14.39°C Colchester punk duo The Meffs bring MEFF-FEST back this weekend, and the third edition is easily the biggest the band have attempted so far.
Taking place this Saturday, 2nd May at Charter Hall in Colchester, MEFF-FEST 3 marks a big step up for the event created by Lily and Lewis. What began as a small hometown punk show has quickly grown into a full-scale festival line-up, bringing together punk icons, touring bands and new local acts for a day of live music curated by the band themselves.
The bill features The Meffs, UK Subs, Steve Ignorant Band performing Crass, The Subways, Random Hand, No Idea and Violet. The event will also be hosted by musician and writer John Robb as official compère.
What started as a small hometown event has grown quickly. Lily explains that the first MEFF-FEST began at Three Wise Monkeys.
“MEFF-FEST started as a sold-out evening show at Three Wise Monkeys, a 200-cap venue in our hometown,” she says. “In its second year, we held the event at the University of Essex with about 450 people.”
This year, with the band’s schedule making it unlikely the festival will return next year, they decided to take on their biggest venue yet.
“We already knew that next year there won’t be a MEFF-FEST due to our schedule, so we accepted the challenge of Charter Hall, which holds around 1000 people.”
Despite the bigger venue, keeping the festival accessible has remained a priority.
“MEFF-FEST has always been about being affordable for people, so even this year, advance tickets were kept at £25, £15 for under 18s. There are very few tickets left, so get involved.”
The line-up mixes punk icons with bands from across the current scene. UK Subs and the Steve Ignorant Band bring a direct connection to the roots of punk, while The Subways, Random Hand and the rest of the bill reflect the bands and scenes that have shaped The Meffs themselves.
For Lily, seeing some of those names on the poster still feels surreal.
“EPIC. We love UK Subs, and CRASS were a big influence on my songwriting. The Steve Ignorant Band are fantastic live. So having these two on the line up is unreal.”
There are also some personal full-circle moments.
“In 2012, I went to 2000 Trees festival for the first time because The Subways were playing. Now they’re playing MEFF-FEST.”
The earlier part of the day also highlights newer bands.
“Then we’ve got our mates from Random Hand who are guaranteed to get things moving early on. Opening the day are No Idea and Violet, who we picked from a recent local Battle of the Bands competition at Three Wise Monkeys. They smashed it, so it’s exciting to have new bands on board.”
Away from the festival itself, the year ahead is just as busy for the band.
The Meffs return with their second album Business, due this September via Frontiers Label Group, following their 2024 release What a Life.
After a huge 2025 touring with major acts, selling out shows across the UK and Europe, and playing festivals including Glastonbury, 2000 Trees and Download, Lily and Lewis headed into the studio with producer Dan Weller to record eleven new tracks.
“It’s the most vulnerable yet hard-hitting album we’ve recorded to date. There’s no frills, no interludes. 26 minutes, no relief,” Lily says.
“It takes swipes at the people responsible for what’s going on around us, but it’s also a record about looking after yourself and checking in with the people around you.”
Before the album arrives, the band will also head out on tour with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts in July and The Levellers in October.
“If you’d have asked me as a kid when I was saying ‘I’m going to be a rockstar when I’m older’ I’d have thought you were taking the mick,” she says. “If there was one inspiration for me fronting a band, it’s Joan Jett.”
MEFF-FEST 3, supported by Colchester Events, Black Cactus Studio, and Other Monkey Brewing, takes place at Charter Hall in Colchester on Saturday, 2nd May 2026. With only a limited number of tickets remaining, tickets and further information are available here.
