Rebellion Festival 2008 - Winter Gardens, Blackpool

07-10.08.2008

Winter Gardens, Blackpool 7^th of August 2008 and here we are again in amongst the maze of fantastically coloured spiky hair.  This year saw up to five stages showing music from lunchtime to the early hours of the next day.  Again, there were lots of bands to choose from including the wonderful VERBAL WARNING – see further down for my favourites from the weekend. 

I found that this year, unlike last year, they seemed to have big problems with sound in all areas except the Pavillion Stage.  I found that bands that I didn’t know I couldn’t enjoy because I couldn’t make out either the instruments or vocals very well.  My partner was very disheartened after waiting for months to see The Rezillos perform he couldn’t hear what they were saying while speaking let alone make out what they were playing.  I hope that in 2009 they can get the sound right.

Also for 2009, I hope they give more thought to inviting more Old Skool Punk bands to play.  There seemed to be too many, what I like to call, ‘shouty shouty’ bands playing, especially in the later hours.  I still thought my ticket was value for money but it wasn’t as good as 2007.

My choice picks from the 2008 Rebellion were:

Thursday 7^th August

Verbal Warning – Rocked the Pavillion Stage with their Old Skool Punk Rock music.  It was a shorter set than I’m used to but they put on an excellent performance.  Here’s hoping they get a longer set next year.

Pink Hearse – After seeing them last year at Rebellion and catching them when they played with Verbal Warning and Vice Squad at The Intake Club in Mansfield November 07, I had to show them my support again.  The girls show has moved from strength to strength and, in my opinion is one of the better girl punk bands around at the moment.

Friday 8^th August

Bad Manners – One of my favourite bands and I have total admiration for Buster Bloodvessel this I saw him at the Rock N Blues Custom Bike Rally.  After waiting almost a year to see him, I was disappointed with the fact that I couldn’t hear him properly.  I know after reading through all my bands reviews for this Rebellion you are going to say that I am probably going deaf but I wasn’t the only one who commented on the sound quality being poor.  If I didn’t know the songs like the back of my hand I wouldn’t have had a clue as to what they were playing.

Chumbawamba (Acoustic) – Lovely set to relax to but (here I go again) the sound was rubbish.  It was so bad that even the band were complaining about it.

Goldblade (Acoustic) – This was a bit of a novelty last year and as much as I loved it last year, I think to do it again was ok but I would suggest no more.  I only went to see it this year because we were with some friends who hadn’t gone to Rebellion 07.  Stick with what you do best boys.

Citizen Fish - Brilliant lyrics, catchy tunes and just downright bloody good.  I would watch these guys over and over.

Saturday 9^th August

Los Fastidos - Terrific set from these guys.  Rebellion should bring more bands over from Europe . 

Spunge – I really love this band.  Always makes me happy to watch them.  They performed an excellent cover version of Land Down Under.  If you haven’t seen them yet, then make it one of your to see bands. They are a must.

The Dickies – We watched only a bit of their set because the sound was so bad.  Sadly this was another band I wanted to see and couldn’t enjoy.

The Rezillos – This would have been an amazing performance if the sound man had of cleaned his ears out that morning.  Because of the terrible sound, I only recognized one song and that was a cover.  My partner and I left before they had finished feeling cheated of a good evening.  We were going to stay for Stiff Little Fingers, who were to take the stage straight after but we couldn’t bring ourselves to put up with the sound problems.

Sunday 10^th August

Neville Staple – The man has so much energy.  How does he do it?  We saw his first performance and he had another one less than three hours later.  The man’s an absolute star, I watched him at Wasted 06 and Rebellion 07, and would watch him again and again.  Sadly, the sound was not as good as previous years and really didn’t do him and his band any favours.

Strawberry Blondes – Love these guys and I was glad that they were on the Pavillion Stage because their sound is awesome.

King Blues – This was shameful that the sound for these guys was so terrible because I remember how brilliant they were last year.