Cold Specks

With the Norwich Sound and Vision festival just around the corner here is a guide to the bands who will be performing in Norwich.

Band Profile: Cold Specks is songwriter and vocalist Al Spx from Etobicoke, Canada, who now lives in London. The band’s name is taken from a line in James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’: “Born all in the dark wormy earth, cold specks of fire, evil, lights shining in the darkness”.

Describing her sound as ‘Doom Soul’, Cold Specks’ music is steeped in the musical traditions of the Deep South. No wonder then that Al cites the Lomax Field Recordings and James Carr as influences along with Bill Callahan and Tom Waits. With a voice that evokes the ‘spirit feel’ of Mahalia Jackson and the visceral tones of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Cold Specks’ sparse arrangements and chain-gang rhythms stop you dead in your tracks.

What the experts say: “Positively spellbinding and downright possessed” - NME

Cold Specks will be playing at the Norwich Arts Centre, Friday 12 October.

Box office 01603 763111

Book online at www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk/events