The recession on Norfolk's music

By Jack Dearlove BBC Norfolk

Norfolk's music scene is holding strong in the recession, according to record labels, venues and bands in Norwich.

"The scene in Norwich is thriving and I think it always will do," said Charley South from venue B2.

The University Of East Anglia (UEA) Students Union, Norwich's largest indoor music venue, is still seeing returns for lower-priced concerts.

"At the UEA it's taken a dip... but the returns are still there," said Paul Ingleby, UEA gig promoter.

Live gigs, which are becoming an important source of income for the music industry in the digital age, are still popular, despite people's purse strings pulling tighter.

However, punters looking for a bit of light relief from the economic gloom and doom, are becoming more inclined to stay away from the higher-priced events.

"There are significantly less shows at the moment... but people will still attend, as long as promoters aren't pushing ticket prices too much," said Paul Ingleby, who promotes gigs in Norwich at the UEA Students Union and the Waterfront.

Bands are also feeling the pinch, but are favourably benefitting through creative means.

"Instruments and accessories are more expensive now, because it's more expensive to import them from places like Asia," said The Great Shakes, a band based in Norwich.

"However, the recession has inspired things in a way - lyrically there are more areas to explore," they added.

The main presenter for BBC Radio One Introducing also agrees it is not so bad for music, believing a poor economic climate stimulates musical imagination.

"In times of financial difficulty, people get their creative juices flowing a little bit more," said Huw Stephens, BBC Radio One Introducing.

"It doesn't cost anything to sit down and write a song or hang out with mates in former bands," he added.