FM/Brave Rival -
Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester, Tuesday 16th September, 2025
Colchester Arts Centre, a converted church, is surrounded by a Roman Wall and a huge gate from this time is close by. The setting is perfect for FM who have been around themselves for a few years. They have built their legacy and empire on a different type of stone; Melodic Rock! They will now go down in the history of Colchester.
Setlist: Bad Choices/Poison/Control/Wild Child/Run And Hide/Heavy/Fairytale.
Brave Rival are very impressive as they warm us up for the headliner. Their Rootsy Hard Blues really hits the mark. Located in the old church as the Arts Centre is, Vocalist, Lindsey Bonnick remarks that it is the perfect venue for her and her band to perform as she frequently puts her hands together in a seemingly act of prayer, and tells us that many of their songs contain words such as pray and praise!
Having said this, Guitarist, Ed Clarke suggests this may not necessarily be the case as most of her songs are about sex! What follows is a good bit of banter with Lindsay exclaiming that much of it is not acceptable in this holy environment!
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 2 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 10 |
|---|---|
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 9 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 8 |
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 7 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 6 |
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 5 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 1 |
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 4 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 3 |
Drummer, Donna Peters and henchman of a Bassist, Billy Dedman provide the rhythm for Bonnick and Clarke to wrap their talents around. We are told that a new EP is due out soon, this is special as they have just gone from a 5 piece to a 4 piece. The EP is called 5 to 4!
Bonnick is an engaging frontwoman, her voice very strong and clear throughout. She may be the focal point however Clarke is an excellent guitar player and when he plays an extended solo Bonnick watches with admiration from the side of the stage.
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 12 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 19 |
|---|---|
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 18 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 17 |
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 16 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 15 |
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 14 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 13 |
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 11 |
There is plenty of good camaraderie within this group helping to project an image which is capturing a lot of attention; not least from the legend that is Joe Bonammassa who says they are one of his favourite discoveries (how’s that for a bit of praise!)
Their set comes to an end way too quickly, the seven songs going down exceptionally well and plenty of crowd participation. No gimmicks, no frills just raw, high-energy, riff-driven rock that demands to be heard.
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 29 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 28 |
|---|---|
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 27 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 26 |
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 25 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 24 |
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 23 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 22 |
 Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 21 |  Brave Rival - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 20 |
For me life is about choices. In Colchester there were no bad choices. Actually, it all seemed like a bit of a fairy tale. After the gig I managed to get a few words with both Donna and Lindsay, which was nice. But not as nice as Lindsay’s sparkly shoes!
Setlist: Synchronicity/I Belong To The Night/Turn That Car Around/Someday/Living On The Run/Let Love Be The Leader/Don’t Call It Love/Blackwater/Burning My Heart Down/ Dangerous/Does It Feel Like Love/Incredible/That Girl/Bad Luck/Tough It Out/Killed By Love.
Encore: Just Walk Away/Heart Of The Matter.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
I have seen the mighty FM so many times; by rivers, by seas, by mountains, underground and…wait for it…Overland! They never disappoint.
FM, Five Men, Fantastic Music.
Brave Rival have warmed us up fantastically for FM, but the instant the silhouetted figures of Phil Jupp and Jem Davis arrive at their drums and keyboards respectively the place erupts and we know we are in for a treat.
Steve tells us there have been changes and he hopes we like it and a completely rebooted setlist captivates all present. New album Brotherhood is well represented, especially by a spellbinding ‘Just Walk Away’ the first song of the encore. That voice! The band exude an energy and happiness that emanates from the stage and wraps itself around us, the adoring fans.
We all know that Merv Goldsworthy can pull a range of smiles and faces that could see him win a gurning competition, but what is less obvious is how many Jim Kirkpatrick can make. He even creates a slapstick moment when he uses one of Steve’s guitars discovering it’s not in tune, the strap is too long and he can’t reach the strings. Hilarity erupts as Steve announces, "Mine is longer than yours!"
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 20 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 19 |
|---|---|
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 18 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 17 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 16 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 15 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 14 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 13 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 12 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 11 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 10 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 9 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 8 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 7 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 6 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 5 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 4 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 3 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 2 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 1 |
FM, Funny Moments, Fan Mirth.
The opening trio of ‘Synchronicity’ ‘I Belong To The Night’ ‘and ‘Turn That Car Around’ provides the perfect platform to build the gig around, as do the screens depicting the illustrations from album covers. No eras are missed, obviously there are the classics like ‘Someday’, ‘That Girl’ and ‘Tough It Out’, but it is the deeper cuts and new songs that provide the energy making it so special.
‘Living On The Run’ from the new album is greatly received, we hardly know it’s new! ‘Black Water’ from Old Habits Die Hard adds depth. ‘Incredible’ has become a massive fan favourite with many believing that the song from Heroes & Villains is Overland’s greatest ballad. This is some statement because believe me when I say ‘you ain’t heard nothing yet.’
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 21 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 41 |
|---|---|
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 40 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 39 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 38 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 37 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 36 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 35 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 34 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 33 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 32 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 31 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 30 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 29 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 28 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 27 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 26 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 25 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 24 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 23 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 22 |
FM, Fabulous Melody, Fine Musicianship.
The main set concludes with ‘Killed By Love’ from Atomic Generator, this being an essential part of any FM show. What next? Jem arrives back on stage first delighting us to some awesome keyboards then that voice returns and new song, new ballad ‘Just Walk Away’ raw emotion pours from the very soul of our singer, it is breathtaking, jaw dropping and emotional, what more can I say?
It really takes us to the ‘Heart Of The Matter’ the show closer. It’s been sensational, seeing and feeling the joy is so intoxicating. Jem coming to the front of the stage with his Keytar adorned in waistcoat covered in the artwork of Brotherhood is stunning. They take their final bow to great applause, Phil no longer trapped by his drum kit is the last man standing. ‘Does It Feel Like Love’? You bet it does.
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 61 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 60 |
|---|---|
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 59 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 58 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 57 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 56 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 55 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 54 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 53 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 52 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 51 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 50 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 49 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 48 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 47 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 46 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 45 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 44 |
 FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 43 |  FM - Colchester, 16 09 2025 - Photograph 42 |
Few bands have the presence, the aura, the gravitas and magnitude of FM. They are an institution of togetherness, a bonded band of Brotherhood.
FM, Forever Magic, Forever Memories.
By Paul Mace