Beyond The Headliners: 5 Unmissable Acts You Need To Catch At Rebellion Festival
From Rebellion’s very first line-up – opening with a stellar celebration of 20 years of punk featuring X-Ray Spex, The Damned and Buzzcocks – to 30 years later with a bill still hitting just as hard, the festival has never lost its edge. With punk royalty including The Stranglers, Sham 69, Buzzcocks, Cockney Rejects, GBH, Discharge and countless more, Rebellion continues to stay firmly on the pulse of both legendary and up-and-coming bands alike.
More than just a festival, it’s a community, four days in Blackpool where punks young and old come together to absolutely tear it up in the pit.
We all know the big names, but here are five unmissable acts that, if not already on your radar, bloody will be by the end of the festival.
Split Dogs
If chaos, sweat and pure punk rock ’n’ roll energy is what you’re after, then Split Dogs are absolutely unmissable. The Bristol quartet don’t waste a second when they hit the stage, it’s full throttle from the first note to the last. Having seen them live myself, trust me when I say they deliver everything and then some.
Frontwoman Harry is a force of nature, firing out gut-punch vocals with raw intensity while the band tear through blistering riffs at breakneck speed. Their debut album ‘Here To Destroy’ lives up to its name: loud, relentless and packed with attitude. Do yourself a favour and give it a spin before the festival, you’ll be hooked long before they step on stage.
Meryl Streek
Anyone who’s been to a Meryl Streek set before will already know: if you love strobes, intensity and complete sensory overload, this is the gig for you. The harsh flashes and pounding electronics only amplify the power of his brutally honest lyricism, cutting through tracks from both his latest album ‘Songs for the Deceased’ and debut release ‘796’.
There’s genuinely nobody else doing it quite like Meryl Streek right now. Equal parts confrontational, political and deeply personal, his performances feel less like a gig and more like being hit head-on with uncomfortable truths you can’t ignore.
No stranger to Rebellion Festival, Streek’s fusion of abrasive electronic beats and politically charged spoken-word delivery leaves a lasting mark on every crowd he plays to. Long after the strobes stop and the set ends, his words stay ringing in your head.
Pussy Liquor
Brighton/London five-piece Pussy Liquor have become infamous for their riotous, empowering live shows — the kind that turn a venue upside down within minutes. Exploding onto the scene with It’s Pussy Liquor, ‘Not Rocket Science’, the band have since taken their feral punk-hardcore sound from sweaty DIY venues all the way to Japan and Boomtown Fair, building a reputation as one of the most exciting live acts around.
Frontwoman Ari Black delivers gritty, commanding vocals that cut straight through the chaos, bringing tracks like ‘Young Love Fresh Blood’ to life with unapologetic force. Tackling themes of heteropatriarchy, anger and empowerment, their lyrics hit with as much impact as the music itself. Furious, fearless and impossible to ignore, Pussy Liquor are absolutely built for the moshpit, and guaranteed to light a fire under anyone watching.
Riskee and The Ridicule
Every Riskee gig I’ve ever witnessed has been complete carnage, in the best possible way. From the moment they step on stage, the crowd erupts. There’s no easing into it, no holding back, just pure chaos from the first song to the last, and it’s glorious to watch unfold.
The Kent outfit have carved out their own explosive blend of grime, punk and hardcore, delivering razor-sharp lyrics with relentless energy and fury. Their live shows feel less like a performance and more like a full-scale eruption, with the band regularly launching themselves into the crowd and straight into the pit alongside everyone else.
If you’re heading to this set, prepare yourself: bodies flying, sweat pouring and crowd surfers constantly overhead. Riskee don’t just play gigs, they create absolute mayhem.
Los Fastidios
Having been around since 1991, Italian ska-punk veterans Los Fastidios prove that energy, passion and purpose never go out of style. Blending ska, melodic punk and Oi! with uplifting anti-racist messages, their music is built on themes of unity, joy and solidarity, and in times like these, that feeling hits harder than ever.
Their latest album ‘Love Steady’, released in 2025, shows a band still firing on all cylinders decades into their career. But it’s on stage where Los Fastidios truly come alive. Their live shows are a whirlwind of fast-paced rhythms, singalongs and unstoppable energy that sweeps through the crowd from the very first note.
This is the kind of band that doesn’t just get you moving, they lift the entire room. Expect dancing, sweat and a crowd united in pure celebration, because standing still at a Los Fastidios set is basically impossible.
See you at the front!