Norwich Sound & Vision Day Three
A grand finale to a wicked weekend
A busy day starts with Luke Peter Foster & Happy Ghost kicking things off for the Sonic Youths showcase in the NAC bar. With a few exceptions, rap/hip-hop isn't a genre I appreciate but this is well executed, slightly trippy and distinctly promising. (7/10)
Laura Goldthorp produces a distinctly Middle English take on the Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter thing. The Joni Mitchell cover is obvious but the set is enjoyable and engaging nonetheless. (7/10)
Post-punkers Midnight Zoo close out the Sonic Youths showcase with a strong set bringing to mind Joy Division, early Cure and Bauhaus. Awkward and gawky but thoroughly endearing, I’d like to see more, please. (8/10)
Over at the Millennium Library George Cheetham gets things going with some excellent alternative folk before an appreciative audience. (8/10)
Cove Hithe’s performance is perhaps a little diminished by the absence of violinist/vocalist Matilda but this is still a strong set of bucolic folk-pop. (8/10)
Dove & Boweevil are probably the most proficient musicians of the weekend and go down particularly well. Dove has a powerful soul voice, while Boweevil plays scalding blues guitar. Technically impressive but not really my thing. (6/10)
With a heavy heart, the need for fodder means I have to miss the ever entertaining Emily Winng but a quick trip home for a meal and it is back to NAC for Claws. Tonight seems to be a bit beefier and heavier than previous shows. (8/10)
In the bar, it is my first chance to see Neil James Earl since the mighty Long Balls split at last year's NS+V. Thumping, twisted Leftfield-style electronica is a long way from the Balls but it's none too shabby. (7/10)
Hailing from France, Steeple Remove put in one of the performances of the festival, with an enthralling hybrid of post-punk and spacerock. (9/10)
A solo Daisy Victoria was one of the highlights of last year’s NS+V. This year, she has brought her full band with her to the Mash Tun and, if anything, the Heavy, dark pop is even better. (9/10)
Back in the NAC Bar, Wreck Age make like it is 1988 and grunge - let alone Britpop - never happened. This ain’t entirely a bad thing. Raise the devil horns, hair metal is back. (7/10)
In the auditorium, I catch the first and last two songs of Graceland's set. Decent, if not as great as the debut a few weeks back. (8/10) However, leaving to go and see the frankly unremarkable AOR-meets-indie of Fossa at the Mash Tun was a mistake. (4/10)
I like Port Isla but a scheduling clash meant I missed them to see the bloody marvellous SuperGlu at the Mash Tun. As with Bad Grammar at the same venue last year, this is the perfect conclusion to NS+V. Mischievous, jaunty punk-power-pop-indie played with oodles of enthusiasm with simply one of the most charismatic frontmen around. Absofeckinglutely brilliant. (10/10)
