Tag: festival

Rebellion 2026

~ Sue ~ 1 Comment

So after quite a few years of not attending, this year I decided to go back to Blackpool for Rebellion Festival. For those who don’t know, Rebellion is the biggest punk music festival in the UK, that has been running in some iteration for 30 years. Over 300 bands, 9 stages, 4 days, all based at Blackpool’s legendary Winter Gardens venue.

The Rebellion banner on Blackpool’s Winter Gardens

Every year, organisers blow it out the park by attracting some of the best music artists in the punk world. Older, more established bands like The Stranglers, and Stiff Little Fingers, appear along side newer bands like A Murder of Crows and Aftrshocks. The scene is not only alive, it is thriving. Growing and developing.

Blackpool Tower flying the Rebellion flag.

There were so many good bands playing. Barstool Preachers and Cockney Rejects have to be 2 of my favourites. But Choking Susan, Shanghai Treason, Anti-Nowhere League, Sham 69, Cock Sparrer, Los Fastidios, UK Subs,Citizen Fish, Cro-Mags, and Discharge were notable performances. Then you have Fife/ Dundee representation with Aftrshocks, EX-, A Murder of Crows, and Dave Delinquent. Which was bloody fantastic to see, and they all got a pretty decent crowd.

Shanghai Treason, some banjos for a wee change.

The people are what make Rebellion. I spend most of my time going around the festival myself, and I spoke to people from all over the shot. Folk from the USA, Mexico, Japan, Croatia, Poland, Germany, and obviously from all over the UK. It doesn’t just stay in the Winter Gardens though. It was glorious sunshine, and folk sat around outside enjoying cans of beer from the nearby Co-op. And all the nearby pubs ran punk gigs as well, as part of the fringe festival. In fact, Radio Chip Pan, another great Fife band, played in the fringe festival. Everyone seemed to get in the spirit, with the pubs putting up decorations, and DJs playing hours of various punk music.

It was a fantastic weekend, and I want to go next year. It is a shame I don’t have many pictures, because I floated up near the back. Where I could stand under the air-con, and have a wee dance. I can never see unless I’m right at the front anyway, so may as well have some fun.

Rebellion Fest– See You Soon Blackpool

~ Sue ~ Leave a comment

So, tonight is ‘get ready’ night, because tomorrow I am away down to Blackpool until Monday night. Which is great, I need some time away.
I am away down to Rebellion Festival, a punk festival held at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. It is the highlight of my year, and there is always some amazing bands there. Bands going that I want to see include:
*The Exploited
*GBH
*The Restarts
*The Guilty Pleasures
*Middle Finger Salute
*The Creepshow
*Anti-Nowhere League
*Cock Sparrer
*The Business
*Sonic Boom Six
*The Damned
*The Beat
*999
*The Bouncing Souls
*Goldblade
*Pennywse
*The Dickies
*The Vibrators
*The Varukers
*Street Dogs
*Old Firm Casuals (feat Lars from Rancid)
*Infa Riot
*The Meteors
*Slaughter & The Dogs

Just ckecked the timing, and I may have to make a choice between one band and another.
Going to be so good though.

Almost Normal

~ Sue ~ Leave a comment

I kind of touched on this yesterday, but I love the feeling of normality that you get around people who are similar to yourself. The feeling that I’m not strange for liking the things that I do.

When I’m at this festival (Rebellion punk festival), I am not as out-there as some of the people here. Its a strange feeling, that as soon as I walk out out the venue and onto the street, out come the stares and whispered comments. The reactions themselves don’t bother me as much as they used to, in fact I get a sense of satisfaction about it. But sometimes its nice to not have bitchy whispering behind my back. I like that there is no negativity that comes with me being myself.

How much does that say about our society? We are encouraged to be ourselves, but then mocked for doing so. People are still so closed up in their opinions of others that they get all defensive when they see someone act differently to themselves. But this festival, there is none of that. The place is so friendly, and anyone is welcome. Be yourself because that is what punk is about, and to me, festivals like this celebrate that fact.

Forget the trends, fuck what anyone else says, listen to good music and unashamedly be yourself.

Have a good Friday everybody.