Colin Wilson Wombatwombat gets its 2008 programme off to an exciting start at Norwich Arts Centre this Friday night (8pm) with a bill of breaking bands that includes the debut outing for Trickbabies, a trio formed from the ashes of local act the Aprons.

Colin Wilson

Wombatwombat gets its 2008 programme off to an exciting start at Norwich Arts Centre this Friday night (8pm) with a bill of breaking bands that includes the debut outing for Trickbabies, a trio formed from the ashes of local act the Aprons.

Newcastle-based headliners Pale Man Made are playing a handful of shows to promote their debut full-length album, Oh, My Treasured Things, which hits the streets in February. The quartet describe their new release as “12 tracks of indie pop loveliness and darkness combined” and cite their influences as “the Fall, the Smiths, Joy Division, Galaxie 500, Sleater-Kinney and lots of lovely jangly indie bands”.

Formed while at university in Brighton, 4 or 5 Magicians caught the early attention of Radio 1 and recorded a session for Huw Stephens last summer. They have also already impressed the ears of Music Week, Rocksound and drownedinsound and the Alcopop! label, which released their acclaimed debut single, Forever on the Edge, last October.

Norwich's Trickbabies promise “a bit of grit and a damn good time” at their first ever gig, thanks to their mix of punk, blues, country and dirty pop overlaid with girl/guy distortion.

In the bar, Howlback Hum presents sets from Chad Mason, Tell Me How, Ground Ivy, Loose Leaf Drifters, Florence and the Goodgirls, plus Ollie Beavis/Mikey Page and Co.

Phone 01603 660352, 761004, 508050 Norwich Arts Centre box office, www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk