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Three men, one studio and nine records. Co-hosts Tim Young (Ipswich Town fan) and Steve Green (Colchester United fan) are joined by producer and third man Luke Fitch (Ipswich Town fan) for another loud, affectionate rummage through punk rock's golden years of 1976 to 1981. As ever, football loyalties are left at the door, though not very far.

The show opens at full throttle with Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer", the sneering, Cleveland-by-way-of-New York classic that sets the tone for the hour. Tim and Steve debate how American punk compares with the British version, and whether anyone sounded quite as dangerous as Stiv Bators fronting a band at their snarling best. That thread pays off later when Bators returns with his solo track "It's Cold Outside", a darker, more melodic side of a man usually remembered for his stage antics.

In between, the playlist swerves into smarter territory. XTC's "Statue of Liberty" prompts a chat about the band's quirky, art-school take on the new wave, while The Records' "Starry Eyes" gets the "how was this not a bigger hit?" treatment, with the panel agreeing that power pop deserves more love than it gets. Elvis Costello's "Mystery Dance" closes the show in breathless style, a reminder that his debut sounded like it was recorded by a man in a hurry with plenty to say.

The Boomtown Rats' "She's So Modern" brings some swagger, and the conversation turns to Bob Geldof's band as the Irish contingent of the punk and new wave class. Devo's "Whip It" provides the episode's biggest left turn, an Akron oddity that somehow became a global novelty smash. Is it punk? Is it even rock? The three of them argue it out, and nobody wins. The Stranglers' "Sometimes" brings the menace back, with Tim making the case for the band's keyboard-heavy sound as the most underrated in the genre.

Stiff Little Fingers feature with "Strummerville", the band's heartfelt tribute to Joe Strummer. It's a later track than the rest of the playlist, but it fits the episode's spirit, and it leads into a reflective moment about what The Clash and their peers meant to a generation of kids picking up guitars in towns like Colchester and Ipswich.

Throughout, the trio swap stories about first gigs, first records and the local scenes that shaped them. Expect the usual good-natured banter across the A12, plenty of music nerdery and a few strong opinions about which tracks aged best.

Whether you're a lifelong punk, a casual new wave fan or just here for the rivalry, this episode delivers nine tracks, three voices and one very loud argument about what counts as punk. Crank it up.

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Request a record from 1976-1981

Steve, Tim and Nicky (in Luke’s absence) are joined by Ian Templeton who has just finished writing his latest book, Barbed Wire Love - A People’s History of Stiff Little Fingers which is about the band's early years, covering the beginning through to 1983. Containing more than 500 fan stories, unseen photographs, recollections from friends and associates, and a foreword by SLF singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jake Burns, this is the Stiff Little Fingers story as it’s never been told before.

Compiled and edited by Ian, the book is published by Spenwood Books on March 5, 2027. And can be pre-ordered here: https://burningshed.com/ian-templeton_barbed-wire-love_book @topfans

In this episode Ian chooses his current favourite SLF record and 5 non SLF tracks from 1976-81. He talks about the book, SLF, some great anecdotes from his punk past and even his beloved Bristol Rovers. We have invited him back to tell us more in a few episodes time.

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Tim and producer Luke are once again flying the flag for Ipswich Town, while Steve remains firmly in the Colchester United camp — and refuses to accept that the Tractor Boys are any more important than the U’s. Expect plenty of football banter between the three, with the usual good-natured arguments about who really matters in the blue corner of East Anglia.

The music this time starts with The Sports’ Who Listens To The Radio, before taking in Menace, The Members and Plymouth punks Sabotage, whose When The War Is Over provides a reminder that the punk scene wasn’t confined to London.

The Dils bring the Class War, while the obligatory Stiff Little Fingers track arrives with Fly the Flag. Tubeway Army’s That’s Too Bad follows, before The Clash deliver Garageland and Social Distortion bring things to a close with 1945.

The soundtrack, in order:

1. The Sports – Who Listens To The Radio
2. Menace – Last Year’s Youth
3. The Members – Goodbye To The Job
4. Sabotage – When The War Is Over
5. The Dils – Class War
6. Stiff Little Fingers – Fly the Flag
7. Tubeway Army – That’s Too Bad
8. The Clash – Garageland
9. Social Distortion – 1945

Football loyalties, punk records and the continuing question of whether Colchester United deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Ipswich Town. They do, according to Steve. Tim and Luke may have other ideas.

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Request a record from 1976-1981

More football banter and punk rock gems including three tracks by Sham 69, an obligatory SLF classic and other nostalgic bursts from 76-81 by the likes of Alternative TV, The Shapes, The Dickies and others.

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Request a record from 1976-1981

We're back! After a three month break, Alternative Colchester returns with season two. Tim and Steve are joined live from California by Philip Peters of 1978 punk band The Roomates (Yes one m!!). Usual football chat and general nonsense with classic tracks by the likes of Wire, Modern English, Buzzcocks, Stranglers, Stiff Little Fingers and more.

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Steve Green recorded episode 10 of Alternative Colchester without his partner in crime, Tim Young, who was unavailable due to health reasons, but he will be back, all guns blazing, for episode 11.

Tim had been looking forward to talking about Ipswich's promotion to the Premier League, but not only does producer Luke Fitch carry the Tractor Boys flame in his absence, but the show's guests also include Ipswich's very own Red Flag 77's Rikki Flag and John "Fanny" Adams, who get to play some of their favourite records from 1976–1981.

Tim's choices are played in his absence, while Steve's picks include tracks by Bullitz 23 and The Scissor Fits, both of whom have got in touch with the show and definitely meet the criteria. Bullitz 23 are new to us, but their sound is clearly influenced by the sound of 1977, while The Scissor Fits, hailing from Hounslow, were actually there.

Other records played are classics by Johnny Moped, The Drones, Department S, Sleepers, Blondie, The Saints, The Boys, The Carpettes, Tom Robinson Band, and of course Stiff Little Fingers. Red Flag 77's alter ego, Blue Flag 78, also features.

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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.

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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.

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