Request a record from 1976-1981

Episode 9 of Alternative Colchester revisits the years when punk was more than just a sound — it was a statement. Hosted by Steve Green and Tim Young, with guest Professor Jules Pretty, the episode blends nostalgia, attitude, and fresh insight as they explore how punk and environmentalism intersected from 1976 to 1981.

The episode explores how punk, between 1976 and 1981, became a tool for resistance and social commentary. Jules selects five tracks that highlight punk’s ecological undercurrent, while Steve and Tim each bring four of their own. Their thirteen-track playlist captures the era’s turbulence and creativity, reflecting both social unrest and the desire for renewal.

Jules draws parallels between punk’s defiance and the green movement’s challenge to neglect, showing punk was about more than destruction — it was about awareness. From The Clash to Joy Division, The Cure and Siouxsie & The Banshees, the tracks reflect unrest and hope.

Jules’ picks highlight the tension between decaying cities and fragile landscapes, between chaos and the hope for change—issues that feel relevant today. His selections form the thoughtful backbone of the episode.

Steve leans into classic punk’s energy with Suburban Studs, Stiff Little Fingers, and The Dole, while Tim picks Wreckless Eric, The Skids, The Flys, and, naturally, Stiff Little Fingers, showing how punk’s chaos was underpinned by a desire for transformation.

A single modern track, “Operation Underground” by Hi‑Fi Spitfires, fits seamlessly with the classics, its punk-reggae raw energy and lyrics proving punk’s spirit is still alive. Its DIY ethics and anthemic power bridge past and present.

Beyond music, the show is about memory and community. Steve and Tim’s chemistry and football banter evoke how youth culture, sport, and music shaped the era, conjuring a vivid picture of the seventies when creativity flourished amid hardship.

Jules provides an intellectual perspective on sustainability and rebellion, showing how punk bands were early environmentalists, railing against pollution and alienation even if not in those words.

The episode’s arc moves from chaos to consciousness, with early tracks channelling punk’s fire, later songs adding nuance, and with Hi-Fi Spitfires' Operation Underground, injecting fresh blood. The playlist is a story of endurance and evolution.

The blend of scholarship and spirit keeps the pace lively. Jules’ insights invite listeners to hear familiar songs differently, while Steve and Tim bring humour and the sensibility that shaped punk’s first wave.

This isn’t just nostalgia, it’s re-evaluation. By linking the music of that era to today’s environmental issues, the show proves rebellion can still teach us about hope.

Whether you’re a lifelong punk fan or new to the scene, this episode guides you through punk’s deeper meaning, linking crashing guitar chords to protest and renewal. Jules Pretty makes it clear: music and environment both thrive on urgency and truth.

With its humour, insight, and energy, Alternative Colchester #9 shows the past isn’t done speaking. Punk and environmentalism combine in one loud, human conversation. So turn it up — punk’s still alive, and Alternative Colchester is proof.

www.alternativecolchester.co.uk

Request a record from 1976-1981

Episode 8 of Alternative Colchester sees Steve Green and Tim Young welcome Ben Howard from Keep Colchester Cool to the show. Ben fits into the Alternative Colchester setup like a well-worn leather jacket — comfortable, sharp and full of character, with plenty to say about football and punk rock in equal measure.

The football chat is particularly rich this week. Colchester United's anticipated takeover by a John Terry-led consortium provides plenty of optimism and excitement, while the Tractor Boys' derby win at Norwich is dissected by Tim and producer Luke alongside broader football chat that keeps the banter lively throughout.

The music is the real star though, with a tracklist that reads like a love letter to first wave punk. John Cooper Clarke opens with Suspended Sentence, The Boys follow with Cast Of Thousands, and The Damned deliver the gorgeous Love Song. The Germs bring LA punk fury with Lexicon Devil, The Saints make a long overdue appearance with This Perfect Day, and The Stranglers deliver their gloriously menacing take on Walk On By. XSLF contribute Here We Are Nowhere, Crass — much to Steve's objection — arrive with the uncompromising So What, and Sweden's Dead Pollys tip their hat to a certain Mr Strummer. A classic Monty Python interlude keeps things delightfully unpredictable, before the obligatory Stiff Little Fingers track Mr Fire Coal Man and The Clash's Protex Blue round things off perfectly. Essential listening.

www.alternativecolchester.co.uk

Request a record from 1976-1981

Episode 7 of Alternative Colchester is a slightly longer and particularly special edition, as Steve Green and Tim Young are joined by Dr Anthony Roberts, Director of Colchester Arts Centre and committed Watford fan. Anthony brings not only a wealth of knowledge and passion for the arts but also an extremely eclectic record collection, and it's his choices that help shape one of the most musically adventurous episodes of the series so far. The episode runs a little longer than usual but when the conversation is this good and the music this interesting, why would you want it to end?

As Director of one of the country's most respected independent arts venues, Anthony has spent his career championing creativity and individuality with values that sit perfectly alongside everything this show stands for. His passion for music runs deep and broad, and his record selections take the show to some genuinely exciting and unexpected places, sitting beautifully alongside the punk touchstones that Steve and Tim bring to proceedings.

The football chat remains a cornerstone of the show, and with Anthony in the room there is plenty to get stuck into. Colchester United's latest exploits are examined with the usual mixture of passion, frustration, dark humour and undying loyalty, while Ipswich Town receive their customary thorough and entirely one way optimistic assessment. The Watford allegiance adds an entertaining extra dimension to the footballing banter, and the extended running time gives the conversation room to breathe and wander in the most enjoyable fashion.

The music is simply outstanding. Anthony's influence is felt immediately, as the selection stretches the boundaries of what Alternative Colchester listeners might expect while never losing the raw spirit that defines the show. The Yachts bring razor-sharp melodic new wave, while Pere Ubu represent the darker, avant-garde edge of the late seventies underground, a bold choice that speaks to Anthony's adventurous taste. The Cortinas represent the grittier, street-level end of the spectrum, Tom Robinson Band arrive sounding as urgent and vital as ever, and the wonderful Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers provides one of the episode's most joyful moments. The Clash need no introduction, and obviously Stiff Little Fingers are here too, because some things are simply non-negotiable. You'll need to listen in full to hear what else makes the playlist this time around.

Episode 7 is Alternative Colchester at its most expansive and culturally rich. The chemistry between Steve, Tim and Anthony is warm and natural throughout, and this is an episode that will delight long-time listeners and win plenty of new ones.

www.alternativecolchester.co.uk