Photo Credit: Andy Davies
And so it begins. After months of waiting, Rebellion is once again upon us and Blackpool is about to become the centre of the punk world for four days. With a packed schedule, plenty of old favourites and a new generation of bands ready to make their mark, we wasted no time getting stuck in.
Thursday
First stop: the Casbah.
Our first band of the weekend were Slackrr, who had the difficult challenge of an early afternoon slot in the Casbah. Not the easiest time to get a festival crowd going, but their well oiled pop punk got a few bodies moving and they got the weekend off to a solid start. We hope to see them back next year, creeping up the bill somewhat.
Our first visit of the weekend to the Opera House was next, to catch Black Water County, who wasted no time firing up a respectably large crowd with their folk punk craziness. This was exactly what we needed to get our festival started. Confident, tight and an absolute joy to watch. We couldn’t help but notice that the band’s bassist was performing from a chair, possibly due to an injury, but this did not slow the band down at all. We grabbed a great spot at the back of the Opera House and enjoyed one of the biggest surprises of the weekend. We can’t wait to catch these guys again.
We headed to the largest of Rebellion’s venues, the Empress Ballroom, for what feels like one of the festival’s staple acts, The Bar Stool Preachers. Receiving a huge welcome, the band exploded onto the stage with frontman TJ McFaull leading the ever confident band. It didn’t take long for the Ballroom to be bouncing.
New single Pick a Side was a standout in a flawless set full of fan favourites. When a new song hits this hard, you know you’re onto a winner. You can see the love for Rebellion in the eyes of every band member, and it is quite clearly felt back towards them from the capacity crowd in the Ballroom. Mark our words, here is a future Rebellion headliner.
Off we went to catch Grail Guard on the Rebellion Introducing stage. The band are making waves around the UK with their relentless, anti-fascist hardcore punk. A packed out room showed its support for the energetic band as they tore through their set, with frontman Riaz Rawat spending more time in the crowd than onstage. Any band leading a crowd in a huge singalong of “Fuck you, you fascist scum!,” gets our vote. One of the standout sets of the weekend.
We headed back to the Empress Ballroom for Steve Ignorant, performing a set of Crass classics. Do They Owe Us a Living? kicked things off in great style, with everyone in the room locked in and singing along. When Carol Hodge moved from behind the keyboard to centre stage, she lifted everyone’s spirits, being the class act that she is. Her presence really added something to the set and gave the room a much needed lift.
The sound overall still struggled, though, which unfortunately brought the energy levels in the Ballroom down considerably compared with earlier in the day. Classics such as Banned from the Roxy and So What? still had plenty of people singing along, but the sound certainly made this one harder work than it needed to be.
Pizzatramp were the next band on our list and, really, this band should come with a warning label for anyone who hasn’t seen them before. For those already on board, the room was suitably packed to the rafters and the craziness began. Musically, songs like CCTV and Millions of Dead Goths are short, fast blasts of fury, bringing to mind Suicidal Tendencies when they keep things simple, delivered with venomous, tongue in cheek lyrics from frontman Jimmy, who clearly can’t keep his opinions to himself between songs.
In the firing line during the band’s Rebellion set was Jeremy Clarkson, who felt Jimmy’s wrath, but we’ll spare you the details… When the band did get around to playing some songs, they were warmly received by the crowd, who suitably thrashed about on the dance floor, reflecting the carnage taking place onstage.
The Mob took to the Conference Centre next, which felt more like we were about to sit down to a business lunch. Thankfully, anarcho punk was on the agenda and The Mob kicked off with What’s Going On? as the room filled up nicely with young and old fans alike.
A special band to a lot of people, and we couldn’t help but feel that the set would have been better received in one of Rebellion’s other venues. Everything felt a bit too posh! Still, venue choice aside, a strong sixteen song set pleased everyone who managed to pack into the room.
Buzzcocks were another quick stop for us, as timings meant we could only catch the start of their set. We did it in style though, from the top of the Opera House, which feels like a magical place to watch a band, especially when What Do I Get? is being blasted around the theatre and every voice in the room is singing along.
We wish we could have stayed, but we had to hot foot it over to the Casbah…
Millie Manders and the Shutup were the Casbah’s headliners, having made their way up through the Rebellion ranks over the years and literally exploded onstage at close to midnight to a packed crowd ready to party.
The band mix a whole range of influences to create a sound that is entirely their own. Infectious, melodic and, above all else, fun. The crowd bounced for the entirety of the set, with those who have been following the band for the past few years hanging on every word. This was a wonderful way to bring our first day to a close.
Friday
A hearty breakfast and lots of coffee and we were back at the Winter Gardens for day two of the main festival. We headed for the Introducing stage first to catch Welsh punk trio Thronk!. The band, clearly ecstatic to play Rebellion, smashed through their set of simple but infectious punk, which was very warmly received. A cheeky cover of My Lovely Horse from Father Ted brought a lot of smiles to the room. It’s no easy task playing early in the day at such a big festival, but Thronk! did more than OK.
Hats off, guys.
Over to the Casbah for one of the most anticipated acts of our weekend, Fantazmaz. It wasn’t even 2pm and the Casbah was already respectably full as the band took to the stage and pummelled the crowd with their fast and infectious hardcore punk. Vocalist Thamila Zenthöfer commanded the stage, clambering on every piece of equipment as the band fired out short, sharp blasts of metal tinged punk. Providing the heartbeat to the madness was Jamie Oliver, whose impressive drumming CV makes him the perfect backbone for the band. We’re excited to see what happens next for this bunch.
Split Dogs were up next in the Empress Ballroom and received a huge welcome. One thing we love about this festival is the support for the UK’s growing talent of punk bands. Split Dogs are no strangers to Rebellion and pummelled the crowd with their mix of mid paced punk ’n’ roll. Vocalist Harry was a whirlwind of confidence and swagger as she led the crowd through an impressive set. Judging by the amount of Split Dogs merch we saw across the weekend, you can count on this lot becoming a permanent fixture at the festival.
Riskee and the Ridicule were up next and, once again, the welcome was huge. The band burst into action with opener Body Bag Your Scene and, for the first time of the weekend, we felt the floor beneath us shaking as the crowd surged forward, with the mosh pit in full swing. Crowd favourites like Our Time, Kaboom and a slowed down Molotov Cocktails had the packed out room bouncing and singing along. Make no mistake, Riskee and the Ridicule are far from the traditional punk sound, but here they are levelling the festival once again with their crushing mix of grime, punk and hardcore.
Riskee and the Ridicule are one of the best live acts the UK has produced in the last few years and, with the right push, they could be deservedly massive. How they haven’t got there yet is beyond us. Catch them in a small venue whilst you still can.
Over to the Casbah for Dublin’s Meryl Streek, making his third appearance at the festival. Moving away from his traditional one man setup, Streek now has a live drummer, which really does give everything that extra level of depth. Much like Riskee and the Ridicule, Streek doesn’t conform to any stereotypical sound. He’s carved out a truly unique mix of spoken word and poetic anger, delivered with more venom than most punk bands could dream of. Fans young and old were pushed up against the barrier, singing every word to favourites such as Death to the Landlord, before the set closed with If This Is Life. Catch Meryl Streek in a small venue while you still can. The future is looking very bright.
Onto the Ballroom for Ferocious Dog, who are winding down the band and making this their final appearance at Rebellion. A bittersweet occasion, then, and one that had plenty of people keen to see them off in style. The band wasted no time hammering through their back catalogue of Celtic themed working class punk-rock. Frontman Ken Bonsall was on fine form as the talented band lapped up every moment, with crystal clear sound and precision throughout.
The band play their final shows in smaller clubs this winter, so be sure to check them out and give them the send off they thoroughly deserve.
Another trip to the Opera House for our second round with The Bar Stool Preachers, but this time in an acoustic (sort of!) setting. Running late onstage just meant that the theatre was suitably packed for when the band began. And what a way to get going. A take on their track Call Me on the Way Home stopped everyone in their tracks, with TJ McFaull’s voice cutting through the Opera House and filling every corner of the theatre.
We took some photos, grabbed a seat upstairs and watched one of the most beautiful sets of the weekend unfold before us. We know we’ve already shown our admiration for The Bar Stool Preachers, but we really do have a special band on our hands and one we should absolutely cherish. A cheeky cover of McFaull’s father’s band Cock Sparrer‘s classic Suicide Girls was thrown in, and wrapping things up with the wonderful Bar Stool Preacher was the perfect end to a perfect gig. Sensational.
Booze and Glory were next up in the Casbah. The backdrop onstage paid homage to Lou Koller, frontman of Sick of It All, who recently lost his battle with cancer. A beautiful touch. The band have built a solid fanbase over the years through relentless touring. Despite a few line up shuffles, the current B&G line up is razor sharp and, arguably, the best the band have sounded in years.
A set full of what are now Oi! classics, including Swinging Hammers, Only Fools Get Caught and London Skinhead Crew, brought a flawless set to a close. Brilliant stuff.
Tonight’s headliners in the Ballroom are none other than Sham 69, and judging by how packed the room is twenty minutes before the band are due onstage, you know there is going to be a lot of love in the room.
Frontman Jimmy Pursey took to the stage in a balaclava before ripping it off and leading the band through What Have We Got? and into a set full of punk rock classics. There’s not much point overthinking a Sham 69 set. The crowd know exactly what they’ve come for, and the band deliver it with plenty of energy. The Ballroom is bouncing, with fans young and old singing along to songs that have been part of the punk soundtrack for decades.
As the night winds down, the big ones come thick and fast, with If the Kids Are United getting the whole room going before, of course, they finish with Hurry Up Harry. A fitting end to a Friday night in Blackpool.
Saturday
We start our Saturday with Dublin’s own Paranoid Visions, who take to the Casbah stage and waste no time getting to work. This is melodic punk at its finest, truly crafted into something unique and special over forty plus years of the band’s existence. The dual vocals of Deko Dachau and Aoife Destruction work perfectly together to deliver one of the most heartfelt sets of the weekend, getting us fired up for the day ahead.
Our first acoustic set of the weekend was with Ricky Warwick, frontman of legendary British rock band The Almighty. His CV also stretches to a stint with Thin Lizzy and, more recently, a place at the helm of Black Star Riders. There’s something about seeing an artist stripped back in this way that feels more personal, wholesome and like you’re part of something a little special. Warwick ploughed through an impressive set, showcasing exactly why he’s been around for so long. Closing with a wonderful cover of Motörhead’s classic Ace of Spades, this was a welcome change of pace and a great way to spend part of the afternoon.
You know what you’re getting with our very own Subhumans, and the Empress Ballroom was treated to, as usual, an absolute masterclass in punk rock goodness from Dick Lucas and co. They didn’t stop for a second, delivering one of the tightest sets of the weekend. Everything we could have wanted was played from the staggering Subhumans back catalogue. When we say you know what you’re getting with this band, we really mean it. Has anyone ever seen Subhumans turn in a bad show? Impossible.
Following Subhumans is never an easy task, but GBH are more than up for the job, getting the capacity crowd going berserk from the off. Diplomatic Immunity started the band’s set, followed by Sick Boy, which is when the tempo hit boiling point down on the dance floor.
Colin Abrahall’s stage presence is nothing short of legendary, microphone gripped as he thrashes away like only he can. The sound struggled in places, but nothing stopped the crowd from going absolutely batshit and enjoying every second.
We were back to the loud stuff, heading into the Empress Ballroom once again for East London’s Cockney Rejects, who stormed onto the stage with the energy of a band half their age. In fact, this is arguably the healthiest the band have looked in a long time. The current line up of the Rejects worked very well, with all members having decades of experience under their belts. From the opening notes of War on the Terraces, the band smashed through an energetic set with a great sound and created absolute chaos in the process.
Jeff ‘Stinky’ Turner hasn’t lost any of his charm and gave an absolute masterclass of a performance. One that would be hard to beat…
And so onto tonight’s main event. Ladies and gentlemen, the legends that are Cock Sparrer. Rebellion wouldn’t be the same without them and tonight’s offering was no different to usual. By that, we mean the band were absolutely flawless.
The triple decker of Riot Squad, Watch Your Back and Working set the energy levels to a point not seen previously across the weekend. Bodies flew over the barrier while the floor once again shook beneath our feet, with every single person holding a fist in the air and singing along to arguably some of the finest punk rock songs ever written.
Cock Sparrer are ours, and we never know how much time we’ll have with them, so we savour every moment.
This reviewer spent the entire set singing and dancing in the middle of the capacity crowd as the band belted out hit after hit, including Argy Bargy, Suicide Girls and I Got Your Number. With the band giving it 110% and the crowd doing the same, we were treated to England Belongs to Me and We’re Coming Back as the band wrapped up a perfect Saturday night.
It really doesn’t get any better than this.
Sunday
The final day of what has been an exceptional gathering of punks from all over the world. Everyone is tired, everyone has partied too hard, but onwards into the last day of Rebellion.
We started with a trek to the Casbah to check out Segrëgates, and from the spelling we’re sure you know what to expect. Full throttle Motörhead worship with a distinct British element that fired up the respectable crowd with ease. We’ll be keeping an eye out for these.
We watched California’s Channel 3 next in the Empress Ballroom, whose career has spanned forty-six years. The band’s melodic and catchy punk rock sounded massive and was played with plenty of confidence.
We headed to the Conference Centre next and caught two talks, the first by Harley Flanagan from The Cro-Mags, and later by Jeff ‘Stinky’ Turner from the Cockney Rejects. Both have completely different stories to tell, and the crowd were certainly moved by some of Flanagan’s tales of growing up in the New York hardcore scene from a young age. Jeff Turner had the whole room in hysterics with tales of the Rejects and his more recent time as a podcast host.
Harley Flanagan is the subject of a new film, Wired For Chaos, while Jeff Turner has recently released his second book, Cockney Reject II: I Love Being Me. Get them ordered and set yourselves a few hours free. You won’t regret it.
Back to live music and it was Flanagan’s Cro-Mags up next in the Empress Ballroom. Kicking off the only way with We Gotta Know and hammering through a set of New York hardcore classics, Cro-Mags turned in one of the most ferocious sets of the weekend, with Flanagan clearly loving every moment. The light show was wonderful to watch as the band tore through Malfunction and Street Justice. With the mosh pit swirling, Hard Times brought one of the best sets of the weekend to a close.
Unfortunately, Boston’s Haywire missed their flights, meaning they missed their slot in the Empress Ballroom. After a switch around, a new time was announced in the Casbah, which sadly meant we would miss Discharge as a result. Sometimes these things can’t be helped.
As Haywire kicked off, we knew instantly we had made the right decision. Frontman Austin Sparkman is the person up front every hardcore band dreams of having. From the get go, he was in the crowd, clambering anywhere that would hold him and helping Haywire put on one of the strongest performances we’d seen all weekend. We were glued to the entire set, watching with jaws dropped as the band didn’t stop for a moment, like a steam train of hardcore punk smashing through Blackpool. Sparkman gave thanks to everyone involved in getting Haywire to play the festival, and we have a feeling it won’t be the last time we hear such a speech. Incredible.
After some food and fresh air, we were back in the Empress after a long queue to get in, as it was time for Stiff Little Fingers to draw our festival to a close. Packed to the rafters is an understatement as we made our way to the front just in time for opener Tin Soldiers.
The sound was absolutely on point as we settled in for SLF’s back catalogue of punk rock greatness. From Nobody’s Hero to Wasted Life, we sang and danced in unison, with the whole dance floor erupting. Gotta Getaway and Suspect Device raised the levels once again before we were treated to set closer Alternative Ulster (what else?!).
We can’t think of a better way to end our festival: covered in sweat, smiling and humming SLF for the rest of the evening. Job done.
Four days, countless bands, aching feet and a ridiculous amount of noise. Rebellion remains one of those weekends that leaves you exhausted, slightly deaf and already looking forward to doing it all again. See you next year.
Words and Photos: Andy Davies
