The Colony: passion triumphed over rain

Posted on 17th July 2024 | in Community

This year’s festival continued to rock as the rain dampened the ground, but could not extinguish the passion of the crowd.
Don’t Call Me Dave promised an eclectic mix of Indie tracks and more, and judged the swelling crowd perfectly with classics to sing along to and prepare for a big day ahead. The highlight was a great rendition of Mrs Robinson. And yes, we didn’t call them Dave, I mean why would you…?

Next up, Keiron Straker took to the stage. Keiron introduced the audience to a range of songs from what the YOUTH listen to today and the crowd thoroughly enjoyed them, even if they had more in common with the band name “1975” than the songs.

Now the crowd was ready for a festival favourite in Jonny May. Jonny strode in like a cowboy with his loaded six string on his back, rounded up the festival herd and entertained them with his acoustic version of rock classics.

A rock interlude was met with a dose of Northern Soul as the Odels rocked up, or is that souled up? Introducing Amble Pier to Wigan Pier classics Do I Love You and The First Cut Is The Deepest. Well, its safe to say that Amble did love The Odels as the dancefloor filled.

A group of young pretenders Lilac Lane ventured north to showcase their original songs coupled with classic Indie tunes from the 90s to now. Their tune of Take My Hand was taken literally by the dancefloor, and Lilac Lane kept them in the palm of their hand before smashing them out of the park with Britney’s Hit Me Baby One More Time.

Next up was probably the best Britpop band in the world, The Britpop Union. Firing up the awaiting Amble audience with their renditions of Alright and Common People, the crowd was taken on a rollercoaster ride through the 90s. With Farrington and his best cockney impression throughout Parklife, to Robertson taking to the mic they reinforced that the Britpop Union are Unbelievable!

Another new band to the Colony, Dog In A Box burst out their box and ran amok on the shore, as there are no dogs welcome on the beach. This was to the Colony’s gain as they filled the dancefloor with a setlist worthy of a Now That’s What I Call Rock mixtape. Was there Life On Mars? I’m not sure, but there was plenty life at the shore and nobody was gonna be caught in a Rat Trap while they were performing.

To crown the festival and send the crowd home wanting more, The Range stepped up and showed why they are the premier version of The Range and no store could come close. With the dancefloor at their mercy, they thrilled the crown with Dakota, then shot them through the stratosphere with Nelly the Elephant. Between the bands the crowd were not left wanting. Colony resident “DJ Mac” Jamie MacPherson kept the crowd entertained, whether it be with dance tunes or weather related songs.

The festival finished and the committee set about the clear up, but once again, the people looked after their own and cleared most the site, for which the committee can only offer their highest gratitude (cut and pasted from last year, but so true, keep it going Amble).

The committee’s thanks go out to all the sponsors, without their help they could not put on this sensational festival: Castle North Plumbing and Heating, Coquet Island Shellfish Ltd., Amble Town Council, The Radcliffe Club, The Harbour Inn, PWG Connections and Warkworth Harbour.

We’ll meet again Amble, See you at the Shore!
Aaron Armstrong

Photos by Wobbly Fingers/The Colony

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