Thursday 11 October 2012, wombatwombat showcase in the bar @ Norwich Arts Centre, St Benedict's, as part of the John Peel Festival of New Music at Norwich Sound & Vision 2012

Our acts will take to the stage in the bar during changeovers for those playing in the auditorium, so that's four sets of around 20 minutes each that will include two cherry-popping performances as well as a glimpse at two of our region's most promising emerging talents.

A festival wristband or an individual ticket for the Arts Centre's gig that night (details currently TBC) will give you entry to our showcase.

magic Panda

Magic Panda

from Norwich, soundcloud.com/magicpanda

"It's really rather good, and not even THAT much like either Gold Panda or Panda Bear." (drownedinsound, Drowned in Norwich)

Magic Panda is Jamie Robson, a lo-fi electronic music producer from Norwich specialising in melancholic, ethereal soundscapes and uplifting psychedelic fairy tale anthems.

His debut EP The Glass Mountain came out on Maripoza Records in April 2011, followed by the Tigerbeat6-released Days Are Numbered EP in September 2011.

Magic Panda has been developing his live set during the past two years and enjoyed high profile support slots with Luke Abbott, Ricardo Tobar, The Portico Quartet, Mount Kimbie and DMX Krew.

Work is now complete on the debut album Temple of a Thousand Lights, which will be out in 2012 on Tigerbeat6.

"Shimmering and dark, austere and emotive, organic and digitalized, and it's those kinds of sonic contradictions that make it so enjoyable to listen to." (xlr8r.com)

"Epic tracks that combine glitchy melodies, piano lines and bass that you could drown in." (Bearded Magazine)

Magic Panda facebook

Port Isla

Port Isla

from Norwich, soundcloud.com/port-isla

"There's clearly huge demand among record buyers for the classic songwriting values of the Americana genre… The big thing Port Isla have going for them is a firm grasp of the genre, and an authentic sound that could almost be an outtake from The Band circa 1970… A bit of biographical context and a single edit of Nobody's Fault will definitely help Port Isla win friends and influence people." (Tom Robinson, freshonthenet.co.uk)

On a good day, Port Isla is a four-piece folk-rock band from Norwich. Formed by Will Bloomfield in 2011, he quickly enlisted the help of fellow UEA School of Musicians Stanley Spilman and Henry Kilmister and spent the next couple of months of writing and playing acoustic gigs around Norfolk. Will Olenski soon joined to complete the line up and they have since opened the main stage At Playfest, played at The Great Escape in Brighton and Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, won the first Rocket From The East competition, performed live on BBC Norfolk and Suffolk Introducing and recorded their first single.

On a bad day, they cover '80's power-ballads, complain about beard growth and argue about correct usage of knots.

"Sunny folk-pop with catchy hooklines and a sound somewhere between an Instagram-look and great pop." (reeperbahnfestival.eu)

"Rough, ready and loaded with promise, January Demos is a snapshot of a band quite possibly poised for greatness." (b-sidemusic.co.uk)

Port Isla facebook

Night Engine

Night Engine

from London, soundcloud.com/nightengine

Performing live for the first time, London four-piece Night Engine play tightly crafted songs combining elements of funk, rock, and northern soul. Think The Clash. Think David Bowie. Think Talking Heads. Think Sly… And you'll only get close. Expect much.

Night Engine facebook

AA

AA

from Norwich

No idea what to expect from AA's short debut performance this evening – A has been known to drum, sing, play guitar and keyboards over the years – but a wild guess would include the words 'hypnotic' and 'disarming'.

So new, AA the musical act has no internet presence.

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