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