The UK’s biggest punk gathering is happening again this August in the Winter Gardens in Blackpool for the 23rd year of Rebellion Festival. From the 3rd – 5th of August, over 280 bands from across the globe will collide into the historic Winter Gardens for one of their strongest and most versatile line-ups to date. From acts like The Damned, Henry Rollins, Descendents, Steel Pulse, Bob Vylan, Neville Staples from The Specials, The Exploited, New Model Army, Rebellion Festival proves to be an integral weekend for alternative music fans of all ages, tastes and from all sides of the globe.
NDR are delighted to be covering this years festival. Here’s a few of the many acts who we’re looking forward to:
Gang Green (Thursday)
Gang Green are an American punk rock band originally from Braintree, Massachusetts. Chris Doherty, Bill Manley and Mike Dean. The band was influential in the formation of the East Coast hardcore punk scene, and went on to become one of the forerunners of crossover thrash and speed metal in the late 1980s. From brutal hardcore punk to some kind of bubblegum pre stage of skate punk, expect an explosive fast paced set from one of the most exciting bands to come from the Boston scene.
Descendents (Thursday)
Formed in L.A’s South Bay in 1978 by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson. The band recruited vocalist Milo Aukerman in 1980 and vegan establishing themselves as major players in the Southern California Punk movement. This is when the Punks decided to stay out of politics, and worry about the important stuff ditching school to go skateboarding to the arcade, to score some babes, and to take some drugs. Fuelled by their coffee addictions and adolescent humour, Descendents gave birth to sub-genres now called ‘pop-punk’ and ‘melodic punk’ through their wide spanning discography cementing them as punk legends.
Henry Rollins (Friday)
Vocalist and frontman of the legendary Hardcore punk band Black Flag, Henry Rollins will performing his spoken word at Rebellion this year. Following the Black Flag’s breakup, he established the record label and publishing company 2.13.61 to release his spoken word albums, and formed the Rollins Band, which toured with a number of lineups from 1987 to 2006. Rollins brings the same intensity to his spoken word performances as he did to fronting a band, so expect the delivery to still be extreme.
On his latest tour ‘Good To See You 2023’ Henry will faithfully recount the events of his life in the brief pre-covid period since the last tour and when things got even stranger over the last several months. It’s been an interesting time to say the least and he’s got some great stories to tell.
“I’m looking forward to being part of Rebellion Festival this year,” says Rollins. “I will be on my own, no band, just me speaking. Perhaps the lowest volume performance of the entire event!”
Bob Vylan (Sunday)
After being told their first EP was ‘too extreme’ by the music industry, Bob Vylan self-released their debut album ‘We Live Here’ in an ear-splitting contribution in the fight for equality. The London based duo combine grime with punk rock and upheave such issues as racism, police violence, unequal income distribution, gentrification. Bob Vylan are one of the most exciting modern bands to come out of the UK in the past century.
D.R.I (Sunday)
D.R.I (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles) are an American crossover thrash band hailing from Houston, Texas formed in 1982. The band are known for their riotous mix of thrash metal and hardcore punk, and have been consistently active since they formed, led by the sole constant members guitarist Spike Cassidy and vocalist Kurt Brecht.
Don’t miss one of the most exciting and exhilarating weekends of alternative music in the North of the UK!
Day and weekend tickets available here: http://www.rebellionfestivals.com/tickets
Head to www.rebellionfestivals.com for more information.
Rebellion Festival is an ALL AGES, family friendly event and children under 12 are admitted free of charge (accompanied by an adult).
More information and tickets are available at:
Website: www.rebellionfestivals.com
Twitter: @rebellionfest
