An early start to shake off the cobwebs on day one of the proper festival couldn’t have started any better than Hagar The Womb in the Opera House. Utilising their decades of experience in the anarcho punk scene, they had the crowd eating put of their hand during their brief but perfectly formed set.
Straight from Hagar to the Empress Ballroom to catch a bit of South Korea’s 18 Fevers mainly because PRUK was chatting to their drummer in Rhythm and Brews the night before.
Rule 1 of Rebellion is not to go all in on the drinking before the Winter Gardens is open to punters. Despite years of experience of the festival, it is a lesson that David Delinquent has still failed to learn. Despite sweating out all the beer from the night before, Dundee’s favourite troubadour ramped up the audience participation with a mixture of orginals and covers.
Straight from one Dundonian to 3 more in the shape of Aftrshocks. Finally making their Rebellion debut, they ratcheted up the heaviness far more than any time PRUK has seen them before. Expect them back next year on a bigger stage.
Subalternos brand of Italian oi seemed to be playing at every venue in Blackpool at various times over the weekend. Their skinhead music was functional but nothing more.
PRUK caught a bit of The Dollheads at Rhythm and Brews on Wednesday night and had high expectations for their set in the Empress Ballroom. There is a reason they keep being booked at Rebellion, even if the sound system wasn't being their friend.
PRUK has been a long time fan of Blyth Power (it even owns the Top Trumps cards of members). The folky punk absolutely suited the Opera House. A theatrical performance that suited the environs and a reminder of just how good they are live.
Popes of Chillitown are your acrchetypal UK ska band (along with Random Hand). One those younger bands you almost guarantee will be at Rebellion. There is a reason for that. A knowledge of how to work an audience, big sing-a-longs, and more bounce to the ounce, it is literally impossible not to skank to them.
Control's hooligan streetpunk is always a go-to for PRUK. The sound in the Casbah didn't do them any favours but that didn't stop the audience joining in the gang choruses. Control are possibly stuck in the space where they are too big for the Arena but not quite big enough for the Empress. Regardless of which stage they are on you can be guaranteed they will bring the same instensity.
This year's Rebellion had a lack of EpiFat bands. The only one was Bad Cop Bad Cop and they did an admirable job of representing the genre. A heavier set than expected which contrasted with the Fat Wreck sounds of the 90s while still containing the harmonies assocuiated with the genre. A triumph of a set.
Grail Guard on the RIS stage were one band that PRUK refused to miss after their debut album which is already one of the best hardcore albums of 2026. An intense set that confirmed their status as the best hardcore band in the UK. A set in the Arena (or an even larger stage) in 2027 awaits and will be well deserved.
What is there to say about The Stranglers live that hasn't been said before? An amazingly tight rhythm section as ever, a ridiculously long set of hits to pull from and all done with an air of still finding it a previlege of being on stage. A band who truly live up to the monicker of legends.
PRUK would have happily stayed in the Empress for all of The Stranglers, but there was something even more special happening upstairs. Rebellion Festival has a habit of pulling something special out of the bag, and there is no argument that this year's one was getting The Mob to play one final time. An emotional and beautiful set from a band that PRUK never thought it would have the pleasure to see. The absolute highlight of the entire festival.
