Dave McPherson

Inme frontman Dave McPherson heads to the Waterfront for his first headline show in Norwich. Having released his debut solo album The Hardship Diaries last year, Dave is heading out on tour to promote new single Love Rats, before he joins Inme on tour in March (playing Norwich Waterfront on 7th March).

Support comes from Fei Comodo’s frontman Marc Halls, playing songs from his ‘A Simple Man’ EP, along with Dumbfoundus and Tyler Darrington.

Tickets available now from UEA Ticket Bookings

Emeli Sande

Following on from the release of her debut album ‘Our Version Of Events’ on 6th February, Emeli Sande is set to start her April headline tour with a gig at Norwich UEA on Wednesday 4th April.

Having hit the number one spot with Professor Green on ‘Read All About It’ and number two with her debut single ‘Heaven’, Emeli is set on a meteoric rise to stardom. Smart, sussed, talented, entrepreneurial, shiningly engaging in the flesh, utterly transfixing on stage and unforgettable in her words and melodies, Emeli Sandé is the epitome of the brilliant modern artist.

Tickets available now from www.aeglive.co.uk

Hotly tipped Berkshire alternative rock/pop quintet, Francesqa, are set to hit the road in May playing Norwich Waterfront on 19th, following their sold out UK tour back in February. With a sound reminiscent of Jimmy Eat World and Futures, the band has previously toured with Deaf Havana and Aiden to name just a few.

Support from Atlas&i, The Echoes and Clear Addiction

In the two years since the release of Taking Back Sunday’s last album, New Again, a lot has changed. Gone are Matt Fazzi and Matthew Rubano, replaced by original members John Nolan and Shaun Cooper. John Nolan and Shaun Cooper left Taking Back Sunday in 2003, and went on to form Straylight Run, but we that coming to an end in 2009, they rejoined TBS in June 2010. This is the first UK appearance since they rejoined and is sure to be a gig to gig.

John Nolan was a major part of the songwriting for Taking Back Sundays debut (and breakthrough) album ‘Tell All Your Friends’. Fans of the band will want to see if their new material lives to to the classic TBS songs ‘Cute Without The E’ and ‘Your So LAst Summer’.

Taking Back Sunday play Norwich UEA on Monday 9th May 2011.

Lost? + Evarose + A Major Motion Picture

B2, Norwich
Friday 25th March 2011
Entry £3
Advance Tickets from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/106372

Norwich pop rock band Lost? play their final hometown show before a 5 date UK tour with long time American friends Army Of Freshmen, which takes in Folkestone, Southampton, Leeds, Manchester and London in April. Since releasing their EP ‘Pics Or It Didn’t Happen’ Lost? have managed to play gigs all over the country, get to the final of HMVs unsigned band competition, as well as have their homemade music video played on Lava TV. This is the first chance for locals to hear their energetic new set. Check them out at www.facebook.com/lostuk.

Main support for the gig is Evarose, an all female four piece from Oxford. Despite only forming at the start of 2010 Evarose have been busy, winning fans all over the UK. The bands debut EP Creation Divide is full of passion, tight hooks and pulsating rhythms. Their first video ‘We Can Pretend Anyway’ has been on Scuzz TV non stop since October, and their new video for ‘Cough It Up‘ should be on TV soon. This band is awesome live. Check them out at http://www.facebook.com/evaroseband.

Support also comes from Northamptons A Major Motion Picture, a pop rock band who have supported the likes of We Are The Ocean, Go:Audio, Set Your Goals, and MC Lars over the past few years. They promise solid riffs, sawing harmonies and good times. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/amajormotionpicture.

Funeral For A Friend

Welsh rock legends FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND are set to release their excellent fifth studio album, WELCOME HOME ARMAGEDDON, on 14 March 2011. Produced by previous collaborator Romesh Dodangoda, the band homed in on the essence of their new material in a way which would present the new tracks as being as true to their live show as possible. The result of this approach will doubtless send shivers down the spines of many a FFAF fan.

Embracing the heady mix of raw heaviness and pure melody, which helped establish the band’s name when they first started out, Matt describes the album as, “a fist in the face followed by a kiss on the cheek”. The heavier vocals take an integral role on several of the tracks.

Drummer / vocalist Ryan, commenting on his contribution to FRONT ROW SEATS TO THE END OF THE WORLD, said, “It was a lot of fun for me to do a lead vocal again on a track, as it’s something I’ve not really done since way back on the first record”. The track was released as a free download in late January. The visceral explosion of riffs, screams and melody is one that fans of the band already know and love, but the constant shifts of gear in rhythm and twists and turns in the track will keep everyone guessing as to what’s around each corner.

From the fast, punky feel of OLD HYMNS, through the seven-string guitar-led riff spectacular AFTERTASTE, and the even more riff-heavy SPINNING OVER THE ISLAND, FFAF have crafted an album of potential classics with each track as exciting and unpredictable as the one before. Anthemic songs with killer melodies such as album closer WELCOME HOME ARMAGEDDON , and SIXTEEN, which actually started life as an acoustic song, are further demonstrations of the band’s song writing prowess, and their ability to incorporate a multitude of different musical elements.

The apocalyptic sway in the title track is explained by Matt, “A friend of mine was mentioning how he felt that the best thing for the planet was for the human race to just drop dead and, at times, I can see and understand his way of thinking, but a big part of me has this (probably) misguided faith in humanity to steer the ship in the right direction for a change. So WELCOME HOME ARMAGEDDON is the idea of patiently waiting for the end to arrive at your doorstep and give you a nice big hug”.

FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND will hit the road in March and April with a lengthy string of dates at intimate venues, some of which are in towns they’ve never actually played before. The extensive run of dates has purposefully been plotted to traverse through those venues where both long-time fans and those who have discovered the band in recent years will appreciate for their up-close-and-personal, and the tour has now been expanded due to exceptionally high demand. Support on the dates will come from fast-rising British band RISE TO REMAIN.

The band play The Apex in Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday 22nd March 2011.