Music at Reepham10

The Boomtown Rats began as a hard-hitting, guitar-driven Rhythm and Blues band with a straight up, stripped-down sound. Their first album was considered a classic R'n'B offering - likened to the early Stones and Dr Feelgood. Their debut single 'Looking After Number One' gnawed its way into the UK charts in 1977. This was the first of a succession of Boomtown Rats' hits spanning the next decade.

The hits kept on coming, with 'Mary Of The Fourth Form', 'She's So Modern' and 'Like Clockwork'. Then, in 1978, the band released 'Rat Trap' which shot straight into the Number One slot and remained in the charts for 15 weeks. 'Rat Trap' was the first New Wave Number One. The band's second album 'A Tonic For The Troops' also went to Number One, staying in the album charts for an amazing 47 weeks, and was voted the Number One Album by Melody Maker readers. The Boomtown Rats were now well established.

Of course there was also a little soiree the band played called 'LIVE AID'

1979 saw the massive international Number One 'I Don't Like Mondays' followed by major Top Five hits 'Diamond Smiles', 'Someone's Looking At You' and 'Banana Republic'. The band continued having million selling albums and chart success up to 1986, when singer Bob Geldof left the band to pursue a solo career.

Garry Roberts and Simon Crowe, the driving force behind the Rats sound, have put their powerful alliance together once again to re-ignite and develop the essence of their music as it should be heard, with its driving rhythms and meaty guitar riffs. Their new band with Peter Barton on bass and vocals and Darren Beale on guitar, perform all their classic hits along with 'live' favourites like 'Joey's On The Street again' and the not to be missed 'Neon Heart'.

Reviews

'If you do get the chance to see the Rats anywhere in the next 12 months cancel all other engagements and see them!'
(100 Club, London review)

'...if any live band can create that kind of feeling, surely they must have a certain something?'
(Liverpool review, 2009)

'Still powerful and refreshing...'
(Wakefield review, 2009)

The audience's reactions:
'Exceeded even my wildest expectations'. - RB
'Top marks boys, top, top marks.' PS. 'The final encore blew me away!' JK

www.boomtownrats.co.uk

Firm favourite rock 'n' rollers delivering blistering songs and driving guitar. Formed in the late seventies this hard rocking band have been thrilling crowds all over the UK with their own energetic brand of blues and boogie for two decades. Always capable of delivering live, their line-up contains players who have performed and recorded with artists as diverse as Steve Marriot, Dire Straits, Dave Stewart, Mungo Jerry, FM and Iron maiden

busterjames.com

Music is about connection with the soul' is Red Leaf's watchword. Performing a mixture of covers and original material, each band member brings their own style, technique and influence in to the fray, Red Leaf have established an audience reputation as one of the most entertaining and innovative bands around.

Sponsored by

www.redleaftheband.com

TinPig are a local five piece band performing classic feelgood tunes with songs with infectious rhythms and vocal harmonies. With hits from ABBA through to The Zutons these guys are guaranteed to get everybody up and bopping around. Party On!

www.tinpig.co.uk

The Proposition's sound is described as a uniquely English take on acoustic-Americana, offering instantly hummable modern folk songs that explore dark stories through the prettiest of tunes, and all driven by stirringly energetic performance. Built around acoustic guitar, banjo, bass and drums, with rich three-part harmonies, The Proposition have been likened to The Handsome Family and The Felice Brothers but remain uniquely their own 'proposition'.

www.myspace.com/thepropositionuk

Funky, edgy and with a big vocal sound, Anna, Hana and Emily perform classic rock songs from the '60s to the present, from Christina Aguilera to Aretha Franklin and Kings of Leon to Lulu.

www.minxmusic.co.uk

With quiffs and twangy, quivery guitar riffs, a sound style entirely their own and right snazzy dressers to boot, Hoodlums are led by the irresistible front man Lou Vainglorious. 'Freshest, most original and vibey thing I've heard in weeks...refreshed my faith in new music'- Tom Robinson BBC6

Estuary boys, Hoodlums, are not hoodies. They have quiffs. And twangy , quivery guitar riffs, You'll be well chuffed, owning it. Artrocker

Like poetic young men let loose in the country with a piano and double bass. Whatever next? Steve Lamacq

Creating a sound style that is entirely their own , HOODLUMS are set for big things. CLASH

Literally swinging from the rafters and dancing on the tables and chairs are support band HOODLUMS, this is how all great parties end. NME

Beat Bop is a holler chorused anthem that sounds like a aggro-youth club Hard-Fi. The Fly

hoodlumsband.com/

Arcadia Lake are a six piece alt-indie band signed to Tontena Records, whose music shares the same light and shade as their namesakes -part beautiful, serene lake in Oklahoma and part 70s porn actress whose life spiralled to a dramatic end.

www.myspace.com/arcadialake

The Divide are an energetic, heavy rock band. Their music has one foot in classic rock, and the other in more modern waters. Vocalist and lyricist, Garth Coupland, sings his words with power and conviction, and with good reason. The content of every song is a reflection of modern living, covering such diverse subjects from ecology to religion. Keyboards and guitar wizard, Ross Coupland, creates vast washes of sound interspersed with manic lead breaks, which are the perfect foil for the other guitarist, Howie Marsh, whose signature sound and style is rooted in the blues. Thoughtful, intelligent basslines from Simon Bateman underline every song with uncluttered simplicity and all this is driven by rock solid drummer, Paul Oxborough.

Reviews

'The lead singer had a brilliant stage presence, talking to the crowd, donned in all black clothes and shades he really pulled off a good show for the crowd. The guitarists, what can I say. I was outstanded by the skill of playing from both guitarists. The guitarist on the right with the white guitar sounding like a cross between Steve Vai and Ritchie Kotzen whilst the other guitarist sticking to the more bluesy Stevie Ray Vauhn-ish sound. The right guitarist even transferred to the keyboards a some points and pulled off some amazing keyboard solos.'

'The Divide was absolutely electrifying! Never before have I seen a band that have looked comfortable on stage and sung with such passion. The energy of the lead singer was surely the best I've ever seen.'

Sponsored By

www.divide-online.co.uk/

Cottonmusic is the sum of its parts... influenced by folk/ rock, Irish, blues, bluegrass and good old rock 'n' roll, Suffolk duo Gary and Nic deliver the goods in their unique contemporary style on guitar, vocals and fiddle

Songwriters Chris Ellis and Celeste Lovick bring together favourite material from their solo projects, creating a lively and dynamic set with two voices, two guitars and piano. Chris and Celeste have each recorded well-received solo albums but are equally well-known in the UK and Canada as a duo.

'Magnetic performances, well-crafted songs with great sincerity' National Theatre, London

www.myspace.com/celestelovick

Brollyfolk are Emma & Julian Williamson. Performing predominantly lively American influenced folk, they furnish irrepressible rhythms on acoustic guitar combined with rootsy blues & rags on those black & white keys. The feel-good factor arrives with Brollyfolk.

Greg McDonald is a London songwriter who has been described as 'Joe Strummer fronting Elbow' and called a 'poetic genius' by Rolling Stone.

Forthcoming album 'Reclaim the Night' showcase McDonald's loud'n'proud 'street-folk' sound - a distinctly English brew of indie guitars, accordions and harmonies concocted with Radiohead producer Chris Brown.

It follows dark debut album 'Stranger at the Door', which became Q magazine's top rated independent release of 2009.

As a teenager, McDonald started out fronting cult indie band The Dawn Parade, making a name as one of John Peel's final protégés with a string of celebrated EPs and Radio 1 sessions.

Since then Greg's songs have struck a chord everywhere from the cutting edges of XFM and BBC 6music to the mainstream of Radio 1, Radio 2 and MTV, picking up awards from Rolling Stone, gracing major festival main stages, and adding to a support roster including Show of Hands, Keane and Kings of Leon. Even Morrissey has been spotted at London gigs.

As BBC 6music DJ Tom Robinson puts it: 'Greg McDonald reminds you why you got into music in the first place.'

www.gregmcdonald.co.uk/

Originally formed in the autumn of 2006 after several hot picking sessions with like - minded musician friends in a pub in Norwich. Fuelled by real ale and lifted spirits it was at that point the idea for the forum was born. Following on from this the BLUEGRASS FORUM decided to open up the bluegrass genre to a wider audience; they did this in their own innovative style; covering class pop songs mixed with traditional breakdowns and creating a completely new genre of music called 'Popgrass'.

The BLUEGRASS FORUM have covered Beatles classics, songs from the playlists of Michael Jackson, Oasis, Undertones, Kaiser Chiefs, Lily Allen, Robbie Williams, Amy Winehouse and now recently up to date chart hits. This list shows how bluegrass has become more accessible in the sense that it straddles several different musical genres. However, the Forum has not forgotten its early roots and continues to play Alison Krauss classics and more traditional bluegrass breakdowns.

Alongside their three part harmonies, the group play dobro, banjos, guitar, fiddle, mandolin and double bass. The group's musicianship has an ease of professionalism and style. All of the Forum have many years experience between them from playing on the music scene. Their first album, 'From Norfolk to Nashville' was recorded before a successful trip to Nashville to play in November 2009. This album has been well received and has been played on many country radio stations throughout the world reaching high levels on several country music charts.

www.hayleymoyses.com

Marina delivers beautifully crafted acoustic songs, with country, pop, rock and folk influences. Now firmly established on the folk scene, she has performed at the Cambridge Folk festival and Cambridge Strawberry Fair.

www.marinaflorance.com

Thomas Barwick & The FullTone sound playing you delightful ska rocksteady roots reggae from 2pm onwards outside in the Brewery House Courtyard

www.facebook.com/pages/FULL-TONE-SOUND-SYSTEM/153107521215?ref=mf

Performances include 'From School to America' and 'The Peter Wolf Band'.