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CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU TO TONY FOR WINNING THIS BID.
£100 WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE WILLOWS SUPPORT GROUP
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We decided to keep the very special items back due to a tight time schedule on the day and so people all over the world can have a chance to win certain amazing items that have been kindly donated to us. We got all these Iron Maiden collectables from the magical Ritchie Burnie from bonny Scotland. These amazing t-shirts have been part of his prized collection. He has been a Mearfest supporter since the beginning, and we can not thank him enough. WE WISH TO AUCTION AS A JOB LOT EIGHT T-SHIRTS IN TOTAL MINIMUM START PRICE £40.00 What to do next.... Simply send in your bid below in comments We will then send a link to the winner: THE WILLOWS SUPPORT GROUP BT DONATE page. Pay the money directly to them. FREE POSTAGE worldwide, because we are nice like that........ BIDS CLOSE 31ST DECEMBER 2017 AT 23.59PM GOOD LUCK! Thank you steve ritchie and matt jones we wish you all a very merry happy healthy abundant christmas and a seriously rocking 2018
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PLAYED FOR US AND WHO TRAVELLED ALONG WAY IN HORRIBLE WEATHER AND SUPPORTED MEARFEST SOUTH THIS YEAR. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED TREASURED ITEMS & CASH FOR THE WILLOWS SUPPORT GROUP AND CHARITY FOR KIDS (WE RAISED £800 TO BE SPLIT) THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING TEAM OF PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO CAPTURED THE MOMENTS STEVE RITCHIE MARTYN TURNER GOSHA KEITH SALLIS DEREK LYONS NICK GRIMLEY AGNES TO ALISON METCALF FOR STAGE MANAGEMENT GARRY BOWLER AND PAUL LEWIS FOR GUITAR TECHS AND DRUMS WE HOPE THE PHOTOS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.  Featuring our very own Brian Mear on drums, this was a dream come true for him. To play alongside Andro and Shaz Coulton. They sounded EPIC.  Saturday saw Hastings’ legendary rock pub, The Carlisle, host Mearfest. Inspired by personal tragedy Claire and Brian Mear have been running their rock and metal charity events for several years now, with funds going to The Willows stillbirth charity and other local causes. Comprising a dozen bands and one solo acoustic set, all performing original material – no tribute acts or covers bands – what struck me throughout the day was the sheer quality of the acts taking the stage. Particular standouts for me were Southampton five-piece, Toledo Steel; ‘Now Wave Of British Heavy Metal’ act, Kaine; and NWOBHM veterans Satan’s Empire, reformed after three decades. Powerfully majestic but hard and heavy Toledo Steel put me in mind of classic-era Dio and Rich Rutter’s vocals and Tom Potter’s and Josh Haysom’s guitars are the perfect combination for this brand of hard-hitting melodic rock metal. Toledo Steel are definitely on my list to see and hear more of and I am certainly enjoying their excellent six-track EP ‘Zero Hour’. http://www.toledosteel.co.uk/ Kaine is a four-piece formed in 2009 and musically inspired by the late 70s/early 80s New Wave Of British Heavy Metal boom. Powerful well-written songs and powerful delivery, you can hear the influences from their musical heroes like Iron Maiden in their performance. I took a copy of their excellent album ‘The Waystone’ away which confirms why they are getting so many plaudits on the contemporary metal scene. https://kaine-metal.com/ Satan’s Empire had a breakthrough of sorts in 1981 when their excellent single ‘Soldiers Of War’ appeared on a Neat Records compilation. Sadly, they disappeared from view but now, with the original line-up still intact, they have reformed. Their performance oozed class, stage presence and memorable songs and it’s great to see them get a second bite of the cherry. They deserve it. https://www.facebook.com/SatansEmpireOfficial/ I’ve just pulled three acts out here that particularly inspired but in truth the quality didn’t let up throughout the day. It’s clear that organisers Brian and Claire Mear love what they are doing and, importantly, know what they are doing. ORIGINAL REVIEW HERE Both myself and Claire are delighted to say that Hawkwind Vocalist Dibs Hawkwinder and his partner Sam Kirwan have kindly agreed to be Patrons of Mearfest from Jan 1st next year! Both Dibs and Sam have been very supportive of all we are trying to achieve. We are hopeful that this new friendship will help Mearfest's profile and be beneficial for all concerned. I have been an Avid Hawkwind fan since 1980 and they were the first band I ever saw live on the Levitation tour. To say I am excited about this would be a massive understatement. Thank you both so much 
After a long struggle with cancer Andro Coulton has emerged from his Dark Dream cancer free and ready to battle on with his new venture Mearfest South this weekend at the Carlisle Hastings 9th December.
Recruiting yours truly to drum, Malleus is reborn. Here is a snippet of Dark Dream. 
Chris Caponigro has been a Mearfest supporter from the very beginning. He has created this podcast for our next event featuring all the bands playing :
This episode spotlights Mearfest artists like Gang, Kaine and Toledo Steel and brings you favorites from Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Saxon, Priest, Accept and more! Have a listen. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Click on above link After 40 weeks of hideous worrying and uncomfortable pregnancy, thinking you are nearly there, you are so excited about meeting the tiny life you have both created, then to be told there is no life left, your baby has died, it is unimaginable to many parents out there. But it is real, it happens every day to many couples of every age, colour, religion. It has no specific agenda it just happens. Brian and I are doing our best to first help our own grief, to share any snippets of understandings as to why this happened, to turn our loss into legacy and help others going through the same trauma. We wish to raise money for children with any disability as Molly had T21 Downs Syndrome which is a condition, but could have been disabled too, we will never know. With the birth of our second baby girl Amelie when I was 50 years old, again we want to show that you can get through the pain, you can plan for a full and happy future, you can with alot of hard work and mental agility mixed with emotional strength become a family, to have that family you have always dreamt of. It takes guts to get back up and dust yourself off and start again so publically and at 49 years old when you think your life is over, what else is there to live for? We both know that Molly is with us, crazy things happen alot. When I have done something amazing or Im in doubt about something, or if I am upset, a little Molly Maids van tootles past me and I thank my little guardian for tipping me the nod. I am never alone. And now we have Amelie and we could not be happier. I as a woman and grieving mother finally completed the birthing process, my body did what it was meant to do in 2013. I am now looking after this crazy little being on a minute by minute basis, we are growing together stronger as a team. I know when Amelie looks like she is babbling to no one, she is talking to her spirit sister and she too has a celestial guide in this lifetime. Molly has helped many since she died and that makes our hearts beat louder and stronger to see her hand print worn by so many people all over this world within 4 years. Our message is DON'T GIVE UP HOPE & ASK FOR HELP, TALK. Below is a photo of Molly's baby grow that she was put into when she was born sleeping. In the jar, her ashes.   NOT FIT FOR HUMANS Described as "The best band to come out of Slough- EVER" NFFH take their name from the 1937 John Betjeman poem and specialise in pounding, punk-enthused rhythms.
They made their live debut at the very first Mearfest in 2010 and have opened up Mearfest virtually every year since. Three of the band are siblings, Anton 13 guitar & vocals, Stash on drums & backing vocals and Scudders on guitar with Gareth on bass. They play a mean set of powerful songs. They are travelling a long way and have the hardest job over the whole weekend to open Mearfest South 2017 Hastings on Friday 8th! Be great if as many people as possible could be there to help them all kick off proceedings. |
MEARFESTBrian & Claire Mear pride themselves on putting on a good show. Photography is Claires passion, only the finest collection of images will be added here by the best photographers. We both hope you enjoy the show. Archives
November 2019
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