Rebellion 2025 – Day 4

Rebellion Day 4

If you’ve ready any of the previous rebellion encounters I’ve written you may remember that Blackpool holds a special place in my heart. It was a holiday destination for my mam, my dad and I. I guess my older brothers version of a holiday was one where their parents or baby brother weren’t at home.  

Blackpool was the first place I visited that was outside ireland. I had gone there probably 4 times before going anywhere else out of the country. It was the only place outside the country that I went on holidays with my folks. My Mam loved it. We went a few times ourselves. Just the 2 of us. We travelled over in many different ways, plane via Manchester, plane direct, car ferry, boat and train and then boat and bus. We stayed in one place in particular whenever we could. That was on Palatine Road across the road from where I’m staying now. I’ve traipsed the streets and prom. I’ve gone to see the football team. I’ve traveled on the tram many times. The membranes are a band that have a special place in my heart. Their hometown? Blackpool. So when I’m at rebellion I think of those trips. Of seeing the angelic upstarts in the Blackpool bier keller and playing bingo with My Mam. Two years ago today she passed away. I think of her hourly and she would love me being here. Regardless of anything else.

So it’s an emotional day and then rebellion is finishing today. Another year done. So it’s either the end of one year or the beginning. Forget about your calendar. The year starts or ends with Rebellion.. 

Irish band 50 foot woman kick start it all off for me on the rebellion introducing stage. Today’s stage is curated by Loud Women so it’s great that it has an intentional dimension. Loud hardcore is always nice to hear. 

I move on to Clobber and hope their rhetoric is just that. They are from London where the air quality is supposedly better and play a song called Tottenham Court Road “for the boys”. Not sure they mean the hardcore band. They play fast paced aggressive street punk with the London accent leading the way. 

There’s a lot more walking sticks going round. Accessible seating areas are in all the venues and it’s noticeable that some people’s hearing is starting to go. Thankfully the memories aren’t fading too much but we need to capture this tales while people can still remember them. It counts a bit ominous but you are talking events of nearly 50 years ago. 

Joey Keithley has led such an interesting life and it was great to hear his story of a young punk starting off in Burnaby in Canada. DOA’s first single came out in 1978. They got gigs by writing to people and asking for gigs. No agents, no internet. Just the band and their guitars. This gave a fascinating insight into his background and life. The band have played over 4500 gigs so there’s a lot to get through.  

Steve ignorant talks about 10 songs hat inspired him. These are

West side story, Toots and the maytals, Burt Bacharach, goldfinger theme, Manfred man, David Bowie, The Clash Joni Mitchell, Buddy St Marie grandmaster flash 

This was an interview with a difference and a very interesting insight into the former Crass lead vocalist.

HR was a struggle of an interview. We tried to get some insight into his life but getting info from him was torturous. 

Grade 2 packed a punch in the empress. 3 lads blasting our street punk with less aggression than others but no less energy.  I got a small vibe of TJ from Bar Stool Preachers from bassist and lead vocalist Sid. He was confident and reminded people of the name many times and really engaged with the audience.

DI have the west coast hardcore sound they created in the early 80’s and still blast it out as good as ever. 

As I said yesterday Bar stool preachers are my guilty pleasure. Think Cock Sparrer as a 7 piece mixed with some ska sounds and an enigmatic front man and you might get Bar Stool Preachers. It’s a big sing along party but always with a feeling of community deep down. For an hour everyone in the room are as one, feeling the love and spreading it. Near the end TJ hints that the band may not be at rebellion next year or even ever. Not sure how that will pan out but if you could bottle the love in the room and spread it around it would immediately bring peace to the world. I know it’s corny. I’m tired and emotional. 

DOA are another band that won’t have too many appearances at festivals left. Joey is losing his hearing but it doesn’t affect the set tonight. Canadian hardcore veterans they may be but this set explodes right throughout. At this stage they sure have more energy than me. 

Watching TSOL after seeing DI and DOA is a difficult challenge. The previous 2 had more tunes and less rock and that’s what works for me. Great to see TSOL drawing a big crowd to the empress as many of us are starting to wilt. One in 20 people must be limping at this stage. Hopefully that’s not a sign of things to come. 

I venture down to Millie Manders and the Shut up and everyone is on their feet dancing and partying to the sounds. A Palestinian flag flies proudly on the stage for the last band I see in the festival. Interesting that there was very little talk overall of what’s going on but some bands still ring true. 

Now it’s time to be productive.