In 112 days the 2023 Rebellion Festival kicks off at Blackpool Winter Gardens. The annual gathering runs from Thursday Aug 3rd to Sunday Aug 6th, attracting visitors from all over the globe and is an anticipated highlight of Blackpool’s summer, by the local community, who embrace it with both hands. “Better than when those bloody Young Farmers (aka Young Tories) roll into town, pissing in the streets and generally being obnoxious” one local cabbie is quoted as saying!
Try booking accommodation in the town over that weekend and see how popular it has become! With over 300 bands spread across 7 indoor stages, it’s the World’s premier punk gathering. Last year’s successful outdoor R-Fest stage is missing this time, but there is no shortage of quality on display. Critics of the festival have previously moaned about “the same old bands, same old faces every year”, but the organisers are very careful to mix it up, with some of the hottest new acts on the scene being given an opportunity to reach a new audience, on some of the smaller stages. A bit nearer the time we will be running a series of “Introducing…..” previews for the less well known acts on show this year, so watch this space.
So ex-Black Flag legend, Henry Rollins, is the last of the headliners to be announced, and he will be bringing his 100 mile an hour spoken word show to close out Friday’s proceedings! I was recently fortunate enough to catch his show at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, where he delivered a 2 and 1/4 hour set , with no interval and barely a breath between sentences. In fact one observer commented that “the guy must breath out of his arse!”, such was the speed of his delivery. I’m guessing that it will be a much truncated version of his usual show, but then again who’s going to tell Rollins to get off the stage?
“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!”
Rollins joins headliners The Damned, New Model Army and Steel Pulse for what is one of the best and most eclectic Rebellion Festival line-ups so far. Other highlights include Descendents, Big Country, The Exploited, Neville Staple from The Specials, Die Toten Hosen, The Only Ones, and The Dickies.
These join a host of vibrant new talent as Rebellion Festival continues to champion exciting and fresh music including Bob Vylan, Lambrini Girls, I, Doris, Mille Manders & The Shutup, Bar Stool Preachers, Pizza Tramp, Yur Mum and many more.
For full listings head to: http://www.rebellionfestivals.com/line-up
