Rebel Pageant (Day One)
Blackpool
Third-Sixth August 2023

Louder Than Conflict’s Paul Clarke makes his debut at Rebel, the world’s largest unbiased punk competition on Blackpool’s Golden Mile, that brings collectively the most effective of old-fashioned punk acts and newer bands all holding up a defiant center finger to the institution, with Phil Thorns taking the photographs.

Purchase advance tickets for Rebel 2024 from right here 

Blackpool and the Rebel punk competition are a wedding made in heaven; Britain’s greatest seaside resort and the punk motion have each recognized onerous occasions however, regardless of that, they’ve saved on plugging away wanting backwards and forwards to maintain alive.

Critically, each Blackpool and punks share a couldn’t give a fuck angle, which implies native folks aren’t even remotely bothered after they see a bunch of peacock punks with their big multi-coloured mohicans standing exterior the historic Winter Gardens the place the competition takes place.

The Winter Gardens has hosted reveals by all of the greats of British mild leisure, together with Eric and Ern, and now they provide a platform to a number of the biggest ever punk acts, in addition to a number of the newer acts influenced by the scene’s many years lengthy dedication to present the finger to the person.

Given punk kicked off within the UK in 1976, there are various strolling sticks round and mobility scooters flying from stage to stage, however there’s additionally a youthful era who will maintain the flag flying because the veterans move on the baton. Some punks are right here with their youngsters and grandkids, and there’s one thing actually touching about seeing a younger mum together with her two toddlers sporting big vibrant mohicans.

I ought to declare an curiosity right here as punk modified my very own ife, providing a small city child a way that I didn’t simply have to adapt, be informed what to assume or the best way to act and, at some private value at occasions, I’ve all the time adopted that philosophy.  That angle meant I used to be by no means very thinking about being a part of a tribe, with my tastes going off on all kinds of tangents.

No-one must get on their excessive horse and assume I’m sneering at individuals who have spent their complete lives on this tribe and celebrating that group at big gatherings like this.  Fairly the alternative – there’s one thing actually noble and comforting about figuring out who you might be, the place you belong and extra importantly sticking to what you consider via good and dangerous occasions. It’s the identical as following a soccer workforce, albeit with extra studs and piercings.

In equity, the fastidiously curated Rebel invoice does provide a very broad vary of acts, from reggae to extra reflective acts with an angle on the Barely Acoustic stage, together with massive names from again when punk actually did shake up the British institution. All tastes inside punk are catered for, in addition to reflecting that that is a global motion.  Henry Rollins could be the obvious abroad instance, however there are acts right here from South Korea and Germany and as you wander spherical this labyrinthic venue you hear all kinds of accents. Punk was all the time a motion that despised racism, telling nazi punks to fuck off, and hated xenophobia, so it was good to see that individuals from throughout the globe have made the pilgrimage.

It could be a welcoming house, however Rebel is before everything a music competition, and the Winter Gardens provide a bewildering vary of efficiency areas, from the huge Empress Ballroom, the place Strictly Ballroom is recorded, to the intimate Pavilion. Which means there’s loads of folks with mohicans, studded belts and their favorite band t-shirt wanting blankly at their maps attempting to navigate their means spherical.

I’m off to see newcomers Sak! within the RIS Area because the guitar and drum duo bash out an brisk set that blends new and old-fashioned punk in a very sturdy combo. On the different finish of the spectrum, veterans Splodgenessabounds are nice enjoyable within the Pavilion as Max Splodge declares they’re the one band to play each Rebel because it began 27 years in the past. His voice could be a bit rougher lately, however My Socks Gone Down My Shoe is by a mile essentially the most surreal music all weekend. There’s a little bit of demented blues on Powerful Shit Wilson, and the punk husband and spouse combo subsequent me to benefit from the raucous model of unlikely hit, Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps Please.

Then it’s off to the large Empress Ballroom as 2000 punks of all ages pack in to see U.Okay. Subs led by scene survivor Charlie Harper (just lately interviewed right here), who’s about to have fun his 80^th birthday. Harper was there proper initially, impressed to type a band by what he noticed on the legendary punk gigs within the Roxy. Like many punk bands, he obtained off to a flyer with hit singles, however for a very long time he was a kind of performers who saved all of it going via the lean years, with fixed touring and releasing albums that the devoted had been solely too completely happy to purchase.

The punk household recognise Harper as one in every of their very own, and that is a kind of uncommon gigs the place you may really feel the love within the room as the one authentic member of U.Okay. Subs bounds on stage. Harper’s voice remains to be a robust instrument, together with his youthful bandmates piling into CID as the gang browsing begins with flashes of big mohicans moshing down the entrance. It’s just like the outdated days, however fortunately minus the spitting.

Harper is wise sufficient to place in all of the hits like Tomorrow’s Women, however the newer stuff like Celebration In Paris are nice songs, proving that regardless of their veteran standing the band nonetheless have one thing to say. Harper has all the time had an ear for melody, and a good hook, so when that outdated chestnut Warhead is performed the gang chant the refrain proper again at him.

Because the punk wars broke out practically half a century in the past, it’s no shock that a number of the bands needed to pull out for completely comprehensible well being causes. It’s really wonderful it doesn’t occur extra typically, and The Descendants are unable to make the journey over from the USA, a lot to the frustration of the quite a few folks sporting their t-shirts. Which means North East punk pioneers Penetration are greater than an acceptable alternative.

I’ve all the time been in love with Pauline Murray’s voice, as I believe that in a high quality subject she has the most effective feminine voice of all of the early punk bands. She nonetheless retains that energy, however years of high quality solo work and numerous line up modifications have added an additional layer of “lived” expertise to her vocals.

Murray stalks the stage as she did again within the day, belting out Nostalgia and Hazard Indicators earlier than slipping in some newer tunes like Sea Track and Makes No Sense. Then it’s a run of classics, together with their intense cowl of Patti Smith’s Free Cash, a flowing Come Into The Open, and the nonetheless good early punk single Don’t Dictate. The voice is undamaged and the songs have actually stood the check of time.

One other band to succumb to well being points are The Damned, who pulled out on the final second, which could be very uncommon for them, so the organisers needed to get out their black e-book of punk acts to discover a alternative. Fortunately Cock Sparrer had been accessible, and whereas they could appear to be a Phil Mitchell tribute act they’re a formidable dwell band who completely rock a rammed ballroom. They’ve headlined this competition earlier than so know precisely what works.

Singer Colin McFaull stated he was sitting in his again backyard when he noticed the Bat-signal go up with an enormous purple R in it calling the band to Blackpool, and naturally they answered the decision. I guess they’re glad they did as a result of the viewers actually appreciates them coming to the competition’s rescue, as they flip this massive house into an intimate occasion.

These Eastenders had been key gamers within the Oi! motion, which took a few of its inspiration from the terrace chants when soccer wasn’t stuffed with prawn sandwich plastic followers. So there are many probabilities to singalong on I Bought Your Quantity, Working, Good Riddance, Argy Bargy and their very first single, Runnin’ Riot, with viewers participation actively inspired – if not demanded.

The no-shows might need ruined the day for some followers, however the replacements actually ship the products because the Rebel viewers stroll away with a spring of their step after a primary day that’s showcased all that’s greatest and various concerning the punk motion.

You’ll be able to observe Rebel Pageant on Fb

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Phrases by Paul Clarke, you may see his creator profile right here.