Back with a bang and bigger than ever Rebellion Festival 2022 bucked the trend of events struggling to get tickets shifted by going big and going bold. They worked alongside the local council to put on an outdoor event titled R-Fest in conjunction with the Winter Gardens staple that saw their capacity effectively double. R-Fest was a huge success encompassing a range of well known acts supported by a hand picked tranche of relative newbies. The main event for many stalwarts though was still the myriad indoor stages which is where Devolution decided to concentrate its fire.
First a few words about R-Fest which was held on the sea front just a five minute walk from the Winter Gardens. Running for the same four days as Rebellion itself and headlined by the Levellers, The Stranglers, Gary Numan and Squeeze. This was a highly popular and often nostalgic stage that sat comfortably next to the punk oriented Rebellion. It also showed off a few younger acts too. In fact one of the stars of R-Fest, Millie Manders And The Shutup kicked the whole thing off with a show that marked them out as potential headliners of the future. It’ll be interesting to see if and how this new stage is developed in the future.
Devolution’s Gary Trueman, Aggy Gillon and Mark Bestford spent their time running around between the stages catching as much action as they could. This is their picks for each day followed by a round up of the best of the rest.
Thursday
Gary’s pick: Suzi Moon – Cometh the hour
Following on from her previous night’s demolition of local club Tache Suzi Moon is a pure force of nature. She’s going out under her own name now after previously fronting Turbulent Hearts and here she sounds absolutely comfortable in her own skin and with the music. The vocals are stunning, the attitude is uber confident and the guitar destruction fits the mood so well. This is a big moment for Moon and she nails it.
Aggy’s pick: Riskee & The Ridicule – The colourful entertainers
One of the earlier bands of the day but make no mistake, these guys know how to pull in and entertain a crowd. Frontman Scott Picking aka Riskee is a true showman, bursting with energy and attitude. His vocal range goes from melodic, hard punk, and rap, each song has its own sound and story. Singing about a range of topics. It’s impossible not to hang on to his every word. To our surprise, they chose to perform their own rendition of ‘Young and Beautiful’ by Lana Del Rey. Hearing such a band and the audience belting it out word for word was a sight to behold.
Mark’s pick: Anti-Flag – The circle of punks
Anti-Flag take to the Empress Ballroom and it’s a full house that keeps getting fuller as people stream in. Even before the first song has finished Chris Barker is in the air and the stage seemingly becomes a trampoline. It’s not long before the call goes out for a circle pit and the crowd is more than happy to oblige. The result is something you would be more likely to see at Download or Bloodstock as the usual chaos associated with punk forms into a huge pit almost as wide as the hall.
The best of the rest: Vulpynes prove all you need for punk is a loud guitar and a set of drums. The anarchy that is Pizza Tramp are loud and dirty and as enjoyable as ever. Svetlanas tear up the Empress Ballroom with their thrashcore punk. Lead vocalist Olga prowled the stage putting on a ferociously animated display. The passion radiates from Penelope Tree with their captivating and emotive lyrics. Dirtbox Disco pull an impressive crowd to the Casbah stage. Donning a ski mask and furry hats in this heat is a brave move. The first of the boys from Brazil Dedo Podre show that punk is truly international and language is never a barrier to a good show. Millie Manders has without a doubt one of the most beautiful voices heard over the weekend on the intimate acoustic stage. Her set is pure class. Slackrr clearly love being on stage together which exudes into their performance. Even the security guards are singing and dancing along. Rocking his custom leather cut-off, the iconic Johnny Moped thrills fans playing classic hits such as ‘Incendiary Device’. The RIS (introducing) stage has Last Edition with some ska infused saxophone punk before Spider take to the Casbah with their high energy punk. Made up of several bands from Bristol Fidget and the Twitchers bring the mayhem. Anti Flag performing an acoustic set is something really special and compliments their sound. Everyone sitting on the floor singing along to ‘This is The End’ is goosebump-inducing. There’s something sincere about the international bands such as Subalternos, another act from Brazil. Panic Shack prove you can mix fun with a serious message. Nine-piece Last Tree Squad have the whole of Pavillion bouncing with their reggae and hip hop beats. Playing an array of instruments including trumpets, saxophones, and trombones they put on an amazing performance. It’s fast, hard and heavy, no messing around from Sick On The Bus. The Circle Jerks have the ballroom heaving. The doors are closed as it’s full to capacity. The front of the crowd, about 20 people deep is a constant surge, punctuated by crowd surfers as the band plays with a frenetic energy. The Bar Stool Preachers are one of those groups knocking on the door to headline one day. Today they shine. It’s still hard to believe that The Skids aren’t a band 20 years younger. More so given that they’re one of the original 1977 punk bands, formed in the wake of the Sex Pistols. They have huge energy, huge songs, and pull a huge crowd.
Friday
Gary’s pick: Tiger Sex – A kitten with claws
Coming across like a reinvention of classic Iggy Pop Tiger Sex stamp their considerable authority all over the Casbah stage, and indeed off of it and above it too. Kelly Chelston sings, screams and owns that stage. Her right hand guitar hero Kei is no slouch in the entertainment stakes either, whirling around like a lunatic. It’s Chelston though that is the lioness here. She is absolute gold, a treasure we need more than ever right now.
Aggy’s pick: Fire Exit – The stalwarts that always deliver
Hailing from bonnie Scotland these seasoned pros show no sign of letting up anytime soon. Founding member Gerry Attrick has been the front man for 45 years and although the line-up has changed over time, the band is solid and delivers a tight set. The performance was full of vibrance which filled the air. Many of the audience were dancing and everyone was full of smiles. Clearly lots of older fans are in attendance they definitely made many new ones too at Rebellion. An incredibly fun set and here’s to many more!
Mark’s pick: Ignite – The punk to metal heroes
Ignite show where the line between thrash and punk is drawn, looking more like a metal band they bring their Orange County punk to the Casbah, in fact they bring it all including a cover of U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday. The transformation is down to new singer Eli Santana, guitarist for Holy Grail, who makes the role his own. They haven’t forgotten their hardcore roots though as the guitarist climbs the barrier to play among the fans and before the end he’s joined by Eli in the centre.
The best of the rest: It’s classic, hard and heavy early on from Battalion Zoska and they do the job better than a cup of coffee for wake up duties. Taking influence from acts such as Green Day and Rise Against Change Persona bring their fresh melodic sound to the festival. Bite Me prove they have the teeth to play again next year with luck. Migrana Social opens up the Casbah and the front of the crowd is certainly awake now. The Empress Ballroom hosts three clowns from Guadalupe. The Bolokos have a stand-in drummer for the show but you wouldn’t know to hear them. It’s a modern mix of French Caribbean zouk music and punk that puts smiles on everyone’s faces. Broken Cuffs from California are full of energy on stage, with the singer/guitarist pogoing around like it’s the 70s again. IDestroy have had a punk makeover. The girls from Bristol have long been Devolution favourites for their high energy catchy songs and it’s no different today as they own the stage. Miss Fragile shows her beautiful voice off to a tee on the acoustic stage. Belfast punks Takers n Users fill the Pavilion. They’re suitably noisy and with an attitude you’d expect for Northern Irish punks. It’s Oi! ahoy! Newtown Neurotics are one of a wave of political bands that formed in the wake of Thatcher’s government in ‘79 and the angry tone of the songs go down well in the crowd. Booze and Glory get a raucous reception in the Ballroom. Who knew songs about drinking could be so popular, and with not a pirate in sight. Berlin-based band Church of Confidence have more of a Rock n’ Roll sound than your usual bands of the weekend. With their punkish flair added to the mix, they go down well and fit right in. People are crowd surfing and absolutely losing it during Spunk Volcano and the Eruptions performance. A song you can’t get out of your head is ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’. Playing hit after hit, The Professionals have people of all ages swaying to the beat. Their upbeat and unforgettable anthems teamed with a cracking performance are the perfect addition to any afternoon. Duo Yur Mum make a hell of a fine noise. Hung Like Hanratty clearly don’t take themselves seriously and put on a fun show. Anarcho Punk legends Subhumans bring their outspoken and candid performance out in full force. Singing about social and animal rights issues, this band still have a lot of fight in them after all these years. Teamed with their new singer, Blockheads put on a stellar performance. Sham69 have everyone jumping with hits such as ‘Hurry Up Harry’. You can never go wrong seeing legendary acts like these guys.
Saturday
Gary’s pick: Bob Vylan – A superstar moment
What a performance this is! Upgraded from the always going to be too small Arena to the cavern that is Empress, Vylan is mesmerising. Crisp vocals, powerful lyrics and a capacity crowd going mental make this a historic moment for Rebellion. The festival deserves a big pat on the back for the booking. The end of the set sees the stage invaded by fans who wash over the barrier like a tsunami of flesh. Bob Vylan take a bow – Stadiums could well be beckoning.
Aggy’s pick: Gary Numan – The powerhouse
Numan knows how to constantly reinvent himself while keeping his core fans happy and by his side. Playing tracks from his latest concept album ‘Intruder’ the stage show and sound were incredibly atmospheric and brooding. Dressed in all black, and the band in kilts, they have quite a dark, industrial gothic vibe. Watching Numan feels like watching musical history, he is a true star. Not to let anyone down, of course, the much-beloved hits are played too. During songs such as the iconic ‘Cars’ the lighting and mood brightens, reflecting the more upbeat tracks. Unsurprisingly Numan pulls an audience to be proud of and the stage setup is perfect to host this powerhouse.
Mark’s pick: Exploited – The grinning maniac
It’s hard to choose between Exploited and Angelic Upstarts for the best show of the day but Exploited just pip the Upstarts to the post. Wattie’s health has always been at the forefront of people’s minds, having had to pull out just a few years ago due to another heart attack. He’s on fine form on today. While the crowd is suitably chaotic Wattie struts the stage with a huge grin, his trademark red Mohican standing straight up. As always the show ends with the traditional stage full of fans singing along.
The best of the rest: Never judge a book by its cover, Piss Kitti’s front woman graces the stage looking like butter wouldn’t melt in her pretty white babydoll dress but her performance is as far from a delicate wallflower as you can get. A fiery set both lyrically and musically. LA hardcore band Dead 77 play to a packed audience who clearly love their music. The Casbah makes it 3 for 3 for Gizz Butt who plays his 3rd gig at Rebellion this weekend this time with the Destructors. The Lee Harvey’s bring the art of the protest song to the crowd. While the band may not be the oldest the sound is a classic 80s style punk. Gogoponies bring a touch of Italian class and style to the RIS. The Webb might be at the wrong festival with their electro goth vibe but but have a ball none the less. Punks it turns out love some dance music. Los Fastidios get the party mood going with their Italian oi! Sheffield hardcore punks the Mau Maus are back after over 30 years and their anti-war ethic is no less diminished given current events. Geordies Crashed Out take over with a great set of high octane music. There’s anarchy in the Casbah as Chaotic Dischord live up to their name. It’s a band that harks back to the days when punk was angry just for the sake of it. Clearly not a fan of Margaret Thatcher and her ilk, Paranoid Visions sample ‘The Wicked Witch is Dead’ before tearing into politicians for being ‘scum’ and ‘leeches’. This seems to go down well with the crowd being met with plenty of cheering. Everyone falls in love with Rumkicks. They are adorable while managing to play speed pop punk with sublime skill. Rabies Babies have a time and a place for both meaningful songs and party anthems. Even when singing about serious issues such as sexism and equality they have smiles beaming from ear to ear. This band embodies everything that Punk Rock stands for in this new era. Lady Rage bring their fierce fun, and water pistols. The first front three rows did indeed get wet as advertised. Midwich Cuckoos are a progressive act that prove you can experiment and still hold an audience captive. Sex Gang Children bring their own brand of gothic post-punk. They contribute to the variety of acts on display over the weekend magnificently. Rebellion staples 999 brings the class of ‘77 to the Empress Ballroom. Sudor Obrero seem to have brought half of Chile with then to the Introducing stage. Staying with the RIS it’s Himnos from Mexico. There’s a strong contingent of international oi! bands and there’s a lot of love in the crowd for them. The Empress Ballroom holds a memorial fit for a punk as the Angelic Upstarts celebrate a tribute to Mensi. It’s notable for one of two performances from Rum Lad over the weekend. It’s also suitably chaotic and loud, while remaining a poignant reminder of what the punk world has lost. Where GBH skirted the boundary of thrash and hardcore Discharge simply slams it into the ground. Brutally heavy they destroy the Casbah. It’s legends night with Cockney Rejects, GBH and Cock Sparrar all playing their unique part in proceedings. You feel that each outing they make should be treated as something special because they won’t be around forever.
Sunday
Gary’s pick: Dee Skusting And The Rodents – Proper honest punk rock
A toss up between Maid Of Ace and Dee Skusting And The Rodents was settled with the timely intervention of Devo’s Aggy Gillon plumping for the Elliot sisters. Dee Skusting make a hell of a fantastic racket. They’re the face of punk rock right now and they sound fantastic. Quality musicianship sits in a frame that isn’t complex but does allow for experience to shine. Dee’s vocals are snarled beautifully. As honest a band as you’ll find all weekend.
Aggy’s pick: Maid of Ace – Gobby punks you just love
The four sisters that make up Maid of Ace deliver a fast-paced and punchy performance on the final night of Rebellion. With their heavy vocals and even heavier guitars, they blow the roof off. There was crowd surfing aplenty and drinks flowing free, they deliver a hard-partying atmosphere full of excitement and adrenaline. Each member hold their own and worked flawlessly together delivering an impressive set. Their sound is fresh and just what is needed to keep Punk Rock alive and kicking. One track titled ‘Live Fast or Die’ perfectly encapsulates the vibe of Maid of Ace. Their music and performance are like a giant middle finger to anyone who dares to claim Punk is dead.
Mark’s pick: U.K. Subs – Always the crowd favourites
You’d assume that the crowd were too tired from 3 days of punk looking at some of the crowd reactions over the day, but no, they’ve simply been saving themselves for one band. From the start to the finish the front erupts, a maelstrom a good 20 feet deep and the security on barrier duty are kept busy with crowd surfers. Charlie doesn’t even need to turn his mic on for Limo Life or Warhead as the roar of the crowd drowns him out. By the end of the show everyone at the front is drenched in everyone else’s sweat. There are no broken bones but plenty of bruises will be showing in the morning
The best of the rest: It’s kilts and bagpipes as the Cundeez play. The lead singer looks about ready to toss a caber as he struts on stage. Casbah stage rocks to Bad Ass who are almost jaunty on stage. One of the songs even steals a riff from Inspector Gadget. American Oi band Patriot are still kicking ass and rocking the Skinhead lifestyle after 30 years. With an eclectic sound featuring slapping bass and thrashing guitars, it’s clear their influences are varied making them sound still totally unique. The Derellas play some good old fashioned glam for the crowd. It’s a good set despite guitar issues for Jez Miller who somehow keeps unplugging his guitar. Acidez play a good show despite the singer almost losing his voice in the process. Random Hand’s singer spends the whole show bouncing around like he’s on springs, when he’s not got his trombone out (no it’s not a euphemism). There’s feedback issues between songs for Ultra Sect but they don’t seem to care, they’ve come all the way from the US and intend to have some fun. . Taking their musical cues from the late 70’s The Insane get the crowd dancing along nicely. Death Trails follow up their success at last year’s Hits 25 with another wonderful show. The Folk punks Black September are clearly influenced by the early space rock pioneers such as Hawkwind with lots of heavy synths. Chelsea soon get the crowd singing along. Conflict deal in angry music for angry people. Is that Fi from Dragster as second vocalist? It sure is. Citizen Fish keep the audience on their toes with their Ska- punk and reggae ballads. Sharing some members with Subhumans they’ve prove they have many strings to their talented bow. Doyle is a presence in every sense. His band bring something very different to what is already a wide ranging event. Cro-Mags are a band that certainly sound more thrash than punk with guitar riffs that put Metallica to shame. Imagine if Lars Ulrich had formed a band with Kerry King instead? Heavy as fuck. Stiff Little Fingers close out the Empress Ballroom on the final night. It’s a great set that seems like it’s building up to something bigger, and that finally explodes in the finale Alternative Ulster. Incorporating tambourines and melodic riffs into their performance, Blackpool’s very own The Membranes close the final night of the festival in style.
Of course the fans play a big part in Rebellion too. It’s a colourful and inclusive place that prides itself on its family oriented vibe.
With six music stages, a literary platform and more merch than you could ever wish for Rebellion remains the flagship punk festival on the globe. The really clever thing that Jennie Russel-Smith and Darren Russel-Smith have done is to keep ahead of the game. Music is changing and festivals need to move with the times, even ones that to a certain extent deal in a little nostalgia. Rebellion Festival is moving fast to cater for an even more diverse group of fans. Punk has progressed and this fantastic festival has progressed with it. Long may it carry on.
Review by Gary Trueman, Aggy Gillon and Mark Bestford
Photos by Gary Trueman