Rebellion 2026 Day 2

Porridge really is the Queen of breakfasts. Some berries, nuts and a bit of yogurt to top it all off with. Blackpool is home to many dodgy accommodation including the one I’m in but it’s my dodgy for the 4 days and I return annually to my self catering 1970s paradise. It’s great to get up whenever you want to a home Made Breakfast. It prepares you mentally for the day ahead.

Split Dogs are getting popular and today I see them twice. In the Literary stage and then on the main stage in the Empress. They brought their firebrand rock and roll to that stage very well.

I got the start of Fantazmaz, a full blown rock punk assault to wake up anyone who was still feeling the effects of the late night the previous evening.

There was a real clash as Bitzy was playing the same time as 50 foot Woman and Emily Flea. I tried to show some Irish loyalty Bitzy played, still as angry after all these years so I moved on and went for 50 foot woman. I will catch Bitzy in Dublin next time. It’s impressive that a band who have yet to release a record are on the Arena stage which is where 50 foot Woman played. Great tunes in their punk rock. Full of energy but not over fast in the pop punk way, more rock less pop I guess. I really enjoyed the Limerick 4 pieces set.

I catch a couple of Meryl Streeks label mates, Club Brat, songs and drift away to listen to Marco Pironni on the Literary stage. I Kind of wish I hadn’t. He was promoting a book he “hasn’t read” and was a difficult interviewee. Full of interesting tales though.

John Otway and Wild Billy Barrett are names I remember as they played in Slane Castle supporting The Police back in the 80s. I wasn’t there but experienced the gig (and many other back then) vicariously through my brother who went through their stage antics way more than their songs.

Rivalry are just brilliant. It was great to see them back again complete with Blitz cover at the end.

I set off to the Opera House to see Radical architects playing the songs of Poison Girls Hex album, another band whose first dublin gig I also experienced vicariously through my brother. Can any band play another bands record and sound like them, and should they? This was a bit more rockier than my memory of Poison Girls and while Molly Vulpyne did a great job singing Vi Subversa songs it was such a difficult task. Poison Girls were hugely influential and a one off. Radical architects promised this would be a one off but my guess is people will want to hear this again.

Meryl Streek is driving forward and as angry as ever. The two pronged approach of backing tape and live drummer really works to drive the beat as Meryl spits out words and reflections on society. It must feel like something of a home town gig for him as many of the faces that would be at a Dublin gig are here for this. He wasn’t helped by the sound in the Casbah room but coped very well.

I missed TV Smith in the Empress as I popped in to see Versaints and couldn’t leave. I was blown away by the racket they were playing. Post post hardcore punk or whatever. Some discordant rhythms, plenty of noise and some tunes below this was a refreshing attack away from rock n roll What a refreshing blast of excitement. MY new favourite new band.

A little pop into the acoustics room to see Last Tree squad. 8 people on stage complete with brass section with a nice Funky reggae feel. A nice distraction from the trebley noise that preserved the day and will follow into the night.

Goldblade are back playing sporadic gigs and they are still a joyous affair. We pledge our allegiance to Rock’n’Roll as a collective.

I,Doris are becoming a very welcome part of the Rebellion furniture and Bar stool preachers acoustic is the biggest sing along so far. Calling it an acoustic set is a bit of a stretch of the truth. Fake news almost. There’s an acoustic guitar but the rest of the band is drums, keyboards and bass and plenty of noise. I sang along at the top Of my voice

Puncturists were in the Pavilion and gave a very solid performance. Good post punk rock noise, you should give them a listen.

Back to the Opera House for the fourth time today. lena Lovich has lost none of her vocal range and wailed tunefully through her set. I enjoyed it a lot more than I was expecting, almost as if they were opening an art gallery on behalf of the Au Pairs.

For old times sake I popped my head into see Sham 69, for the first time in a long time I got to see some trouble brake out. Just like the good old days eh!!! I guess this is not what we fought the punk wars for. I like the songs but the machines of it all leaves me cold so I troop home in my sweaty T-shirt in the cold wondering why such good songs can bring out the worst in some people. I guess they are angry at the wrong people.

niallhope