploring the fringes of artistic perception, channeling colors and sounds and visions that always seem just beyond our mortal reach.

Mercury Rev

THE BEAT are back! Now fronted by Ranking Junior, taking over the lead vocal duties since the sad passing of his father Ranking Roger in 2019 and keeping the legacy alive. The Beat are a English band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978. Their music fuses Latin, ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock.

The Beat

With a unique mash-up of alt-rock, trash-hop and anthemic indie, Damp Matches’ sound would be as at home at a stadium concert as it is in a grimy small town mosh-pit. Big, punchy riffs and thunderous drum lines set the backdrop for frontwoman Helena Lewis’ soaring vocals, complimented often by the hip-hop of bassist Will Calvert. Having built a reputation for putting on raucous, high-energy shows, they are definitely ones to watch on the UK rock circuit.

GIGGY presents Damp Matches

Hosted by Arts Centre drag royalty, Liv and featuring a line-up of incredible drag performers – expect goddesses, goblins, ghouls and beyond with lip-syncs, live vocals, comedy, artistry, dancing and more

Liv presents HALLOWEEN!

London-based, Kurdish Anatolian singer-songwriter Olcay Bayir’s music is a mixture of her original compositions and songs based on Anatolian folk music tradition, given a dynamic, contemporary twist. Looking at her complex history, Olcay’s voice weaves of survival, exile, love and longing and rebellion.

Olcay Bayir

A live comedy show from James Campbell for children age 6-11 that’s perfect for anyone who wants to swap being an Eco Worrier for being an Eco Warrior.

Based around his latest book Don’t Panic! We CAN Save The Planet is a unique eco comedy stand up show in which children’s comedian and author James Campbell inspires children to do something about the climate crisis, pollution and ducks with swords.

James Campbell: Don’t Panic! We Can Save the Planet!

With dry wit and unflinching honesty, singer/songwriter John Grant transforms his perspective as a gay man and his struggles with addiction and relationships into music that spans tender ballads and scathing rants. While his literate songwriting and resonant vocals remain constants of his music, his sound evolved over time. His 2010 debut, Queen of Denmark — which featured contributions from his close friends in the band — built on the lush sound of his former band, the alt country-meets-dream pop act . Later, Grant incorporated more of his enduring love for synth pop and industrial music on albums including 2015’s Grey Tickles, Black Pressure and 2021’s Boy from Michigan. On every album, his ability to switch from ironic to heartfelt, and from suave to blunt at a moment’s notice makes Grant a one-of-a-kind artist.

John Grant

Following last year’s sell out Halloween show – the Bloghaus Haus Band make their triumphant return followed by a Bloghaus DJ set playing all your favourite Indie Hits and Electro Bangers. From Klaxons to Daft Punk, Justice to La Roux ; Bloghaus will take you back to the heady days of the mid 2000s.

Bloghaus of Horrors – Halloween Special

Breaking down barriers since 1979, one of the oldest and most loved reggae sound system crews still touring, Channel One Sound System, will be taking their legendary sound system on a UK-wide tour in celebration of their 45th anniversary.

Channel One Sound System

A shift in lighting casts new shadows. That song you couldn’t stop playing now hurts when it comes on in Tesco. The smell of your high school maths classroom wallops you round the face decades later in the lobby of a hotel abroad.

Amy Matthews: Commute with the Foxes

There’s no show like a Jason Byrne No Show. No Show is a show with no comedy safety net. By the end of No Show you’ll have experienced a once in a lifetime show or No Show.  Jason, along with the audience, will begin No Show with no show whatsoever.  Witness Jason use his infamous audience interactions with a sprinkle of props, both on and off the stage, to create No Show! Your ‘Full on, double-up, gasping-for-oxygen hilarious’(Chortle.co.uk) No Show will never be repeated.

Jason Byrne: No Show

Body Shop Cucumber cleanser, muslin circular skirts, plucked eyebrows, makeup, and Satin bias-cut gowns; the landscape of Simeon’s childhood and youth is a rich tapestry of beautifully wrought objects and less beautiful relationships. Trauma, abuse, loneliness and craftsmanship have come together in a hunt for the self through art, a yearning for love and belonging, and a soul deep craving to be seen and cherished.

Simeon Morris: Square Peg

Since their emergence in 2019, Norwich’s FLORAL IMAGE have presented and exposed psychedelic rock with ferocity, articulacy, and a heliolatric, near-hedonistic sense of revelry. Amalgamating the pumping acid house grooves of the mid90’s with the spluttering drive of early 70’s psychedelic titans Hawkwind, as well as a wistful dash of brightness from modern Neo-psych acts like King Gizzard and Babe Rainbow, Floral find a luscious assonance in carefully measured chaos.

Floral Image

Transmission: The Sound of Joy Division are the ultimate tribute to the music and legacy of post-punk legends Joy Division.

Devoted to recreating the atmosphere of a live Joy Division gig, Transmission emulate the sound of one of the most inventive, evocative and influential groups of their era.

Transmission: The Sound of Joy Division

We are pleased to announce the return of the popular Tilted Women Reading Groups. The first five sessions will be led by Andrea Holland and will explore topics described below with the support of texts and visual images.

Tilted Women Reading Group

“Travis Jay shows he is a polished performer with the wit and charm to say important things to the masses without them even noticing” Nooruddean Choudry, JOE

“a triumph of attitude… energetically entertaining” Steve Bennett, Chortle

Travis Jay: Travisty

Arrayed in birdsong and papier mache, let London 6-piece Tapir! guide you on a journey through forests, over hillsides, and across the choppy seas.

Inspired by the storytelling theatrics of Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman and Spellling, Tapir!’s tender songcraft glistens with folkish charm and ambrosial melodia. Twiddling guitars, drum-machines and vocal flights flutter your heartstrings all the merry while.

Tapir!

Self-proclaimed hedonist and queer performance legend Katy Baird has spent the last decade documenting her pursuit of pleasure. She’s been trying to understand what she does with her time, and what she’s going to do with the time she has left.

Live Art Club presents Katy Baird: Get Off

Daft Funk Live are one of the world’s most prestigious Daft Punk tribute bands – diligently constructing a ‘live’ accolade of Daft Punk’s legendary performances and appearances. They incorporate their own synchronised light shows together with multiple instruments to give a truly immersive and unique experience. Their stage production is meticulously crafted, paying the utmost respect to the infamous and illusive Robots

Daft Funk (Live)

John Maus is a truly enigmatic musician. Broadly cut from the synth pop cloth, he’s fashioned the frosty minimalism of its fabric into a cloak of infinite meaning, genuine grace and absurdist humor over the course of three defining albums since 2006. His music is a highly mutable affair, whilst often described as retro-futurist on behalf of the 80’s drum machines and synth sounds employed, John’s music is more personal than the nostalgic re-tread implied.

John Maus

Fanfare Ciocărlia’s unparalleled talent for alloying their Balkan brass with dashes of jazz, pop and rock, all performed with mad precision at breakneck tempos, has given them cult status and made them a permanent fixture in the music scene ranging from punk to classical.

Fanfare Ciocărlia

In an intimate evening of comic reflection, reminiscence, and revelation, award-winning writer and comedian Andy Hamilton looks back over his more than forty years in comedy and seventy years on the planet and tries to answer some questions!

An Evening with Andy Hamilton @ EPIC Studios

Tom Robinson first became known in the late 1970s as a musician and LGBT activist with the Tom Robinson Band (TRB) who were early supporters of Rock Against Racism and Amnesty International. In 1977 their Top 5 debut release 2-4-6-8 Motorway became one of the landmark singles of the UK punk era. Other hits included Glad To Be Gay, Up Against The Wall and the band’s debut album Power In The Darkness which went gold in the UK and Japan.

Green Mind presents Tom Robinson Band

After the huge success of the first Poet’s Palace Norwich event back in June, they are back! This time bigger and better than ever. They are excited to be expanding the community, discovering new poetic talent and inviting new wonderful audiences to spoken word events in Norwich!

Poet’s Palace

The Courettes. “A force to be reckoned with. Matching the garage rock ferocity of The Sonics to prime early 60s girl group, the band’s output is utterly feral in the most addictive possible way. Reminiscent of The Ronettes given a Ramones style overhaul, their evil charms arrive covered in blood-soaked glamour. Twanging guitar and raucous percussion, a wild head-long charge into the unknown.” (The Clash Magazine, UK)

PRB presents The Courettes

September 2024 sees the release of Ishmael Ensemble’s third longplayer ‘Rituals’, which marks a significant leap for the Bristolian musicians. With their live-instrumentation-meets-electronic merging of styles, the group were always broader than the ‘new UK jazz’ tag which they were often given, but here their scope and boundary-pushing ambition is more evident than ever before.

Ishmael Ensemble

Three—four, if you count the one pulling the strings—inquisitive individuals that came together by way of fate’s ties to the universe (and, “time travel”, if you ask them discreetly), UNIVERSITY are a band diving into all of life’s existentialism. An exploration of adolescence, self-identity and slight mania, their upcoming music is “like getting punched in the face by a gorilla but then being cuddled afterwards”. Influenced by artists such as Nouns, Hella, and Cypress Hill, UNIVERSITY sit in their own patchwork world, combining textures both vintage and futuristic.

GIGGY presents UNIVERSITY @ The Drill House

Shunya (aka Alan Keary), Seb Rochford, and Dudù Kouate are all unique solo artists in their own right. When Shunya isn’t playing around the world with genre-defying cellist / singer Abel Seloacoe, he’s crafting his own sound using distorted violins and drum machines. When Seb Rochford isn’t collaborating with Brian Eno you’ll find him on stage doing experimental solo drum sets. When Dudù Kouate isn’t shredding with legendary free jazz group Art Ensemble Of Chicago he’s likely at home inventing new instruments that sound like alien birds.

Shunya + Dudù Kouate + Seb Rochford

Nigel Planer is a comedy legend, an actor, writer and more importantly for this show he’s a great poet. He joins Henry Normal, BBC Radio 4’s ‘poet in reticence’ to reunite a team that entertains, educates and informs (but mostly entertains it must be said).

Spoke presents Henry Normal & Nigel Planer

Brighton-based artist Bess Atwell new single ‘Sylvester,’ premiered via Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music and sees Bess contemplate and re-evaluate familial roles and relationships through the resurrection of the track’s namesake, an imaginary character from her childhood.

Bess Atwell

Since 2019, Making Tracks has brought world class music from all corners of the globe to a network of leading venues throughout the UK. The project is based around the idea that intercultural and interspecies music (music that no one species could make on its own) has the power to foster a deeper appreciation of both biodiversity and cultural diversity.

Making Tracks

Considered by many to be one of the most electrifying hip-hop artists to emerge from the cold shores of the UK, BLACK JOSH continues to impress, shock and bemuse in equal measure. He’s been on it since early, forming his rap crew APE CULT at 17, which has garnered much kudos in Manchester and beyond for their fearless and theatrical live performances; and then brought himself to the attention of an older generation with his collaboration with hip-hop funk-maestros “The Mouse Outfit”, with “Air-Max” and their most popular tune “Sit Back” which has now had in excess of 750,000 views on Youtube.

Black Josh

From his influential time with The Maccabees to the multi-faceted ‘Gritterman’ story and two highly acclaimed solo albums, Orlando Weeks has carved a niche as one of the UK’s most singular talents. That reputation will further flourish with the release today of his new album ‘LOJA’ digitally on all platforms; with physical formats to follow on August 23rd via Fiction Records.

Orlando Weeks

Laura Cannell is an internationally acclaimed composer and performer from East Anglia. Her music straddles the worlds of contemporary and ancient music, it is semi-composed, semi-improvised and draws on the emotional influences of the landscape whilst exploring the spaces between early and experimental music. She has released eight solo albums to critical acclaim, mainly performing on Overbowed Violin and Double Recorders. Recent EPs have also seen her recording on church organs and with vocals.

Laura Cannell

For this event we have teamed up with The Norwich Foodbank to assist them in collecting emergency food and supplies to people facing hardship in our community. We’d be over the moon if you can come along to the show with a food donation on the night.

Tashi Lhunpo Monks

DJ Andy Tonic spinning SKA tunes in the bar, Terry Adams solo artist warming up for the sensational support band The  Dreaming Void for their official band launch.

NR SKA presents The Second Wave SKA Charity Fundraiser

Sons of Mark are brothers Glen and Owen Spooner. Glen and Owen spend every weekend gigging around either Norfolk or the rest of the country. They have spent time recording with Andy Strange in London and recently their single ‘Our Fine City’ has been adopted by Norwich City FC.  If you like catchy melodies and vocal harmonies then these guys are a must see!

Sons of Mark

Formed in 2022 whilst still at college, they are a supercharged fusion of both new and old. Think Black Midi, Swans and Opus Kink, then add a pinch of early Hawkwind and a dab of King Crimson, and you get the exquisite woven tapestry of avant-garde rock that is MAGNOLIA.

Norm’s presents Magnolia

Extra-terrestrial joymongers – HENGE – have been delighting audiences in the UK and Europe since they landed on Planet Earth nine years ago. Their scintillating live performances earned them ‘Best Live Act’ at the Independent Festival Awards and they have since cemented their reputation with three acclaimed albums, numerous tours and regular main-stage festival appearances.

HENGE

The Magic Numbers are an UK-based four piece comprising two pairs of siblings (Romeo and Michele Stodart, Sean and Angela Gannon) who are known for their unique harmonies, melodic hooks, songwriting craftsmanship and timeless sound.

The Magic Numbers

The only light, the white screen of a challenging email Celya was drafting. The only sound, the tap-tap-tap of the keyboard. This was, without a doubt, “rock bottom”. Also contains hot takes on judges, toothpaste and the sexiest thing anyone can do on a date.

Celya AB: Of All People

Award winning writer, comedian and actor Rob Auton brings his latest show ‘The Eyes Open and Shut Show’ to Norwich Arts Centre. Rob has written ten hit Edinburgh Festival Fringe comedy/theatre/spoken-word shows on specific themes including the colour yellow in ‘The Yellow Show’, sleep in ‘The Sleep Show’ and hair in ‘The Hair Show’.

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Britain’s most celebrated clairvoyant medium psychic from Peter Kay’s ‘Phoenix Nights’ returns with his hilarious one-man show featuring his trademark audience readings, the story of his meteoric rise and some spooky treats to make your hair stand on end.

Clinton Baptiste: Roller Ghoster!

From one of the most exciting emerging new stars in the UK’s live stand-up scene,1994 is Edinburgh native’s Connor Burns third solo hour. A prolific joke writer, his Scottish-level cynicism and self-deprecation punctuates a disarmingly relaxed persona and an intelligent, razor-sharp wit.

Connor Burns: 1994

Bilk are an exciting rock and roll band hailing from Chelmsford, Essex. Fusing elements of rock and roll, punk, indie and rap, Bilk’s style can never be pigeon holed. Fronted by charismatic lead singer and guitarist Sol Abrahams and backed by Luke Hare on bass guitar and Harry Gray on drums, Bilk’s music speaks to the youth of today with relatable songs about partying, love, growing up and life in modern Britain in general amongst other things.

BILK

Described by The Guardian as ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’, Spiers & Boden first rocketed onto the music scene in 2001, quickly winning a clutch of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and going on to form and front the extraordinarily successful folk big band Bellowhead, which sold out The Royal Albert Hall several times, provides the theme tune for Radio 4’s The Archers and were recently heard on the soundtrack of BBC 1’s ‘Beyond Paradise’.

Spiers & Boden

Described as ‘a joke machine’ by The Telegraph. Jake has performed stand-up all over the world supporting the likes of Michael McIntyre, Romesh Ranganathan, and Jack Dee.

His style of non-stop gag-filled storytelling has seen him appear on The BBC, Comedy Central, and Dave. He has written for an abundance of TV shows including The Royal Variety Performance, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Bake Off, 8 out of 10 cats, and more!

Jake Lambert: The Sunshine Kid

Chuck Prophet is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who has created a handful of impressive solo albums when he isn’t busy collaborating with some of the most respected figures in roots rock. A songwriter with a naturalistic sense of storytelling and drawing characters, and a melodic sense that brings together the impact of rock with the nuance of country, blues, and folk, Prophet has been releasing worthwhile solo albums since 1990.

Chuck Prophet

February 2024 saw the release of Katherine Priddy’s eagerly awaited second album: The Pendulum Swing. Greeted by critical acclaim in the press including MOJO who called it “simply brilliant”, the album landed at #1 in the official UK Folk Charts. It saw the likes of Iggy Pop, Guy Garvey, Craig Charles, Mark Radcliffe and Gideon Coe giving it a spin whilst RTE in Ireland added tracks to their recommendations list for 3 weeks running.

Katherine Priddy

‘You Are Not A Stranger Here,’ the long-awaited new album by Danny & The Champions of the World, will be released through Loose on 18th October. Their seventh studio release and first since 2017’s ‘Brilliant Light,’ ‘You Are Not A Stranger Here’ is the sound of a band exploring new and surprising musical terrain. Produced by Champs keyboard player Thomas Collison and featuring frontman Danny George Wilson’s most compelling songs to date.

Danny & the Champions of the World

Rachel star of Live at the Apollo and co-host of All Killa No Filla, is a renowned stand up and (“rock’n’roll star of British Comedy” Rolling Stone).  She’s bringing not only her (“Bright, brave and bitterly enjoyable” The Skinny) stand-up comedy out on the road but also some brand-new characters along for the ride. A (“Huge presence in a pint-sized frame” Chortle).

Rachel Fairburn: Side Eye

Highly acclaimed American songwriter Joan As Police Woman returns to Europe performing key songs from throughout her career alongside new music from her forthcoming album.

Joan As Police Woman

Forged from the political disillusionment of a generation of Tory rule, folk-rock cult hero and queer icon Grace Petrie returns to UK venues this year with the protest song firmly back in her heart. Long renowned for her razor sharp lyricism and the joyful, welcoming nature of her stunning live shows, Petrie smashed the UK charts with latest album Build Something Better. Produced by Frank Turner and packed with full-hearted modern folk anthems, it shot to the top of both the folk and the UK download chart, cementing her status as one of Britain’s most beloved songwriters.

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