Music > Live Reviews

New Noise : Damp Matches

Voodoo Daddy's Showroom

26/03/24

On the 5th March, Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom was home to the 2nd ‘New Noise!’ gig- a new gig series which has been created to help celebrate and empower the most exciting local musicians Norfolk has to offer! 

The gig series, which began in February with ‘$ebbuku’ being the headline act to take to the stage, has proven to take the local music community of Norfolk by a storm, with both gigs selling out, helping the series to build an incredible network of support. 

Over the past few weeks, I have been catching up with the amazing organisations, bands and musicians who have been involved with ‘New Noise’, to discover how they feel being part of this initiative, which will ensure the local music scene of Norfolk stays ‘loud’! 

Something that I believe deserves to be celebrated about Norfolk is our incredible local music scene, which seems to flourish further every day, crafting a community which empowers one another through success, and supports each other through difficult times. From the bands and musicians that endlessly create amazing music, to the staff which work in the abundance of grassroot venues we have at our fingertips, so many people come together to craft this empowering community.  

 
‘New Noise!’ is a collaboration between Access Creative College, Norfolk Music Hub, Pica pica, Pica pica! And Play Produce Promote, allowing an abundance of amazing organisations to come together to empower the local music scene. For Gary from ‘PPP’, he knew how they were all ‘mad about the local scene and keen to give young people making their own music a chance to showcase it to others. We thought if we joined together we could really make something big happen. It’s never easy when you’re starting out, so having someone looking out for you and supporting you like this is our way of helping the acts and adding something new and different to the area as well.’ 

In March, ‘Damp Matches’ (who describe their music as ‘loud, genre- mixing and serrated around the edges’!), were the headline act, bringing their electric energy to Voodoo Daddys Showroom. For the band, playing ‘New Noise!’ felt like an amazing opportunity, as ‘On top of being our first show at Voodoo Daddy’s new site, it’s also great to share the stage with some great up-and-coming talent from Access Creative College AND get a load of tickets to their students! It’s really cool to prioritise getting the youth (god we’re old) involved in the local live music scene!’ 
Alongside Damp Matches, Zamani Fitri, Gabby Rivers and Kuiper took to the stage, creating an incredible line up for March!  

For Gabby (who is also the host of the ‘NEW NOISE! Radio show on Future Radio!), playing at the most recent gig ‘was so amazing! I loved playing to a young and enthusiastic crowd! Everyone in there was there to support the next generation of music and there were so many creatives and people in the industry in one room which you don’t see often’! 
‘I’ve always loved the Norwich music scene so when I heard about a collaborative project with different companies I was all ears! I was honoured to be asked to do the radio show which made me very happy.’ 

Not only does the gig series celebrate Norfolk’s best breaking musicians, but it also captures the beauty of live music, too. For many of us, live music can be an escape from the stress and pressure of everyday life- for a few hours we can forget reality and be entirely immersed by the magic of music. In a world which can seem too dark at times, live music can be the glimmer of light we can look forward to. For Damp Matches, music can ‘provide people from all walks of life with a safe space to let loose and have fun in. Everyone is welcome at our shows, and there’s nothing more rewarding than a fan telling you how much they value the time they spend at our gigs! The world’s in a rough spot right now so finding escape every now and then is important!’ 
For Gary from ‘PPP’, live music is ‘fun, it’s emotional, it makes you feel good, it inspires you, it makes you think, it gives you a chance to connect with others, it gives you something to play in your head every minute of every day when times are good and when times are tough!’ 

The power of ‘New Noise!’ is endless- not only does it provide a platform for aspiring musicians to take to the stage (potentially for the first time!), but it also inspires the next generation of musicians to pick up the microphone or strum a chord on a guitar for the first time, crafting incredible connections! The music industry can be tough to break into, and for Gary from ‘PPP’, he knows how important these connections can be, as ‘whether you’re a singer just writing alone at home, or a band full of mates starting to play, it’s hard to know where to go next. Meeting with other musicians and hearing their experiences and making friends is so important. Suddenly you’re not alone but part of something. You can get belief when you see others progressing and encouragement when fans tell you how good you are. And the great thing about a local scene is the gigs are on your doorstep and you can go right up to the acts and start talking to them. You miss out on so much if you don’t make the most of what’s going on around you.’ 

But what advice would those musicians who have already taken ‘New Noise!’ by a storm give to the next generation of duos, bands and solo artists? For Gabby, it ‘would be to network as much as possible, get advice from other up and coming artists, work hard, write loads of music and most importantly make sure you always enjoy it!’. And, for Damp Matches, it is all about making sure to ‘write and play what YOU want to write and play. Never write what you think others want to hear, bc then it won’t be authentic and people won’t connect with it. Other than that, be open-minded and never be afraid to be inspired!’ 

And, if you want to check out the beauty of ‘New Noise!’ for yourself, then you can head down to Voodoo Daddys Showroom on the 2nd April, as the incredible Mama Oh No, Magnolia, Lara Price Band and W3st take to the stage, promising a night full of Norfolk’s best exciting emerging musicians! 

And, if you want to keep up to date with the work (and brilliant music!) of ‘New Noise!’, then you can check out their Instagram (@newnoisenorfolk)!