MEARFEST
  • MEARFEST
  • MOLLY's STORY
  • MEARFEST SHOP
    • RAFFLE TO WIN FLAME BATTLE JACKET
    • A SHAWL OF STARS 2023 CALENDAR
    • ROCKER BYE BABY BY CLAIRE MEAR
    • DONATIONS
  • MEMORIES
    • FINAL DANCE NEWCASTLE
    • MEARFEST NORTH 2019
    • GRIMLEY ALES
    • 1979 REVISITED
    • MEARFEST WARS 2018
    • SOUTH SHIELDS 2018
    • SLOUGH 2018
    • NEWCASTLE 2017
    • HASTINGS 2017
    • LONDON TWO 2016
    • LONDON 2016
    • CLAPHAM 2012
    • SLOUGH 2011
  • PRESS
  • MARVELOUS MEARFEST
  • MEARFEST BLOG
  • MOLLY'S MEGASTARS
  • EVENTS
  • SAY HELLO
  • MEARFEST
  • MOLLY's STORY
  • MEARFEST SHOP
    • RAFFLE TO WIN FLAME BATTLE JACKET
    • A SHAWL OF STARS 2023 CALENDAR
    • ROCKER BYE BABY BY CLAIRE MEAR
    • DONATIONS
  • MEMORIES
    • FINAL DANCE NEWCASTLE
    • MEARFEST NORTH 2019
    • GRIMLEY ALES
    • 1979 REVISITED
    • MEARFEST WARS 2018
    • SOUTH SHIELDS 2018
    • SLOUGH 2018
    • NEWCASTLE 2017
    • HASTINGS 2017
    • LONDON TWO 2016
    • LONDON 2016
    • CLAPHAM 2012
    • SLOUGH 2011
  • PRESS
  • MARVELOUS MEARFEST
  • MEARFEST BLOG
  • MOLLY'S MEGASTARS
  • EVENTS
  • SAY HELLO


   ​MEARFEST BABBLE

MEARFEST NORTH: THIS IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO ❤

10/3/2017

0 Comments

 
THIS IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO  ❤
We raised a total of £2,300 in just one day
On behalf of Brian & Claire Mear and Down Syndrome North East we wish to thank everyone involved as we raised £1500.00 for DSNE

For the Steve Grimett fund, who lost his leg while touring south America, through the incredible donations of music merchandise we received, which was raffled off and some items auctioned, we raised £500.00 for Steve 


It's difficult to know where to begin with thanking everyone involved in Mearfest North.

What an amazing day !
We were met by the Wonderful Dave Hills and his team at Trillians. What a venue and what great support we recieved. Dave worked tirelessly throughout the long day with a thousand jobs not only running the bar but also doing the sound and a million other tasks at once. Brilliant !!
Huge thanks also to Gary Young and his brother Sean who also put in an immense shift with all the equipment and making sure all the bands ran to time and the event ran seamlessly.
We were apprehended by the Strong arm of the Law early on.
            Local Policeman John checking all was ok and taking an interest only to rejoin us after his shift pint in hand with a huge smile on his face!
The bands were amazing with Damaj opening the show with a great Metallic crunch. Thankyou James Haggart and the army of the Northern Skies. Then from the Deep South came Tony Coldham and his very Merry men.
Wow the Deep were on fire and gave what was for me a perfect Performance.
Next the Clan and Craig Mac s band were so professional and bought lots of compliments from the crowd. First class, love the moves !!
Our great friends the Filth hounds Bryan McGill leading the pack,once again gave a wonderful and at times very emotive set. Under the banner of Molly's handprint the song dedicated to James and all born sleeping babies was a incredibly touching moment.
Now Millennium under the guidance of Mark Duffy were a revelation !
All my plans of being reserved and staying in the back ground went out of the window.
Grabbing my first beer of the day I rushed to the front and along with Nick Grimley was transported back to 1985 for 40 glorious minutes of incredible Heavy Metal!
Well what happened next was amazing. Mandora Born Again ! Superb performance from Paul Binyon , Duncan Binnie and their very merry men. 
Sadly due to illness Fist were unable to play so Spartan Warrior were up next with a superb highly professional performance. David Wil Kinsonowned that mic stand !!!
Tysondog then took to the stage with an altered line up really were Metal Gods !
Kevin Wynn and Tysondog Steve rocking out once again !!
And then for me the Climax of the Night Avenger ! With Swifty on vocals and the tireless Gary Young back on drums they tore the place apart!! It was a fantastic performance and bought the day to a end.
Thank you to The PFJ for your mega cash contribution.
Thanks to everyone especially Jaime YB who came all the way from Mexico city !
Helen I'll have a brown ale Helen Gaffney, Melany Melanie Shearer, Andrew Davison, Bob Hooker Sarah-j Gentil and Chris from Dealer who helped us all day, Jackie Allom, Paula Evans, Antony Bray and Rachel, Karl give me some Karl Moore, Andrew Halliday, Christophe Vernimmen and his lovely partner Katrina. 
Patrick from Belgium and his yummy chocolates!
THANK YOU to all our creative team, Steve Ritchie, Ian Colt, John Lambton, Martyn Turner, Ruth Hindson
There are so many people to thank......Wow amazing !
Most of all I'd like to thank my lovely Wife Claire Mear for her endless love and support and for helping keep Molly's spirit alive.
To everyone who attended welcome to the Mearfest family.
Turning loss into Legacy.
Thank you to all you smashing people from the North East for digging deep and donating to these amazing causes.
 
Picture
0 Comments

ALL ANGELS ARE MY SLEEPING BABY

7/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Our drive back from Newcastle we saw this cloud in the sky.

​Then it disappeared…
 
Picture
Knitted Angel given to me at Mearfest North by a fellow still mother. 
0 Comments

keeping the pain alive                                                       by the filth hounds mearfest north

7/3/2017

0 Comments

 

a song for the memory of
​baby james allom
stillborn but still-born

Picture
0 Comments

mearfest north-newcastle: FULL METAL JACKET COMPETITION

6/3/2017

0 Comments

 
We decided to hold a FULL METAL JACKET COMPETITION with prizes!!
The competition was won by the amazing Jaime YB who had travelled all the way from Mexico City to be with us. His attention to detail was exquisite, everyone in the room agreed he was the winner hands down, mainly as he had come 5000 miles to enter!
Picture
0 Comments

MEARFEST NORTH: TYSONDOG

6/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Tysondog due to many reasons were unlikely to perform at Mearfest but at the last moment Kevin Wynn pulled it out of the bag. With Phil the singer in a Judas Priest cover band complete with shades and Tysondog Steve with injured arm still ready to rock they went down a Storm.
I missed the first few numbers due to dealing with the press but came back to the Stage for Metal Gods
” Dragging Iron Feet ”
With several classic Tysondog tunes and time for a full set.
The Dogs turned Tragedy into Triumph. Metal God’s indeed!
Picture

at the beginning                                         
​    (when they were pups)

0 Comments

MEARFEST NORTH: MANDORA

5/3/2017

0 Comments

 
​Mandora were like the Gillan Fronted Black Sabbath Born Again !!! With the screams from their crowd of youthful supporters there was no stopping these boys from putting on one hell of a show.
Highlights for Claire were ” Crazy Horses and the Sex Pistol Pretty Vacant number which made her night.
Duncan Binnie’s moves were as hot as the curry we all shared the night before.
Paul is a first class front man from a first class band.
Picture
0 Comments

MEARFEST NORTH-MILLENNIUM

5/3/2017

0 Comments

 
​I first saw Millennium play at Brofest last year and have known about Mark Duffy’s band along with his other act Toranaga.
I had made firm plans to be in the background during the whole day and not to have a beer until at least ten o clock.
When Millennium started the set that all went out of the window! Grabbing a beer and Mearfest veteran Nick Grimley, I forced my way to the front and suddenly for 40 minutes I was 18 again and oblivious to anything else around me.
What a fantastic band seeing Marks smile get wider and wider throughout the set was a highlight of the whole day. 10 out of 10 !
Metal Perfection!!!
Picture
0 Comments

CROWD ENJOYING MEARFEST NORTH AT TRILLIONS NEWCASTLE

5/3/2017

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

MEARFEST NORTh: DAMAJ

5/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Our opening band Damaj came all the way from Greenock near Glasgow. They took to the stage at Trillions in Newcastle at 1PM with power and purpose and with the crowd filling the venue nicely they made an instant impact.
Formed in 2013 you could hear their Early Megadeth influences straight away.

Mearfest isn’t all about the NWOBHM we give younger bands a platform and a voice. These young men have a very bright future ahead of them. A brilliant performance in every way and they raised the bar high for the day ahead!

Picture

and then they have this.........

0 Comments

MEARFEST NORTH-NEWCASTLE:THE FILTH HOUNDS

5/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Local Hero’s the Filth Hounds are no stranger to Mearfest.
Being close friends with Bryan, John and Kris it was great to see them back as a four piece once again with new guitarist Liam.
Taking their name from the Iconic Tank Album they play original material material in a NWOBHM style.
Bryan Mcgill is every inch the front man and when they play ” KEEPING THE PAIN ALIVE”  
​(a number penned by John Allom about his son James who was lost to stillbirth) there’s not a dry eye in the house. Claire and Johns wife Jackie were at this point hugging each other throughout this moving song which was so right for today.
A Fantastic band we will be looking forward to seeing again at Mearfest South in December.
Picture
0 Comments

MEARFEST NORTH: SPARTAN WARRIOR

5/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Following from our Auctions of Blaze Bailey and Venom Inc Merchandise the excitement began to build for SPARTAN WARRIOR.
 True Giants on the North Eastern Metal scene.
 David Wilkinson wrestled that microphone stand as if his life depended on it!
Neil Wilkinson was on fine form and the crowd loved it from the incredible intro to the last encore.
 A Magnificent performance!
Picture
0 Comments

MEARFEST NORTH: THE DEEP

5/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Next up were our “Mystery Band” The Deep who took to the stage. No strangers to Mearfest Tony Coldham’s Men were simply stunning!

Playing songs from what for me was the NWOBHM Album of 2016 (Premonition) they were incredible.

Dave Hills gave all the players the sound they deserve and Tony’s impressive voice has never sounded better. They really went down a Storm with the crowd. 
Picture
0 Comments

MEARFEST NORTH: THE CLAN

5/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Having been Facebook friends with Craig Mac from The Clan for some time. I had heard great reviews for his band and I was very keen to see them play.
 
They played all original material and couldn’t have been more professional in their moves and their musicianship.
 
Once again the 40 minute set flew by and they also went down a Storm . Interestingly loads of praise from the many musicians in the crowd. It’s no wonder this band are as popular and prolific as they are.

 
Picture
0 Comments

MEARFEST NORTH-NEWCASTLE:AVENGER

5/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Gary Young (Avenger Drummer) and brother Shaun had worked tirelessly all day with the band equipment and stage set up.
Now it was time for them to play and Wow what a performance. ” Into the Nexus ” !!
 A blinding set followed with Ian Davison swiftly walking among the crowd like he was leading his Men into battle.
I would never have dreamt all those years ago as a young fan that I would have stood on the same stage as AVENGER !!!
 
The Perfect Band to top a perfect day. 
Picture
0 Comments

‘AVENGER ALE’ BY NICK GRIMLEY

4/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Grimley Breweries Finest hour !
And the good earth bore fruit in the form of hops and the sun shone forth.
And hence it came to pass that the barley ripened under the mighty Sun God Ra.
The Water of life was added by that great sage Nick Grimley and low it was good!
Then on completion of the sacrifices to Bacchus and when the blood ran red so the brew was bought forth (and fifth)
It came to pass that the earth shook asunder and the masses roared their approval at the great God’s Avenger. Whilst the acolytes stood back in awe the golden nectar was consumed by the inner sanctum.


With a great cry of Triumph the Horns of Plenty were raised.
Steel on Steel was heard whilst weaker mortals cried Run for your life!
Such dangerous games were twisting fate but those with the knowledge and the courage from this heady brew went forward….
Into the Nexus !!! ( I
an Davison, Gary Young)
And so it was written and so it was done.

And if the sands of time allows the written saga of Mearfest to survive then those who witnessed such an event will forever say…
“Aye that was a fair drop of Grimley “
By Brian Mear
Picture
0 Comments

expecting the arrival of daughter no.2

1/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​After a lot of soul searching, alternative therapies, counselling, crying, grieving, stupid diets, praying to a God that does not exist, blaming everything, hatred of one’s self, working 24/7 to bury the constant disappointment and disbelief.

This time last year there came an opening, an awakening, a wanting for something better, a need to turn everything around into a positive, a wanting to stop being miserable and depressed and to try again......

It is with the greatest of pleasures and the most amount of obvious worry, that Brian and I would like to announce to the world the imminent arrival of our second baby girl, Amelie Mear. I just turned 50 in February and I am currently 25 weeks pregnant and finally brave enough to tell the world, that we will be having a healthy baby girl sometime late May early June. 

​I wish to voice her arrival and be proud of the incredible journey it’s taken us both to get here.
0 Comments

mearfest north 2017 promotional video by duncan binnie

1/3/2017

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

    MEARFEST

    Brian & Claire Mear pride themselves on putting on a good show. Photography is Claire's passion, only the finest collection of images will be added here by the best photographers.
    ​We both hope you enjoy the show.

    ARCHIVES

    August 2022
    April 2022
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

      FOR MEARFEST UPDATES

    Subscribe to Newsletter
Proudly powered by Weebly