Independent Venues Week - Floral Image

Anyone who attended a gig at either Norwich Arts Centre, Open, The Waterfront, or Voodoo Daddy's Showroom over the last seven days will have spotted the staff proudly sporting specially printed T-shirts to mark their venue's inclusion in, and support for, Independent Venue Week. An initiative supported by BBC Sounds, and funded by various partners, including Arts Council England, DIY magazine, Musicians' Union and PRS for Music, Independent Venue Week is a seven day celebration of live music and the people who own, run and work in these establishments. Intentionally timed to kick us out of our post-Christmas blues and the New Year doldrums, these Norwich venues stepped up to the plate and delivered a series of gigs to brought January to a climactic conclusion. I made it to three of these events, and was delighted to find that all three well attended, and featuring some top-class local, national and international musicians.

My final call was at the recently re-branded Voodoo Daddy's Showroom in Timber Hill. Formerly known as Bermuda Bob's (and also briefly home to the re-risen Owl Sanctuary), the upstairs has been given a re-vamp that now provides a larger stage, more standing capacity and, perhaps rather oddly for a live music venue, a couple of pinball machines. Drinks now have to be brought up from downstairs, but service is good, and refreshment is never more than a quick guitar solo away.

The triple bill, courtesy of Odd Box Promotions, kicked off with the invitingly named Get Up And Use Me, named after a song by 80's post-punk band The Fire Engine, subsequently covered by Franz Ferdinand. It now becomes the moniker for this new side project from Brandon Jacobs and Jack Johnson from Painted Heathers. It sees Jacobs taking on drumming duties and sharing vocals with Johnson, who lays down his own pulsating bassline throughout. The sound has elements of both post-punk and dance, creating shades of Joy Division coloured with the retro groove that local act Sink Ya Teeth have found so successful.

It is three years since Violet Kicks last performed in Norwich, and there is a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation as Jessie, Melissa, Matty and Conor take the stage. There are, initially, a few nerves and a couple of problems with microphones, but it is not long before everyone hits their stride – Conor and Melissa underpinning the rhythm and synth lines whilst Matty, replendent in faux-fur, is clearly enjoying being back in the limelight. Jessie's vocals still have that mesmeric yet slightly detached quality that always reminded me of both Lene Lovich and Siouxsie Sioux. As she swirls and swoops around the stage it is as if Violet Kicks have never been away, although nearly all of the material is brand new – only Ode To Simplicity and the dramatic Morning Maniac remain from earlier set lists.

Local band Floral Image caused a bit of a stir last year around these parts when the demo that they sent in to BBC Introducing was picked up within three days by Huw Stephens, and played on BBC Radio 1. The track was Subpoena, a slice of summery chill that not only helped us through the dark winter nights, but got Floral Image included in Huw's list of 'Ones to Watch 2020'. Long-term friends Jack Warner (keyboards) and Fergus Nolan (guitars) were returning to the Timber Hill venue for the first time since Floral Image supported Californian band Triptides here last July. The band  also includes Paul Winfield on bass and Belgian drummer Julien Beghain, whose jazz tendencies produce a whole extra dimension to the band's live performances.

The Dereham duo's in-show banter, not just with each other but with friends and family present in the audience, means that the atmosphere on stage may be relaxed but the playing remains slick and the vocals are sot on at all times. New track Zonsonder (which has also received airplay on Radio 1) shows Beghain's influence since joining the band – the melody lines remain strong, but are bolstered by a dance beat reminiscent of the late 70's. Indeed, strong melodies are a constant feature of Floral Image's writing, including retro influences that include more than a passing nod to The Doors and Pink Floyd. Closing track Singularity was a truly gorgeous way to end, a really swirling number that conjures up images of lazy days and warm summer evenings. Exactly what the doctor ordered as an antidote to the first day of February, and for the first day of our going it alone again as an independent nation.