Meff-Fest 2026 - Punk Spirit, Big Noise, and a Scene on the Rise in Colchester

Dave Broome
May 4
4 min read

Charter Hall, Colchester- 2nd May 2026

IMAGES / WORDS DAVE BROOME

Meff‑Fest 2026 – A New Colossus in Colchester’s Music Scene

Meff-Fest is the brainchild of punk band The Meffs. This is the third year it has taken place, each time in their hometown of Colchester, each year bigger and more important than the last. This year it is being held in Charter Hall, essentially the large space of the city’s leisure centre. Capacity, somewhere in the region of 700. This shows both the stature of the line-up but also the progress The Meffs have made since last year’s equivalent event in reaching out to a much wider audience.

From the moment the doors open, Charter Hall feels charged. Not in the polished, corporate‑festival way — in the way that tells you everyone in the room wants to be there. Battle jackets, DIY merch, and Mohican haircuts fill the venue.

The first two acts are an all-girl group called Violet and local protégé outfit No Idea.

Both are at the starting line of their musical career. For Violet this is their very first gig. They ooze confidence and play a strong set of their own material. The songs are catchy and the performance engaging.

No Idea are fronted by singer/songwriter Callum who started the band. They won a battle of the bands competition recently in Colchester and now appear here in front of a strong, enthusiastic (pretty large) crowd. They remind me of The Jam in their early days. Many of the tracks would fit comfortably on In The City or The Modern World which is high praise indeed.

Random Hand are the first of the “established” acts. They are a long-running band from Keighley, known for combining ska, punk, hardcore, metal, and reggae into a politically charged, high‑energy sound. And energy is what they bring in skip fulls. The trombone is an interesting addition to the format which Robin Russell, the lead vocalist plays frequently. The crowd are beginning to find both their feet and voice now. The energy has spiked!

Those hoping to see a full version of The Subways were about to be disappointed as Charlotte was announced as “off on mother duties”. Well, you can’t argue with that. So, drummer Camille Phillips and frontman/singer/guitarist Billy Lunn treat us to a stripped-back set which included old classics and a few new tracks. What it lacked in energy it made up for in sincerity and authenticity. There was a real soul and beauty to this set.

The clock was ticking on and we had moved from mid-afternoon to early evening. Crass were a pioneering English anarcho‑punk collective known for fusing radical politics with abrasive, experimental punk and a strict DIY ethic. They became one of the most influential political bands in punk history, shaping anarchist, pacifist, and anti‑authoritarian movements. And I’m embarrassed to say I had never heard of them. Vocalist Steve Ignorant has kept the spirit of Crass alive by playing gigs under the guise of Steve Ingorant Band performing Crass. They played a long set which included fan favourites “Mother Earth” and “So What”. It’s obvious Ignorant still has that passion and drive to powerfully put across a message. These are not just songs and this is not just a setlist, this is a manifesto.

The penultimate band are punk legends (in every sense of the word) U.K. Subs. Vocalist Charlie Harper is 81 and has swapped his pipe and slippers for beer and a microphone. The set is long but as every song is only 3 minutes, it’s over quickly. “How’s your voices?” he says to an expectant crowd. The famous “Warhead” bassline is played and Harper growls over the top. The crowd join in … “Are you ready”. Warhead must be 40 years old but feels right at home in 2026. Subs are punk royalty and tonight we are their loyal subjects.

At around 9:20pm The Meffs take to the stage and get about their business. Funny enough they open with the current single “Business”. It’s a love/hate letter to the music industry and delivered with spit and guile. How have I not noticed before that they cover “Breath”? It’s a punked-up version of course. The riff being carved out of the fretboard. Lilly’s long and flexible fingers, making light work of it. The band frequently remind the audience to look out for each other as the crowd get livelier as the night progresses. “Broken Britain Broken Brains” is an assault on your senses, as the opening chords subside to a chug and the lyrics tell us everything we need to know about the current state of the UK, “around and around we go” we all scream. “Budget Luxury” closes out the set and Lewis thanks everyone for coming and says this has been the best night of his life. He won’t be the only one. Meff-fest 2027 anyone?