We awake to a lack of hangovers but deep regret over the late night food choices on our stumble back to the hotel, but relatively unscathed we are ready for a stacked second day of Rebellion Festival. We have somehow invoked the Blackpool Inverse Weather System, when we commit to breakfast outside at the excellent Compass Cafe, it rains, and when then seek shelter in a corporate coffee chain, the sun comes out, we are just thankful that Rebellion is indoors. The 12pm doors policy means we have some time to review the list for must-sees and want-to-sees. The problem is, everyone you meet recommends a band or tells you how brilliant that band you couldn’t see the day before was. There’s a moment of unhappy irony as we wait in the Rose & Crown as the news silently relays Israel’s plan for a complete military takeover of Gaza while Penetration‘s Don’t Dictate plays on the jukebox.

We head in early to catch Death Trails in the Casbah Stage after their impressive impromptu acoustic set at Manchester Punk Festival earlier this year. It’s a tough early slot in the cavernous Casbah and the sound hasn’t improved. Death Trails transcend these limitations to deliver a blistering set of raucous, passionate punk rock probably better suited to a darker, later, more intimate setting. A mighty noise full of fire and fury and an adrenaline boost to kick off the day. Recommended and much better than this venue and time slot would suggest they are.

We head into a voyage into the unknown on the Introducing Stage for Two Tonne Machete. Inspired by an early morning YouTube search of bands we haven’t encountered before, we’re here for the strident alt fuelled set that recalls the height of the likes of 90’s great such as L7 and Magnapop but delivered with a heaviness and fury that suits their name, although the band’s sound is at odds with the summery shirts and singer Emily’s ‘Ferrero Rocher’ dress (her words not ours). Two Tonne Machete‘s sound is like being hit by said weapon full on in the gut, a powerful vocal onslaught with a sound that gave you nowhere to hide. The Introducing Stage is doing exactly what it says on the programme, another band we look forward to catching again in the future. 

From the intro music and the lighting, you know from the outset that Desperate Measures are going to deliver a show, not just a set. The curse of the early afternoon set appears to have been broken too as the Opera House fills up steadily ahead of their appearance. Desperate Measures are super-tuneful, polished punk rock with an emphasis on the rock. Super slick with bags of charisma and enthusiastically received by the Opera House crowd, they end the set with a version of The Stooges‘ I Wanna Be Your Dog’ which would have been endorsed by Iggy Pop himself. No unnecessary banter, just straight ahead punk rock with a huge slice of attitude.

When you take your name from an extraordinary grammatical mark, you really need to be extraordinary to live up to it. Interrobang are known for their intensity and a substantial Opera House audience has gathered to witness this performance. Synths pulse and loop, found sound reverberates and what follows is a coiling, throbbing set of electronically-driven agitrock. Rock show or art event? It doesn’t matter. Free Palestine gets a ripple of approbation, Tiocfaidh ár lá doesn’t raise an eyebrow. When Kneecap are getting banned everywhere for much the same thing, it shows that these currents run through many channels, some more visible than others. To answer our own question, Interrobang are extraordinary, no question. Punk is a broad church. Worship where you will.

Upstairs in the slightly surreal surroundings of the Almost Acoustic Stage, Penelope Houston is playing a stripped back and spellbinding set ahead of The Avengers appearance in The Opera House later today. Accompanied by Greg Ingraham & Hector Penalosa she plays a set that is drawn not only from the vintage punk releases, but also from her solo numerous solo recordings, including the Billie Joe Armstrong co-written The Angel & The Jerk. Due to the time limitations of a festival set we get tracks that usually part of The Avengers set but aren’t making the cut tonight, including the increasingly relevant USSA.

The next band that caught our attention on the Introducing Stage was a young and keen Sumwot, you were left in no doubt that the was more than likely their biggest gig so far. They had recently changed their name from Sumwotgrrrl and you could actually hear the Riot Grrrl in the sound, so not sure why the change. Who cares if the gender of the person actually singing may not fit the name, regardless, this was a powerful and soul engaging set from a band with energy to spare.

Those who saw the electric set from Ruts DC last night were full of joy as the set list had had a bit of a shakeup, so we’re keen to see if this feeds through to the acoustic set. Kicking off with Something That I Said, the set meanders through the years. As ever, the acoustic rendering doesn’t diminish the power and intensity of these songs. Ruts DC are consummate performers, there’s no sign of Dave Ruffy‘s recent knee tribulations and the whole ensemble is tight and flawless. It’s an intimate and affecting set, received rapturously by what must be a full house. Dub reggae meets old school Ruts in one seamless timeless tapestry.

Meanwhile Riskee And The Ridicule are appearing in the Empress Ballroom. When you first hear this band live you might be forgiven for thinking “oh just another Oi band”, but that would so far from the truth, like Lands End to John O’Groats far. If any of you were there in that room this Rebellion Friday, then you’ll fully get just how much this was a lesson in how to give your all to an audience. The Grime/HipHop/Punk/Metal influences act like a net that embraces everyone in the crowd and throws them into the frenzy that this band create. The anger is real, but this is targeted aggression at everything wrong with the industry and establishment, just listen to Body Bag and you’ll get it.

After a swift dart for espresso martini and pizza to revive us we head down into the Empress Ballroom to catch the end of Save Ferris‘ set of upbeat ska punk, which is as reviving as any hit of caffeine. With a set of vintage Orange County ska punk, including Reel Big Fish‘s She Has A Girlfriend Now, that was sparky front woman Monique Powell‘s first recording, and a ska’d up version of Dead Kennedys‘ Too Drunk To Fuck. She may be the last original member skanking but the original spirit of Save Ferris is alive and well, they of course finish with their rousing version of Dexy’s Midnight Runners‘ Come On Eileen. Part ska punk, part burlesque, part cabaret, all fabulous.

The Introducing Stage is where we at The Punk Site feel at home, listening to new and exciting music never gets boring. This time it was Skunkworm, a band from somewhere outside London we believe, with only one song out there in the streaming world, this is quite obviously a live band who enjoy what they do. The gig they did before Rebellion was apparently in the woods to about 20 friends, so to see and hear them set a fire underneath this The Introducing Stage was just heart warming. Burst is the only song name that stuck with us, but it was so fitting, as this is the moment when they may do exactly that, burst out into the world with there heavier than heavy Indie Punk sound. You felt this might be the moment they needed, watch this space, that’s all we can say.

Here we are again, this is as you might have noticed, going to be pretty much our second home for Rebellion, The Introducing Stage just blows up stuff that needs blowing up. Sunk are another testament to this, the Nottingham duo don’t smash down doors when it comes to originality, but they do It on their own terms and the crowd never once left them. Their pure Punk sound is done in a way that draws you into the sweatiness and noise they create, which can be intoxicating in its own way.  After leaving the stage with the guitar and engaging with the crowd directly on the floor, they sealed the connection totally, this was music that’s driven and knows where it wants to go! Ahead our first foray into the literature stage we explore the Arts & Crafts Market, we encounter Colourful Crochet By Mae, whose offerings include some rather wonderful knitted kittens, that obviously appealed to our resident cat botherer Phinky, and our friends from Apocalypse Days & Other Heart-Warming Stories and their striking collages, we will explore further another day as a pressing question has to be answered.

The burning question tormenting us since the line ups were finalised has been “what the fuck is Mike Batt doing at a punk festival?” Given that Chris Spedding is also here, we cheekily suggested that a Wombles reunion might be on the cards. We were nearly right, Chris Spedding is in the audience and Mike’s stories focus on the highs and lows of wombledom. Mike Batt is an engaging and self-effacing raconteur and host John Robb leads him gently into the timeline that gave us the furry hits of the 70s. Curiosity satisfied, he also has a book out. For younger and non uk readers, The Wombles were animated cloth puppets who tidied up after humans and had a couple of spin off hit singles in the 1970s. Straight from Mike Batt‘s stories to the Opera House where there is no rubbish to be found, only gold. Immaculate ’77 credentials are not the reason to see The Avengers. The reason to see them is they still deliver balls out heavy duty rock ‘n roll with passion and panache. Age does not mean dated, make no mistake, some of the up-and-comers could learn from this band. This was a set that soared and given the density of big name UK headliners on offer this Friday night, this big and enthusiastic Opera House crowd have made a good choice and The Avengers treat us to an American Punk masterclass that looks effortless. We love it.

It’s now 10pm and we are not even at the headliners yet, although The Undertones can and have headlined many many gigs in their long career. What can you say in a review about a band that have been on the circuit for many many years, and had more words than we could ever imagine written about them. The room was packed out and even the hardest of hardcore Punks could be seen singing along and enjoying every second. We then descend once more into the Club Casbah for Ferocious Dog, without any preamble they amble onto the stage and launch a salvo of high velocity Celtic rock. Part trad, with whistle, fiddle and occasional banjo and mandolin overlaying a tough guitar, bass and drums. The sound is much improved from the dull roar of earlier Club Casbah sets. The vocals are lost in the mix but it’s safe to assume the usual Celtic rock themes are present. Best of all, these guys know how to lift a crowd. It’s impossibly fast and literally ferocious and then heartbreakingly plaintive, evoking the very best romantic traditions of Irish music. Party time and then some.

The Damned at Rebellion again!, and why the heck not, after a brief but successful full reunion tour that involved the sadly departed Brian James, this was and had to be a fitting tribute, to play to a Blackpool crowd that filled every inch of the Empress Ballroom, a place they have always been welcomed to and a place that feels like they are coming home. To quote from the earlier Undertones review, what can be added to the plethora of words written about this band. A set that took off and landed after a flight that took in Love Song, Wait For The Blackout, Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde, Is It A Dream and ended with encores that included New Rose, their reworking of Jefferson Airplane‘s White Rabbit and of course Neat Neat Neat. Pretty sure everyone who stayed the whole course on Friday night were suitably sorted when it comes to getting their Damned fix. Speaking of fixes, it’s time for something regrettable to eat on the way back to the hotel and then we get to do it all again tomorrow.

Rebellion Festival will return to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens between the 6th and 9th August 2026 and tickets can be purchased here.

This year The Punk Site representatives who were furiously taking notes and pictures at Rebellion Festival were Mark Cartwright, Peter Hough & Phinky.

You can read the review of Thursday at the 2025 Rebellion Festival here

The post Rebellion Festival – Friday 8th August 2025 appeared first on ThePunkSite.com.