IF you were going to bring back one of the town's most popular music events you would want to sign-up one of the town's biggest bands.

That's exactly what the organisers of this weekend's Party in the Park have done by getting The New Town Kings.

Since forming more than ten years ago, the Kings have gradually built up a reputation for being one of the best ska outfits in the country.

In the past the band have supported the likes of LA reggae outfit, the Aggrolites, got some high-profile airplay from BBC Radio 1Extra DJ David “Ram Jam” Rodigan, played all over the UK and Europe not to mention releasing critically acclaimed albums and EPs such as Music of Jamaican Origin and Pull Up and Rewind.

The New Town Kings are such a success these days, it’s hard to imagine them having humble beginnings, yet it all started with a small regular reggae night at

the old Picasso’s bar, in St John’s Street, Colchester.

The nucleus of the band, bassist Tommy Marchant and guitarist Stu McClung, began writing reggae and ska tunes before organising the band’s first gig in December 2005 which was a huge hit.

Starting as a seven-piece, and at one point boasting ten members, the current line-up is an eight-piece made-up Tommy and Stu as well as new vocalist Dabs Bonner, drummer Sky Roskell-Cheale, Scott James on keys, Rob Band on percussion, Rory Sadler on saxophone and Rob Landen on trumpet.

Stu says: "We're always excited to be playing a hometown gig and because we're not doing the Colchester Arts Centre at New Year, at the moment this could be our only Colchester date of the year.

"Playing Castle Park is also a lot of fun. The band have done it quite a few times now, at the Free Festival and also Party in the Park when it was running before so it's going to be a really great night."

As well as songs from their hefty back catalogue, there's a chance of a sneaky peak at some of the band's new material, which they've been recording and re-mixing with the view of a release early next year.

"We recorded it all in the spring," Stu adds, "at Konk Studios in London, which is owned by the Kinks Ray Davies.

"It all took place after we hooked up with producer Daniel Boyle, who contacted us on-line to say he really liked our stuff and would like to work with the band.

"All eight of us went up there for the week and it was such an incredible place to work with all these old vintage mics and Sixties instruments like mellotrons just lying around, we were like kids a sweet factory. Basically we used everything we could get our hands on and had a great time. I think there's even a bit of xylophone on one of the tracks."

After bringing out single Some More at the end of last year, fans are going to have to wait a little bit longer for the album.

"It's being mixed at the moment," he says, "which is going to take a bit of time because we want it to be done properly. That said the songs sound really good and I think it's our best stuff. I think in the ten years we've been doing this we've all grown up quite a bit and may be that has something to do with the new sound."

But age has not taken away the desire to ease back on the drive and passion which makes the New Town Kings the exciting party band everyone knows and loves, putting on a show whether it's for 50 people or 50,000.

"We've been Europe a lot again," Stu explains, "and then we're back at Boomtown, which is a massive favourite for the band. It's our fifth year at the festival and it's always one of our highlights of the year. We've made a lot of friends there not just with the people who organise it but the festival-goers as well. We're on the Devil Kicks Stage, which usually means a couple of thousand people watching us, but we've also played festivals where there's just a hundred and we love them just as much. A gig is a gig and we make sure we put as much energy to each and every one of them."

This weekend's Party in the Park looks set then for a good one then.

Party in the Park

AFTER a seven year break Party in the Park is well and truly back.

Organised once again by Snake in the Grass Events, the two nights of music, fun and fireworks kicks off on Friday with the New Town Kings headlining and a bill that will also include sets from the likes of Colchester's hardest working band, The Occupants, Soul'd Out, Colchester singer/songwriter Adam Ferretti, and last but by no means least X Factor finalist, Sam Callahan.

The Great Totham singer took part in the 2013 final where he got voted off in week 6 but went on to take part in the X Factor Tour and has subsequently released three EPs, Bigger Things, Runaway Train and I Love It When You.

On the Saturday some of the very best tributes acts in the country will be taking to stage performing music by the likes of Abba, Queen and David Bowie, all ending with the Party in the Park's traditional firework display.

Taking place in Colchester’s award winning park as well as the music and fireworks, there's lots food and drink, including a special beer and Pimms tents, champagne and prosecco bars and hospitality marquees.

"We have been under pressure from the public for years now," says Don Quinn, one of the directors of Snake in the Grass Events. "Finally on our 15th birthday we agreed with Colchester Council to bring back Party in the Park. But only on the basis that it will be a charitable gig. All the profits will go to charity in the same way as the original Party in the Park was intended."

Tickets are available at Colchester Arts Centre on 01206 500900 and on-line at www.foodanddrinkfestivalsuk.co.uk

For the Friday they are priced £8 for adults. £4 for children (14 and under), and £18 for a family of two adults and up to three children, in advance or £10 for adults and £5 for children on the gate.

On the Saturday advance prices are £15 for adults, £7.50 for children, and £35 for a family, while on the gate they are £1.50 for adults and £8 for children.