The Flame Still Burns – Mearfest 2026
Golden Weekend Tickets
This year, we are going back in time to when we used to attend gigs, holding a detailed, printed card stub or golden-numbered ticket. In honour of that spirit, we present: Unique Golden Embossed Weekend Tickets
Dates: Friday 21st August – Saturday 22nd August 2026
Venue: The Queen's Hall, Nuneaton
Price: £45.00 weekend – Friday £20.00 – Saturday £30.00
Includes: A personal golden letter of thanks.
Access to both days of music, magic, and metal, and a place in Mearfest history.
Golden Weekend Tickets are limited to 150, individually numbered with a golden embossed seal.
• FRIDAY & SATURDAY SEPARATE WRISTBANDS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN EARLY NOVEMBER
Here is a complete guide to The Flame Still Burns – MEARFEST 2026 weekend.
21st AUGUST FRIDAY DOORS OPEN 6 PM
URIDIUM - Our opening act for Friday are the Norwich-based Heavy Metal Gods. Uridium play Metal the old way and the only way. In reverence to the old Gods Priest, Motörhead and Metallica. For our new festival vibes, we wanted the perfect mix of young and older bands. Here we give you a band with power, might, majesty and force. A band that will make a massive impact and set the benchmark not only for this event but for all that is to come.
HEATHEN KINGS - The band led by the incredible front man Andy Clarke (Lead vocals and guitar), they are named after the ancient lords of Middle-earth. They bring to life the tales and sagas of Tolkien with true power and majesty. With spiralling vocals, amazing guitar riffs and a rhythm section built for war. This band was made for Mearfest. Drink that last Ale and head up the dark path past Cirith Ungul to the land of Mordor where the shadows lie.
· Third guests to be announced on 1st November!
ELIXIR – Headliners Originally formed back in 1983, they will be performing their entire debut album ‘THE SON OF ODIN’ to celebrate the 40th anniversary of that amazing album. The Album is a masterpiece and has received high praise indeed over the years. It is always great to welcome back to the stage Paul Taylor from Desolation Angels fame.
22ND AUGUST SATURDAY – DOORS OPEN 12 PM
CLIENTELLE ACOUSTIC - Will be performing a special 45-minute set to celebrate the fact that Clientelle - 80's Rock Band’s debut album ‘Destination Unknown’, which will be 45 years old in 2026. The duo have delighted and enthralled us all over the last couple of years by opening our shows. They are always the perfect start to our Saturdays, by inviting special guests, and maybe this year, we'll be joined by a drummer who most of you will know!
BILL BEADLES-SACRILEGE - The band originally formed in 1982 and played up and down the country until 87 when, like many bands of that era, they split up. They reformed in 2012, and since 2015, they have been a huge and constant part of our Mearfest story. Sacrilege was amongst the handful of bands that played our first ‘all Metal show’ at the Borderline in London in 2016, together we celebrate 10 glorious years.
CHRYSALID - Leading man and founder Emanuel Thorsen has been a good friend for quite a while now, and as it was not possible in the past to host the band, we can now thankfully do so. The band have been active since 1999 and their first album ‘Back on the streets’ came out in 2022. The level of musicianship is incredible, and just like all the younger bands we have booked, they are phenomenal live.
INCUBUS LOVECHILD - Absolutely rocked SPACE25 with a lot of spacey rock electronica. Mark ‘Skidder’ Edwards was the perfect fit for this year’s event, as he brought so much more to the show, adding a completely different sound and visual show, which was tremendous. Mark will be performing exclusive tracks from the new release next year, ‘Alien Messiah.’
TEMPEST SAINT - Hertfordshire's finest. This band has been causing shockwaves across the nation with their incredible live performances and stunning music. Their latest album, ‘Hyperbolized’ is a stunning piece of work. They have a very traditional metal sound with soaring vocals and incredible songs blessed with an underlying melody.
VOLTSTORM - Formed in London in 2019, and over the last few years, they have already written their own chapter in British Pure Heavy Metal History. For Mearfest’s new festival, we wanted to bring in the very best younger bands to expand, blend and stand shoulder to shoulder with our NWOBHM Legends. Their album ‘Breaking the Silence’ is a masterpiece. Each track has its own dynamics, and underneath their intensity, there is an underlying melody which sets this band streets ahead of the pack.
MARQUIS DE SADE - The London-based band, like so many NWOBHM acts, burned bright at the beginning of the Eighties but split up in 1982. Renowned at the time and having played countless gigs around the country, they only got to release the much-revered single ‘Somewhere up in the Mountain’ back in 81. Around five years ago, the band reformed, and the band’s sound is immense, awash with prog overtones. The music is rich, warm, and full of colour and has enormous scope.
SEVENTH SON – Barnsley’s (own!) - Formed back at the height of the NWOBHM movement, this band has completely stolen my heart, along with so many of our regular Mearfest crowd. Winner of last year's ‘Spirit of Seventy-Nine’ award, they are always a fantastic live band. They epitomise all that the NWOBHM is and should be, and with their amazing frontman Brian Shaughnessy leading the charge, they always keep the flame burning bright.
CLOVEN HOOF - Our 2024 Mearfest ‘Best Band’ victors return as conquering heroes once again to bring us a performance of a lifetime! The band will be showcasing tracks from their new opus, ‘Never a Prophet in Your Own Land.’ They, as so many of us who witnessed them at the Queen's Hall, will testify to an amazing live act.
ABADDON - Our incredible headliners for Saturday night. The band will be performing an exclusive set for Mearfest, celebrating both the amazing ‘Welcome to Hell’ and the ‘Black Metal’ albums. Both are amongst the most iconic and influential albums of all time. Tony Bray (Ex-Venom) is one of the most important influencers and content creators in Metal History. The Band Venom need no introduction. Formed in Newcastle back in '79 at the birth of the NWOBHM movement. They are one of the few bands in the world to give birth to a whole genre and movement of music.
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