Here is Ben Howard's five events to look out for in Colchester this week. 

Colchester Arts Centre and Keep Colchester Cool present Colchester's Sound 4 on Saturday, showcasing local talent. Indie rock six piece Lost Movies headline. The Audacity bring an intensity that promises to ignite the stage. Grace Calver delivers indie pop, and a solo show by The Brothers El Camino opens the night. I’ll be DJing between sets.

Doors open at 7.30pm, tickets are £7, and there is an unofficial after-party at Twisters Bar until 1am.

On Sunday, jazz and world music fans should head to William Loveless Hall in Wivenhoe for Julian Costello's latest project, Vertigo. The group mixes contemporary jazz with world music, Latin beats, and swing, showcasing Costello's melodic saxophone alongside a skilled ensemble. Influenced by jazz legends like John Coltrane, Costello's compositions weave space and harmony, and his band members bring dynamic touches with cello, oud, and percussions.

Starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £17. Students/Under-21s/Children are £8.

She's In Parties perform at Colchester Arts Centre on Tuesday, bringing their hazy, ethereal blend of shoegaze and dream-pop to the stage. Despite their relatively young years, the quartet crafts a sound inspired by Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, and The Cure, capturing a nostalgic vibe. Support comes via Generation Feral and Evy Frearson.

Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12.

Thursday's show at Three Wise Monkeys hosts The Kaoss Tour, a double-headliner with Funke and The Two Tone Baby and Samantics. Known for their loop-based musical approach, the two artists bring an eclectic mix of sounds that blend seamlessly, creating a powerful synergy that has fans raving.

Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £14.

Opening on Friday, Firstsite's latest exhibition showcases seven light sculptures by artists Tim Noble & Sue Webster, blending pop culture symbols with punk aesthetics to create anti-monuments that flash messages of love and hate.

Love & Hate runs until 1st February 2025.