It's by no means recent, but Colchester's impressive scene for music, arts, and culture continues to grow.
I've showcased thousands of events through the Keep Colchester Cool project I launched in 2009.
Now, I'll bring the best events to you each week which I recommend checking out.
Here are my five recommendations for music, arts, and culture in Colchester in the week ahead.
The Colchester Food and Drink Festival is back in Lower Castle Park this weekend with plenty of live music.
Head to The Monkey Stage on Saturday for Skatown Syndicate, Mr B and The Wolf, Elephant Jane, Lost Atlas, Oakley Starr, and Funky Voices Choir.
The music continues on Sunday with Wicked Ravens, Lost Movies, The Jentones, Gabriela Eva, A Light Left On with Laura Wyatt, and Black Cactus Choir.
It starts at 10.30am. Tickets are £6. Children under 14 go free.
Alogte Oho is the number one Frafra gospel artist from within the music scene of Bolgatanga in Northern Ghana.
His powerful female choir accompanies him, all fantastic gospel performers in their own right.
On Tuesday, Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy are at Colchester Arts Centre.
Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £16.50
Headgate Young Company presents A Monster Calls at The Headgate Theatre from Wednesday.
Thirteen-year-old Conor and his mum have been managing fine since his dad moved to America, but now she is very sick.
A Monster visits him from the yew tree at the bottom of their garden, telling him three stories.
After hearing them, Conor must share his own story and face his darkest fears. It runs until July 7. Tickets are £15.
It's an event, Jim, but not as we know it.
Thursday is all about voting at the General Election.
Whether you want change or more of the same is up to you, but it gives us all the chance to have our say on what happens nationally and here in Colchester. 7am-10pm. Free Entry.
Greebo, one of Colchester's best upcoming acts, plays Queen Street Brewhouse for JAR Records on Friday along with Bayou from Norwich and the highly-rated Gasoline Green.
If you need a fix of indie/rock, you won't go far wrong here.
Doors open at 8pm. Tickets are £6.
These are just some of the events in Colchester over the week ahead. You can find out more on keepcolchestercool.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here