MARILLION WEEKEND HOLLAND
25-28 MARCH 2011

MANY, MANY THANKS..

We had hoped. And we knew it was a big ask. And so it is with immense pride that we say: Many many thanks to all those who helped us make last week's convention the best one ever.

We thank the people in our office who booked the venue, organized the chalets, sold the tickets, booked our flights, arranged our buses, put cheese in our kitchens.. We thank those who ran the museum and the merch stall. We thank the guys who built the tent, who made the stage, who put up the lights and the PA, who put our amps and instruments on stage. We thank the truck drivers who drove it all there and we thank the stage crew who knew what to do and when to help us give you our show.

We thank the many men and women of Center Parcs' staff who also made the weekend experience possible. But most of all.. we thank the people who bought tickets and then came so very far from their own countries to create a village of like-minded souls hell-bent on effortlessly creating an atmosphere and climate of good humoured faith, love and understanding which we know would have blown Woodstock and the so-called "summer of love" completely out of the water.

When I sang "the people here, full of love and comfortable in themselves" on Sunday night, I sang it not as a sentimental ideal, but as a factual reflection of what was going on before my eyes. Amazing. Montreal: That's one high bar to clear.. Let's try.

Love
H, Ian, Mark, Pete and Steve

A hundred nights of fun and games...A thousand empty glasses....

It certainly felt like a hundred nights with so much packed into the biggest Marillion Weekend so far. Almost 3000 of you came from 42 different countries all over the world for your Holidays in Eden!! From the coaches arriving on Friday morning to departing (very early for some) on Monday morning it was nonstop action with fabulous support artists (see below) and Marillion playing the whole of Holidays in Eden on the Friday night, a special A-Z setlist on Saturday (no-one guessed Z for Zeperated Out!!) and The Glow Must Go On - where everyone got the chance to vote for songs with their glowsticks on Sunday! Not to mention Lucy and Stephanie’s discos, Mark Kelly’s fun run, the Quiz, Marillioke, the Marillion Museum, signing and photo sessions with the band, those who won coffee at their cottage with a band member, the Quiz final where the band narrowly beat the “Parrotheads” and some very talented musicians joining the band on stage for Swap The Band. We even had a wedding this year – congratulations to Vanessa and Mark Kennedy!!

SUPPORT BANDS

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

The Royal Cartel Pete & Robin Tin Spirits

Sundomingo

Jo McCafferty

CHARITY

Anne Bond from the Web UK and members of the other Web teams worked tirelessly all weekend to get donations and signatures for the Charity raffle. Following on from the tradition of previous conventions, there was a special book for all the ‘family’ to sign.

As well as all the comments and signatures from fans, the book contained handwritten lyrics by h and signatures of the band, other prizes included 5 special limited edition signed prints and a signed guitar donated by the fab Mike Hunter.

We have always been overwhelmed by your generosity in the past and this year was no exception. Once again Paul Baines generously added to the total. The band have chosen to donate the proceeds of the raffle to an excellent cause The Cure Parkinson’s Trust www.cureparkinsons.org.uk

This Charity was brought to our attention by fans Rich Merry and Alex Flynn (a Parkinson’s sufferer), who have undertaken a challenge to race over 10 Million Metres (6,176 miles) by 2014, to raise money for the trust.

The challenge started in August 2009 and by the end of April 2010 they will have already covered 605,000 metres. With massive races still to come, as well as a run across Western Europe in 2011 and many other events they aim to be halfway by the time the UK hosts 2012 Olympics. Their web-sites are www.alexflynn.co.uk and http://richardmerry.blogspot.com, both of which have information on what they have done, are doing and why.

Your letters

Band - Brilliant
Music - Brilliant
Evening themes - Brilliant
Venue - Brilliant
Light show - Brilliant
Atmosphere - Brilliant
Fans - Brilliant
Confetti cannon - Brilliant
CenterParcs - Brilliant
Glow sticks - Brilliant
Organisation - Brilliant
Planning - Brilliant
Accommodation - Brilliant
Merchandise - Brilliant
Weather - Brilliant
Swimming pool and facilities - Brilliant
Other entertainment - Brilliant
Museum - Brilliant
Support acts - Brilliant (Pete & Robin would go down a storm at the Cambridge Folk Festival!)

To all involved in making this happen - Thank you

Simon, Catherine & Family Condie, UK

I'd like to add my massive thanks too (and the Engagement Card to Pamie and myself from the band was extremely well received)

Andy Bliss – UK

I will never ever forget, for as long as I live, what I felt when the last notes of HITR started to fade away as the Band left the stage, while the fans kept chanting the last 2 verses of the song (“Happiness Is The Road!”) and clapping. The mixture of emotions was so much that all I could do was hug Susanne and sob. How can I possibly go back to reality after living in Planet Marillion for a whole weekend??

Carmen Quintero-McLean Cayman Islands

Thank YOU for being part of the happiest moments of my life.

Cintia Muros, Argentina

It was a fantastic convention including an excellent organisation.

David Quiroga Chile

All the Weekend was really amazing: the whole shows were wonderful and the 8 hours music performed by the Band made me really much more “crazy” for those guys!!! The atmosphere which was breathing inside the beautiful Port Zelande area was so special, especially because you can feel the Band as part of the big family which their fans are, and I really think that is an unique event that is worthy to be lived at least one time in our Marillion’s fan life…Valentina ( my young daughter ) also enjoyed the Convention, and she was so excited in living this amazing experience.

Emilio Zaino Italy

This is Luiz, from Rio, who played keyboard in The Party. First of all, thanks for the fantastic opportunity. Playing with Marillion was really a dream come true. The weekend (not only Swap the Band) was amazing, fantastic!! I cannot put on words what I felt there. And both of you were so kind, so nice, as all Marillion members were too. I felt you were there enjoying the whole experience, feeling the happiness you gave to everyone who played with the band. I really felt that. I hope I will be there in 2013 again, even if I'm not on vacation and have to go from Brazil only for the weekend. Now I'm dreaming of playing with my band, as an opening act in 2013 :). Well, dreams can't hurt :)

Luiz Gustavo, Brazil

It was great, full of magnificant moments and a new box of memories!! I never missed a weekend. Everytime it's special, deep, full of emotions with lovely and sincere people. What can I say more. See you next time!! Special thanks for you for arranging the photoshoot and the hard work together with the Marillion crew!

Asha Dijkstra Holland

Sunday was my 21st Marillion gig (I think) since 1987 and was simply the best ever, the song selection, the quality of the lights and sound, the audience reaction and lastly the passion (no better word) that the band put in was quite overpowering. I love Marillion for the music and the weekend’s concerts were as good as it gets. But the thing that summed up the whole Marillion experience and why me and all the other ‘family’ keep coming back, was the birthday card waiting for me in my welcome pack (Monday was my 40th and the weekend was my present to myself). It absolutely made my weekend and thank you so much for the thought and for doing it. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the moment of realisation of what I had received. It’s the simple thoughtful things that make the difference. Thank You

Jonathan Littleford UK

Marillion Weekend 2011 has been the third weekend in our lives. We greatly enjoyed the outstanding atmosphere and music itself. That was fantastic time plus FANTASTIC PLACE. We wish ALL of you DO WHAT YOU DO AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. Marillion's music and extraordinary concerts' performance are FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.

Beata and Marek Onyszko, Poland

I had three wonderful days. I saw three great gigs. I met a lot of lovely people with who I spent as much time as possible. As well during the gigs as during the rest of the day I enjoyed to no end. Sleep would cost dear hours so we skipped half of our beautysleep every day. Water was for the fishes and duckies, we had better things to drink. I have been at several places in the venue during the gig and it was a great atmosphere everywhere. I really liked to see all these pictures in the museum. I loved the lightshow. The confetti cannon was top. What a fantastic end of the gig it was. I feel a wreck now but it was really worth it. There is only one thing I can't stand....why is time flying when you have such a lot of fun? It was over in an eyewink. Thanks Marillion, thanks audience and above all...a big thank you to all friends, old and new, that I met in Port Zélande and who gave me a time I'll never forget.

Christine Westbroek, Holland

We just got back from our first Marillion Convention and wanted to say what a wonderful weekend we had. Please pass on our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved.

Andy & Shirley Yule -UK

It has been a great weekend, sun, beer, old & new friends and Marillion ... what more could you ask for! Thanks again. PS. My glow stick was still glowing at 8am on Monday morning!

Diane Colclough UK

Organization: perfect. Local staff: perfect. Actual music: completely mind blowing. Company and new friends: brilliant. Thank you so much to everyone who made this wonderful weekend happen!

David Dyte, USA

Once again what a fantastic weekend,loved it, cant wait to see you all again.

Karen Daly, Australia

Thank you for a marvellous, brilliant MarillionWeekend at Port Zélande. It's Wednesday and I'm (happily) still not 'over' it. The people we shared our cottage with, were very nice too. Great. Looking forward to see you next time!!!!!

Anne Erkelens, Netherlands

I thought I'd email my enormous thanks for such a fantastic weekend. As usual there were no difficulties with organisation, as your efforts had ensured all that was taken care of, and the setlists were interesting, but still full of amazing music. I would never expect all my favourites and no others, and it's good to be reminded how great some of the songs we don't hear so often are......the Marillion Weekend seems to be a place where we can just be who we are. It reminds us of who we can be, and how much we love those we are there with.

John Hirst UK

Thanks so much for THE WEEKEND!!!!!!! It was a real thrill; I met some of the folks I know from 2009 and had a really enjoyable time. Sharing Buddy was a very lovely girl from Hamburg who is a new friend now…

Karin Wagener, Germany

On behalf of everyone in cottage 155 (part of the Portuguese group), I'd like to thank you for everything you did for us. We all had a fantastic time and came back to reality with lots of wonderful memories!

Maria, Luis, Vitor, Ana and Miguel, Portugal

Thank you for a fantastic and magical time in Port Zélande! Words cannot describe what it was like. Each time I think I’m cured and it can’t get any better, you seem to surpass everything… You have all been so kind to help promote and sign the T-shirts for my project ‘World of colour’ for African schoolchildren (www.worldofcolour.org) and Stephanie, Lucy, Richard and Alan have also been very supportive. I feel very honoured and grateful for your help!

Marjolein de Boo, Netherlands

I would just like to pass on my personal thanks to you ....it was a fantastic weekend made even more special when H asked us to the sound check on Sunday morning and Demet got to play H's piano, I would really appreciate it if one of you guys could thank H personally for me and Demet. The Marillion family certainly is a special family to be in and long may it continue. Demet by the way has now replaced the photo of me on top of her grand piano with a photo of H Lol!