COLIN WILSON Wombatwombat hosts its fifth annual free celebration of local and national indie talent in the bandstand at Waterloo Park, Angel Road, Norwich, this Sunday.

COLIN WILSON

Wombatwombat hosts its fifth annual free celebration of local and national indie talent in the bandstand at Waterloo Park, Angel Road, Norwich, this Sunday, July 30, with tag-team compering from Yanni Mac and Luke Wright.

Weather permitting, seven acts are set to strut their stuff for 30 minutes, starting at 1.15pm and finishing at 7pm, after which the free music continues thanks to Howlback Hum's four-band bill at the Edward VII on Aylsham Road, across the road from Waterloo Park.

The music includes punky four-piece Compact Pussycat, Next Big Thing II finalists Lalia, folk-influenced The Rebeccas, 6 Music and Xfm favourites Econoline - making a rare appearance as an acoustic duo - and fast-rising local talent Rory McVicar with a full band show (featuring members of Magoo, Cortez, the Gore Vidals and eLsuB).

Pop noir evangelists Luxembourg are set to change the tempo with their “swoonsome, heady and mischievously melodramatic” synthpop-fuelled kitchen sink dramas, with the bill closed by Next Big Thing II winners le tetsuo. The trio - who open Wombatwombat's autumn-released Wombatonebat 23-track compilation CD on NRONE Records - cite influences as diverse as Frank Zappa, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kate Bush and Shane Olinski, head honcho of Howlback Hum.

The gig is free - but please make a donation. Don't forget, after the fun in the park, there's more free music and a pay-as-you-eat barbecue at the Edward VII pub on Aylsham Road from 7.30pm.

Headlining is the wonderfully named Giant Robot and the City Of Tokyo, who will be playing songs from their debut album Best which is released on Monday through Mummy Where's the Milkman Records. The Giant Robot sound is best described loud, distorted pop songs, very reminiscent of early 90s band Pavement. Also joining the party are The Bells, The Bells! who are celebrating the release of their self-titled first album. The band includes various members of le tetsuo, Teknikov and Maraud. Completing the line-up will be Royal McBee and eLsuB.

For further information check www.wombatwombat.co.uk and www.howlbackhum.co.uk.