Rebellion 2025 – Day 2

Rebellion Day 2

Suitably refreshed after a nights sleep in the bunk beds and a hearty porridge breakfast I am ready for today’s marathons. 

The Kowalskis play a nice rocky tuneful brand of punk. Completely new to me which is another aspect of this fest that is so positive. Turns out the band formed in 1995 and feature a couple of members of AOD who are playing later. A description I heard was the Primitives playing Ramones songs.

Molly Vulpyne band rocked the opera house. It’s only 2 pm and the band captured a huge crowd in the place. Molly is going from strength to strength as she snarls her vocals and the rest of the band grunge around the stage. 

In Evil Hour are best known for their no holds barred full on noise assault and ill of songs of solidarity and world issues. Today it is acoustic as a heavily pregnant Al sings their songs from her seat rather than her usual prowl around the stage. The acoustic versions bring out the tunes and the strength in the vocals with no feedback there to cover up a multitude.  Seeing in evil hour reminded me of how different this festival would be if it was hosted in ireland. While all the bands I have seen very much advocate for a fairer world the message of the horrific events in Gaza has been very muted so far. In evil hour have bucked the trend with a T-shirt proudly advocating for a free Palestine.

Rivalry have all the right ingredients. Heartfelt tunes, some along lyrics and speedy tunes galore. It is that fast paced Leatherface style that grips me. Interesting to see the number of Boots T-shirts and patches around rebellion but yet one of their former members is being ignored by many of those holders of such items. Mackie has some pedigree and rivalry do not disappoint. He could have continued in some sort of blitz covers band and headlined this place instead he is still playing new music and is on the introducing stage. Spectacular, they even sneaked a blitz song in at the end to send us off happy. 

The stage show that is interrobang is made for the opera house. It’s an old school theatre and Dunstan Bruce prowls the stage putting on a show that seeks a free Gaza and proclaims the band to be “as mad as hell”. Plenty of samples in the background as well as drums and guitar it is a lesson in how we can live our lives. This is more than just music you know. The band have created a completely new set to inspire and challenge. 

Ruts DC are back in the opera stage this time stripped down and bare. Acoustic guitars and light drum sticks. It’s a slightly different set to last night but the power from the songs don’t get diminished by the reduction in volume. If anything it comes out more and their heartwarming inspiration continues for another year. 

I go from being blessed to be in the presence of ruts dc to the literary stage where all of Chumbawamba were talking to PA from Paranoid Visions. Humour was strong throughout but this band paved the way for so many others, they broke barriers for many people. I felt so lucky to be listening to these stories. And of course they got to speak about the hit record on the big selling album that their label One Little Indian didn’t want to release. EMI Germany said they would do it so it came out on them.

I sent away for Chumbawambas debut single as a young teenager in Dublin. I waited anxiously for it to arrive and for the record and a 7”from Danbert Nobacon along with a lovely letter. These things matter and i have carried it right through my life, even still writing notes when people send off for our books. 

Another person I used to write to was Andy from instigators. They brought a us hardcore dimension to UK punk and Andy’s stage antics were legendary. Time has stopped that galavanting but tonight on the Casbah stage they had that explosive speed in the songs.  32 years later and the songs are as relevant as ever.  

Passion Killers last played 41 years ago and are back now in the acoustic stage. They sang Songs about the record industry and the arms race and already have a folk element to those songs. I have so many compilation tapes (yep before they were mix tapes they were compilations) with the passion killers on them. Tapes put together as benefits for whatever causes were important that week. These tapes hold a special place in my heart but also formed a life listening and being involved on the outside of music. It was emotional watching the passion killers tonight. A real sense of a community. 

Danbert Nobacon followed with the former Chumbawamba member playing his brand of acoustic country. 

I needed some time to absorb what had just happened so grabbed some food nearby. The queue for the undertones was far too big so I settled into the opera house to see jim Jones. This is rock n roll showcase, on stage Jones is ever the showman. The opposite of the passion killers but they both have a place at this festival. Jones for the entertainment and passion killers for the education, should you need it. 

My final one for the day was the Selector. Their music is feel good music sang with passion and commitment. Pauline Black gets the crows skanking full on. As Friday turned to Saturday I think of those handful of bands playing Rebellion that have not heeded the bds cultural campaign for a boycott of Israel. Those 5 bands played for their reasons but I think of Chumbawamba and the Passion Killers. Making music is more than just entertainment but as the Selector prove it can be very entertaining