08-03-2025
'Ground-breaking' former frontman of 90s dance act announced for Colchester festival
A RAPPER and former member of a successful Scottish group has been announced as the next act to perform at a Colchester festival later this year.
House music DJ, producer, and rapper, Richard West, professionally known as 'Mr. C', will perform at this year's ALB Festival which takes place in Lower Castle Park on September 13 and September 14.
Formed in the 1980s, it was the early 1990s when Mr. C joined the electronic dance group, The Shamen, as a vocalist.
The group topped the UK charts during the 1990s due to songs like Ebeneezer Goode, Move Any Mountain and Phorever People.
A statement on the ALB Festival's Facebook page said: 'Mr. C's electrifying presence and ground-breaking contribution to electronic dance music will light up Colchester Castle Park.'
ALB Festival poster - Richard West, also known as Mr. C (Image: ALB Festival) Colchester resident Peter Dutch founded the festival, and it is organised by the ALB community group which operates out of the Stanway Lakelands Centre.
It originally started out as a way to mark the end of the lockdown and more than 4,000 people attended the inaugural event.
Mr C will perform on the Saturday, alongside its main headliner, popstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who has had six top ten hits, and five top ten records in the official UK charts.
Pop singer-songwriter Pixie Lott will also be making an appearance on the same day.
Earlier this month Mr Dutch revealed that the festival is giving away "hundreds" of free tickets to care home residents and carers in Colchester.
To find out more and to buy tickets, visit
