MEARFEST
  • MEARFEST
  • MOLLY's STORY
  • MEARFEST SHOP
    • A SHAWL OF STARS 2023 CALENDAR
    • ROCKER BYE BABY BY CLAIRE MEAR
    • DONATIONS
    • MEARFEST RAFFLE
  • MEMORIES
    • FINAL DANCE NEWCASTLE 2022
    • MEARFEST NORTH 2019
    • GRIMLEY ALES
    • 1979 REVISITED
    • MEARFEST WARS 2018
    • SOUTH SHIELDS 2018
    • SLOUGH 2018
    • SLOUGH 2011
    • HASTINGS 2017
    • NEWCASTLE 2017
    • LONDON TWO 2016
    • LONDON 2016
    • CLAPHAM 2012
  • PRESS
  • MARVELOUS MEARFEST
  • MEARFEST BLOG
  • MOLLY'S MEGASTARS
  • EVENTS
  • SAY HELLO
  • MEARFEST
  • MOLLY's STORY
  • MEARFEST SHOP
    • A SHAWL OF STARS 2023 CALENDAR
    • ROCKER BYE BABY BY CLAIRE MEAR
    • DONATIONS
    • MEARFEST RAFFLE
  • MEMORIES
    • FINAL DANCE NEWCASTLE 2022
    • MEARFEST NORTH 2019
    • GRIMLEY ALES
    • 1979 REVISITED
    • MEARFEST WARS 2018
    • SOUTH SHIELDS 2018
    • SLOUGH 2018
    • SLOUGH 2011
    • HASTINGS 2017
    • NEWCASTLE 2017
    • LONDON TWO 2016
    • LONDON 2016
    • CLAPHAM 2012
  • PRESS
  • MARVELOUS MEARFEST
  • MEARFEST BLOG
  • MOLLY'S MEGASTARS
  • EVENTS
  • SAY HELLO


   ​MEARFEST BABBLE

REVIEW: DARREN'S MUSIC BLOG

9/12/2017

0 Comments

 

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

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    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