Hard Blast - Rebellion Festival

Besides the 150 bands that, in 4 days, shared 5 different stages, the approx 5000 punks attending could also check punk art, including some very cool paintings by Knox, of the Vibrators (who also did an acoustic set), not to mention burlesque shows. For those who saved on booze and wanted to spend money in accessories instead, various stalls were selling – mostly at accessible prices – t-shirts, boots, skirts, piercings, studs, bracelets, fanzines, books, DVDs, CDs, panties, tights, make up, dog leads, key-holders, lighters, you name it.

Too bad I missed The Exploited, Adolescents and Subhumans, as they all played Friday, but Saturday and Sunday totally made it up for it. Goldblade was definitely one of the highlights, with their very catchy songs and sort of ‘stadium rock’ stage presence (singer John Robb, loaded with never-ending energy, wouldn’t let the fire go down). Songs like ‘Do You Believe…’ and ‘Jukebox Generation’, along with new ‘Riot Riot’ really got the crowd singing along the choruses, proving that Goldblade is one of those bands you must see live rather than just by the CD to listen in your room.

Anti-Nowhere League was also really good, with singer Animal being brought on stage, in a wheelchair, by a sexy nurse. The ‘Alice Cooper moment’ ended about 2 minutes later when the intro was over and the band started playing ‘Medication’, from their latest album The Road to Rampton and Animal stood up and kicked the wheelchair away. Although the whole set was good, people went really berserk when they started playing ‘So What’, song that made the band famous (again) after it was re-recorded by Metallica in one of their tribute albums.

The tricky thing about reviewing such a great festival is that many good bands will be left out. On the other hand, there were also some acts that I thought were less exciting, like Californians of Chase Longbeach – specially when they said something between the songs. Poppy punk and ska, if not played with loads of adrenalin, simply doesn’t work out in a punk festival like Rebellion. Then again, that’s just my opinion, since there were a good number of people watching this particular band – and a couple of others of same approach.

Probably the best sequence of bands in the same stage (Arena) was Napalm Death, followed by Agnostic Front and Animals. Napalm Death, as usual, did a killer set, playing songs from almost every album. Agnostic Front came right after, adrenalin-pumping like pit-bulls on crack. Vinnie Stigma is always fun to watch, with his brief speeches in between songs, saying how much he appreciates the loyalty and friendship of the UK hardcore fans. To finish the festival on a high, the new reincarnation of 60s legends Animals couldn’t be a better choice. Having only drummer John Steel as an original member – along with keyboard player Mick Gallagher (who had replaced Alan Price in ’66), guitarist John Williamson and bassist/singer Pete Barton – the band played an amazing set, filled with classics. Pete Barton is an excellent singer and did a great job replacing UK icon Eric Burdon. Some songs, like ‘Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood’, received new versions, even though they weren’t that different from the original. If many songs had their choruses sang along by the varied crowd, the last song of the set, ‘House of the Rising Sun’, was sang along from beginning to end, and brought some people to tears.

If punk does it for you – and you have never been to a Rebellion Festival before – then I strongly suggest you consider booking your next summer holydays in Blackpool.