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Violet Violet headline one of the nights

The spotlight is about to be swung onto Norwich's thriving music scene with the launch of the first Hot City Sounds Festival from Friday, 4 to Saturday, 12 July, 2008.

Around 40 of Norfolk's most promising acts will turn up their amps at well-known live music venue B2 in Sprowston Road during an eight-day festival takeover, while the opening gig will be held at Norwich Arts Centre on Friday, 4 July.

Each night during the festival, music lovers will be able to catch at least three bands - with a capsule of sounds on offer during each gig, ranging from events billed as New Dance to Gossip Pop and Indie Stars.

Popular names

Notable Norwich names like Bearsuit, who are about to play Huw Stephens' stage at Latitude, Sargasso Trio, who released their first album at the start of the year, and The Kabeedies, who have just returned from a storming Glastonbury set for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Introducing, headline three of the nights.

Sargasso Trio's Emily Siddall

As well as being a genre-hopping extravaganza, people can treat their ears to promising acts rising through the ranks such as the Uh-Ohs, Jess Morgan and Girl In A Thunderbolt.

The festival is the brainchild of Kingsley Harris, who runs independent label NROne Records and has amassed one of the county's biggest collections of local music for his East Anglian Music Archive, which he started in 1982.

Perfect timing

One reason why he was inspired to put together the event is because of the Norwich scene's cascading momentum.

"You couldn't do this all the time because there are lulls," said Kingsley.

"I can't do this forever and when I'm older I'd be thinking at the times when the scene was thriving what did I do - and I'm in a position to do something now.

"Lots of people have attempted to do something similar and I'm not taking the credit for anything new, rather it's a take on ideas over the years," he added.

Entry costs between £2 and 3 per night. AlternativelyÌý a festival pass costs £10. For the full line-up and ticket details go to the Hot City Sounds site:

Find out more about Hot City Sounds on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Norfolk Introducing - there will be a three-hour special on Friday, 11 July, 2008. Listen between 7 and 10pm on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Norfolk on 95.1, 95.6 and 104.4Fm, DAB and bbc.co.uk/norfolk