Tag: Norwich Arts Centre

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Live Reviews

Skinny Lister

Skinny Lister

Norwich Arts Centre

Thursday 30th November 2023

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📸 (c) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

SKINNY LISTER – NORWICH ARTS CENTRE – LIVE REVIEW

Outside may be bitterly cold, but inside Norwich Arts Centre tonight there is the familiar warmth of community. That’s because those shanty punks Skinny Lister are in town for another uplifting evening of sing-a-long folk tales.

THE MOLEE SHAKES

Country Blues duo The Molee Shakes are the first act to grace the stage this evening and set about showcasing their melancholic fuzz to the early attendees. The performance grows as it progresses and by the end they’ve certainly done enough to engage the crowd and start the show the right way.

LIFE AQUATIC BAND

After a short changeover five-piece ensemble Life Aquatic Band appear as our main support act. The band offer intrigue from the outset with their unique indie disco brand. Each of the three acts tonight offer something different which makes the evening an eclectic mix, but Life Aquatic Band in and of themselves are a delightful sonic jumble!

The musicianship is mightily impressive, the songs have something special about them, the set itself is slick and quirkily stylish and the overall package is thoroughly enjoyable. It’s no surprise therefore that come the climax of their time of stage, the audience appear desperate for more whilst offering a genuinely rousing ovation.

SKINNY LISTER

For many bands that would a difficult set to follow, but Skinny Lister are no average band and they’ve long asserted themselves into the most fun live band conversation. Tonight is simply another exhibit for the case of the prosecution.

From the word go, the band use every ounce of energy to rip through one stirring fan favourite to another. Clearly the likes of ‘Wanted’, ‘Tragedy in A Minor’, ‘Rattle & Roar’ and ‘Cathy’ were always destined to elicit positive responses from the audience. Tonight, though the band are also able to perform tracks from their latest album, ‘Shanty Punk’.

Now in our album review we called it the most ‘Skinny Lister’ Skinny Lister album, and that sentiment follows these songs onto the stage. All of ‘Arm Wrestling in Dresden’, ‘Company of the Bar’, ‘Mantra’ and ‘Unto the Breach’ fit perfectly into the well established setlist and all receive great reactions from a crowd having lots of fun.

Today saw the untimely departure of Pogues iconic frontman Shane MacGowan, and with a little over an hour until December arrives there’s a fitting tribute at the start of the encore with a superb rendition of ‘Fairytale Of New York’. The night then finishes with ‘Six Whiskies’ heralding one last sing-a-long moment.

At this point Skinny Lister are a guaranteed good time and you’d be a fool to miss them when they come to your town!

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Watch Episode 39 of The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guests Skinny Lister

The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 39 – Skinny Lister

Read our review of ‘Shanty Punk’ from Skinny Lister

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Live Reviews

Beans On Toast

Beans On Toast

Norwich Arts Centre

Wednesday 22nd February 2023

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All 📸 (C) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

BEANS ON TOAST – NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW

In December, folk favourite Beans On Toast broke with tradition slightly and instead of releasing a new album on his birthday, released a collection of well received children’s stories! Well, another tradition for Beans On Toast is touring and as per his latest single, that tradition is intact with the singer now ‘Back out on the Road’!

ANN LIU CANNON

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The road this evening leads to Norwich Arts Centre, a fantastic venue in the heart of the city and tonight is all but sold out. Early attendees are treated to a delicate and delightful opening performance from Ann Liu Cannon. You could hear a pin drop as the crowd absorb the tender words of a talented young songwriter.

BEANS ON TOAST

Soon enough it’s time for Beans On Toast to take to a stage complete with new backdrop, lighting and a table! Yes, Beans has gone big for this tour and even has a loose setlist written on the table.

The loveably unpredictable nature of a typical Beans show remains however with the singer regularly going off-piste with audience requests and stories from the road. Beans has always impressed with his ability to improvise and tonight he deals with some rather inebriated fans with veteran aplomb.

As for that setlist, there is a good mixture of old and new as you’d expect from a musician constantly churning out topical content. New songs include anti-war protests, odes to fabled venues and considerations of an AI future. The packed crowd hang off of every word and note, as Beans On Toast demonstrates his natural ability to hold an audience’s attention.

Old favourites are present too with the likes of ‘The War on War’, ‘The Chicken Song’ and set closer ‘On & On’ enticing some of the bigger sing-a-long moments. All in all, tonight is yet another successful show for a musician who has long since established himself as an underground national treasure!

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Watch Episode 3 of The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guest Beans On Toast

The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 3 – Beans On Toast

Read our review of Xtra Mile Recordings 20th Anniversary in London

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Live Reviews

Skinny Lister

Norwich Arts Centre

Friday 12th November 2021

Skinny Lister Norwich Arts Centre
? (C) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

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SKINNY LISTER – NORWICH ARTS CENTRE – LIVE REVIEW

The converted church known as Norwich Arts Centre feels the ideal venue in this fine city for Skinny Lister to takeover, and takeover they do with the show tonight sold out in advance.

Before the groups loyal fanbase is graced by their presence though it’s time for our support act. Support for this tour comes from recent collaborators The Longest Johns, who recently reached new audiences as a viral trend on TikTok.

All ? (C) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

Tonight the four-piece are welcomed to Norwich by an appreciative audience who are captivated by the groups’ hauntingly good harmonies. That trending song ‘Wellerman’ closes a set packed with material set to feature on the bands upcoming new album ‘Smoke & Oakum’.

A fun way to start what is always destined to be a very fun and enjoyable evening of folk and shanties. Soon enough the lights go back down and it’s time of the masters of those arts, Skinny Lister, to hit the stage.

All ? (C) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

Performing a career-spanning set, there is rightly a spotlight on their recent release ‘A Matter of Life & Love’. Upon its release we called the album “…well crafted and superbly delivered…”, and tonight those songs are brought to life.

Read our review of ‘A Matter of Life & Love’

‘Bavaria Area’, ‘Breakfast at Heathrow’ and ‘Embers’ are all highlights in a packed set list. A brilliant rendition of ‘Damn the Amsterdam’ sees the band joined onstage by The Longest Johns to the delight of the audience.

Skinny Lister have spent their career building their reputation as a top tier live act and tonight the band prove just why they are considered so. ‘Colours’, ‘What Can I Say’, ‘Cathy’, ‘This Is War’ and ‘Trouble on Oxford Street’ all eliciting jubilant scenes in the church. Hallelujah!

After a superb evening of entertainment, there is no way the crowd are going anywhere and Skinny Lister duly oblige with an encore of ‘Raise a Wreck’, ‘Hamburg Drunk’ and finale ‘Six Whiskies’.

The crowd go home happy and Skinny Lister travel on to the next show with their reputation enhanced even further. I dare you to go to a show and not have a great time!

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Read our review of Lost Evenings Festival

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Live Reviews

Black Honey

Norwich Arts Centre

Friday 24th September 2021

Black Honey

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It’s Friday night in Norwich and the area around the Arts Centre is vibrant with pubs, bars and restaurants full of people (plus lots of people queuing for fuel but let’s not get started on that!). Yes, nightlife is back after a devastating 18 months.

Independent music venues and musicians have been hit hard but now we are gathering together in rooms again, things feel like they are healing. The Music Venue Trust continue their amazing work to protect our cultural spaces and tonight is part of the trusts #ReviveLive shows.

On offer is a fantastic band who this year released their second album, Black Honey. There is a very good chance that ‘Written & Directed’ will trouble the very top of our album of the year list when that time arrives. It’s therefore great to see these songs performed in the beautiful and intimate surrounds of Norwich Arts Centre.

Read our review of ‘Written & Directed’ from Black Honey

Opening the festivities this evening is Frances Lion whose hauntingly good support slot captivates the audience. Lion serenades those in attendance with her unique take on the singer-songwriter genre. By the end of her performance the crowd are begging for more, which as an opening act is all you want.

The attention of the audience is soon able to turn to our headliners Black Honey. This is a band that has worked hard to build a solid reputation as a live act. They get the crowd moving from the very start as ‘I Like The Way You Die’, ‘All My Pride’ and ‘Beaches’ set the standard for the evening.

WATCH ‘BEACHES’ ON YOUTUBE
Black Honey – ‘Beaches’

The band has managed to create an extremely impressive back catalogue during their short career which means that they already have tough choices to make when picking a setlist. Tonight is a fine balance between their self-titled debut album and ‘Written & Directed’.

The performance flows naturally and builds momentum throughout. Earlier tracks such as ‘I Only Hurt the Ones I Love’, ‘Somebody Better’ and ‘Cadillac’ segue perfectly with new favourites ‘Summer ’92’, ‘Believer’ and ‘Fire’.

Listen to ‘Believer’ on our Spotify Hot List!

Black Honey are able to hold the audience in the palm of their hands. Their hard work and constant touring has paid off in full, because this is a very good live act. The final run of ‘Spinning Wheel’, ‘Hello Today’, ‘Disinfect’ and ‘Run For Cover’ demonstrate this perfectly.

As the fans head out into the warm September night they are left to reminisce on a superb evening of music (and where they can get some fuel!).

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Read our review of ‘Blue Weekend’ from Wolf Alice

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Live Reviews

Seasick Steve

Norwich Arts Centre

Wednesday 21st July 2021

Seasick Steve Norwich Arts Centre

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SEASICK STEVE – NORWICH ARTS CENTRE – LIVE REVIEW

It has been a devastating 16 months for humanity. Every country, every community and every industry has suffered profound and unprecedented loss. The fact remains that we are far from free, the p word is still ongoing and we must be careful.

There is however hope, just a glimmer that some form of normality or dare we say a “new normal” could be possible. The music industry has been decimated over the past year or so, but it is the music industry now that is offering us hope.

We recently attended the Download Pilot Festival and saw a preview of how live music can return. There was testing involved, masks in certain situations, extra sanitisation and a sense of community that only live music brings.

Read our review of Download Pilot Festival

Now it is time to head indoors again. The Music Venue Trust has always done an incredible job, but that has been amplified by the events of the last year or so. The organisation has now teamed up with The National Lottery to help to #ReviveLive.

They aim to help the return of music fans to music venues across the country and ticket holders can bring a Lottery playing friend in for free. Tonight feels special for so many reasons. The first gig back would always be special but by putting an act the size of Seasick Steve into the intimate surrounds of the beautiful Norwich Arts Centre only ramps the feeling right up!

Entry is smooth, fans have been encouraged to take Lateral Flow tests, there is hand sanitizer aplenty and masks are encouraged in certain areas. Attendees are respectful of each other and of the significance of the evening.

Read our review of ‘Lo! Soul’ from Roddy Woomble

The atmosphere truly is special, and it is a special talent here to entertain us. With no support, Seasick Steve and his trusted companion on drums enter the stage at half past eight just after an emotional welcome from the venue director.

Seasick Steve is a captivating artist at the best of times, but tonight he truly has the audience in the palm of his hand. Despite lingering fears of being part of a gathering and despite the intense heat inside the venue, there is nowhere else you’d want to be.

Fans are regaled with tales of Steve’s life and serenaded with his signature blues numbers. The likes of ‘Roy’s Gang’, ‘Walkin’ Man’, ‘Barracuda ’68’ and ‘Dark’ are highlights before Seasick Steve sends fans home with ‘Thunderbird’ after nearly two beautiful hours.

It’s an incredible feeling to be able to head out into the night, sweaty and reminiscing on a stunning evening of music once again. It’s an experience that has been missing for too long, but it is back.

There are a plethora of dates and artists performing this series of MVT shows. Do yourself and your local venue a favour, grab a ticket, take a test and enjoy the return of live music!

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