FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Rebellion Festival 2024
Words: Dan Barnes
Just the thought of another Rebellion Festival fills my nostrils with the smell of the sea and my ears with the caw of seagulls. That is until I get into the Winter Gardens and my eardrums become the property of about 350 punk bands on their annual jollies to the Blackpool coast.
I’m not going to make the argument that it never rains in Blackpool, (it does, and boy does it) but my overriding Rebellion memories are most often of glorious August days and long, cool evenings. I have many friends who live in that part of the world, and they might offer an impassioned argument counter to my romanticised view of the locale.
Now that the day splits and stage times are up on the website, I thought it might be interesting to plan my weekend’s entertainment, though the reality at the festival might be somewhat different but here goes.
On Thursday I’ll definitely be catching Empress headliner, Sham 69. The Pursey/ Parsons iteration of the band have been regular visitors to Blackpool over the years and I last saw the lads topping the North-West Calling bill in 2023 and, like many of their contemporaries from those punk glory days, are still a force to be reckoned with. Also having played NWC in 2023 and found their way onto Thursday’s bill, are The Barstool Preachers and U.K. Subs. The Preachers have been knocking out of the park from day one and have recently graciously adopted the position of pretenders to the crown, leading the new pack of fresh punk talent. At the other end of the spectrum sit the institution that is the U.K. Subs; led as ever by the now octogenarian Charlie Harper, there seems no limit to the drive and energy of this band. Never ones to skimp on the enjoyment factor, the sad day will inevitably come when the Subs will no longer appear on a Rebellion bill; until that day of woe arrives, let’s all celebrate one of punk’s most enduring legacies.
Dick Lucas’s Subhumans were particularly fired up last year and their set was an excoriating condemnation of the capitalist model. It’s an ire the band have had since their inception, so I expect the same level of disdain this year. The Meffs have been gaining increasingly positive reviews everywhere they go and their steady rise up the mainstage bill is testament to their popularity. The Ramonas is more than merely a Ramones covers band, though New York’s finest’s tunes do still dominate the ladies’ set, they increasingly include many original numbers. Pete Bentham & the Dinner Ladies are always a fun time and I’m keen to check-out Brazil’s Yur Mum’s rough and ready attack.
In Thursday’s Casbah I have my eyes on UK82 legends, The Casulaties, the always watchable The Dwarves and Tocoma, WA’s street punks Noi!se. Taking a name inspired by the most Punk film ever, A Clockwork Orange, the Big Apple’s all-girl quartet, The Devotchkas, are likely to bring the chaos when they arrive in Blackpool; Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions are about as subtle as their name suggests and Geoffrey Oi!cott‘s foray into enemy territory – Lancashire – will be nothing if not a blast. Up in the Opera House, it’s Menace and the Heavy Metal Kids I’ll be most eager to catch.
There’ll likely be a bit of juggling going on as Thursday comes to a close, with Sham in the Empress, and The Warriors in the Arena. I loves me The Last Resort and not only being born from that band, but also name-checking another massively punk rock movie, The Warriors consistently deliver, whether that be on record or on stage. Brazil’s Subalternos are also regular Rebellion contributors and always seem over-joyed to be invited to the party; Tear Up do exactly what it says on the tin and bring that sense of danger in every performance, and I’ll be more prepared this year, and not be distracted by Half Naked Headline‘s name, rather I’ll be able to focus on the music.
After Dark and the Introducing stages have Voodoo Radio who have been picking up some traction about the scene; Creature Creature, who I saw at the Waterloo a few years ago supporting Terrorvision and are certainly worth another look, and Swarf Damage who had a opening slot for Discharge in Wigan back in April.
The main draw for Friday is surely The Stranglers who, if their March show in Manchester was anything to go by, will be one for the ages. Fifty-years of this British institution and the tunes are a fresh today as they were back then. Gogol Bordello are the sort of course of new blood the punk scene needs. Maybe not to everyone’s taste, but certainly a fresh take on the genre. Complete with their Metallica covers, The Anti-Nowhere League need no introduction and have snotty punk anthems aplenty, while Sweden’s The Baboon Show could well come and steal the whole damn show from under our noses with their infectious blend of punk attitude and rock riffs.
The Chisel are anything but subtle and aim to destroy wherever the plug in; Maid of Ace will likely still be buzzing after a successful trip around the country’s stadia with Green Day, and Riskee and the Ridicule have the merging of hard-edged punk and hip-hop beats down to an artform.
The Casbah hosts an embarrassment of riches throughout Friday, with the Steve Ignorant Band Crass Set being a great reminder of one of the scene’s most influential and cited acts. Booze & Glory, Infa Riot and Resistance 77 are not known for their softly-softly approaches; Police Bastard’s anarchic stance is unlikely to win over any rozzers, while it looks left to Isle of Wight three-piece, Grade 2 to bring the sophistication.
Those seated in the Opera House can expect a rousing celtic ending to the day from The Men They Couldn’t Hang, punk princess turned Queen, Toyah and one of Kirk Brandon’s many collectives, The Pack to entertain. The dark gothic sounds of The March Violets may provide shelter the Casbah’s blitzkrieg, as might The Barstool Preacher’s evening acoustic set. Control and Stalag 13 are two to catch my eye from the Arena billing, as well as Destructors 82 and Catalans LA Inquisicion‘s dirty street punk sound.
Saturday in the Empress is heavily loaded for the Oi! crowd, with some of the first chances to hear Cock Sparrer’s new material live. Hand on Heart is the fifty-plus year veterans firing on all cylinders, so it’ll be interesting to see which tunes are in and which have given way. Also, in this plethora of street punk, you’ll find Parisians Lion’s Law, Bishop Auckland’s Gimp Fist, and London hooligans Hard Skin. To break it up are Millie Manders & The Shut Up who’ve been wowing Rebellion audiences for many years and will no doubt wringing the late evening energy out of an already depleted crowd. Death of Guitar Pop will add an alternative dimension to the proceedings as they act as the bridge between MM and Sparrer.
Ohio’s Dead Boys are topping the Casbah on Saturday, with their snotty brand of US punk, ably supported by midland’s ruffians G.B.H. King Kurt will be bringing some semblance of subtlety back to proceedings after The Stupids and Paranoid Visions, while Watford’s Knock Off will continue to make friends at Rebellion with another one of their abrasive and whole lotta fun sets. Welshmen, Pizzatramp don’t give AF, as evidenced last year, when the targets of their ire were (among others) long songs, the M6 and the Foo Fighters. The League of Angry Drunkards, or L.O.A.D., have all manner of thuggish rock n’ roll meets Oi! and will be warming up for their Wigan show over the Bank Holiday later in the month.
The legendary Ruts DC are headlining the Opera House, while Crown Court, The Ejected and Clockwork Psycho among others will be drawing me back to the Arena throughout the day. Early on there’ll be a tribute to Foreign Legion’s late frontman, Marcus Howells, and who can really resist even checking out a band called Daffodildos? The Pavilion is playing host to Air Drawn Dagger who supported Millie Manders et al a few years back, and Vanity Rose & The Band promise to be interesting if Ms Rose’s recorded output is anything to go by.
With backs screaming and feet athrobbin’ Sunday’s offering is pure gold, seeing a bill that would make a grown man weep. Stiff Little Fingers do what SLF do best and will bring the curtain down on Rebellion 2024 in style. Having missed their spring tour, I’m hoping that Belfast lads keep Last Train From the Wasteland in the set for this show. Cockney Rejects are legends and seem to love a trip to the seaside every summer, while The Sweet seek to bring that 70s Glam to town; expect Wig-Wam Bam, Block Buster and, maybe even, Ballroom Blitz to be played. Dirtbox Disco are almost permanent fixtures at the show, Rumkicks from South Korea are always excited to play and are always met with the best of will, and The Attack have the unenviable task of rousing the crowd after a heavy Saturday night.
For the Casbah’s final day I’m certainly looking forward to the always-excellent Conflict, with the legendary band giving the festival an uncompromising send-off of old school anarcho-punk. In from Austin, Texas are street punks, Lower Class Brats, here to show the Americans can Oi! along with the best of British; Russia, by way of Italy, but always a fearsome ball of crackling energy, Sventlanas never give – or demand - anything less than 100%, so their set on Sunday will be no excuse to claim fatigue has set in. We’d better get some endurance training in now! One of my highlights from last year’s show was discovering Norwich Oi! band, On the Huh, and their debut album, A Bit on the Side. This year they’re back and I’ll be better armed when watching as the record was one of my 2023 favourites.
If they hop on a boat from Rhyl, Eighties bit-hitters, The Alarm, will be in Blackpool in no-time, ready for their Opera House headline. Criminal Damage and Convict Class – whose new album, Generations of Discontent will be out by Rebellion – offer a more agitated alternative to Songs of Praise, and The Gakk are another of the festival’s house-bands, and for good reason. And, as for some of the most eye-catching band names are on the Pavilion, I’ll be sure to check out Manchester punk n’ roll quartet, Bruise Control and the London-ladies of Twat Union.
These are just some of the bands across the many Rebellion stages that have caught my eye while browsing the stage times; the reality on the day may be different and I might find myself in a stage and see a band I was unprepared for but who blow my socks off. Keep opened minded and immerse yourself in the wide range of bands on offer has always been my mantra while at this show.
Off course, the above only consider the electric stages, and it must be remembered Rebellion have the Almost Acoustic stage, where artists show another side to their creativity. Across the weekend there will be sets from Carol Hodge, Pauline Murray, Charlie Harper, Jess Silk, Sally Pepper, Jenny Woo, Henry Cluney, Millie Manders, Jonny Robson, Arthur Kitchener, and more; and there’s even some bands ready to switch off the power and go all hippy for a time: The Rampstanpits, Johnny Moped, In Evil Hour, The Outcasts, Los Fastidios, Subalternos, Last Tree Squad, Pete Bentham & The Dinnerladies, and more.
And if that wasn’t enough, when your feet and ears need a rest from the music, how about the Literary stage? Not only are there discussions with prominent members of the Punk scene, like Steve Ignorant, Animal, Kirk Brandon, Pauline Murray, Lee Wilson, Andy Scott, Mike Peters, Arthur Kitchener and Rhoda Dakar; there’s also a panel discussing anarcho punk, a spoken word performance from Attila the Stockbroker, and a showing of the Crass: The Sound of Free Speech film, followed by a Q&A. One that has particularly caught the eye is the session Books, Films & Punk Rock, featuring John King, author of The Football Factory, etc and Trainspotting scribe, Irvine Welsh. That’s surely a must attend on Thursday.
So, Rebellion festival offers four-days of music, fun and frolics, set against the stunning backdrop of the azure-sea and soaring temperatures of the Blackpool shore. What’s not to love?
