REBELLION 2013 - FRIDAY

Friday started slightly sluggishly, as we all felt the effects of over indulgence on the first day. 

After grabbing breakfast and another hour or two kip we started at a more sedate pace listening to John Robb interviewing members of The Outcasts and The Defects about the punk scene in Northern Ireland and specifically Belfast and also their portrayal in the Good Vibrations film.  Really interesting and at times funny as fuck. 

We then decamped to the acoustic stage and listened to banjo maestro Jim Sorrow.  Next up on the acoustic stage was Attila the Stockbroker.  Seen him quite a few times before and as usual he didn’t disappoint with a mix of political, humorous and at times touching songs and poetry (despite several technical problems). 

We were beginning to get back into our stride so ventured down to the Empress to see The Skints, catchy ska from the Smoke and mighty fine too. 

Hazel O’Connor was on in a packed Pavilion with a more paired down sound of keyboards and sax but that didn’t stop her belting out a storming set, and slipping in a few amusing anecdotes too. 

Popped out for a bite to eat and bit of fresh air then it was back to see Mike Only (ex-King Blue) on the acoustic stage.  Thought he was really good and maybe doesn’t quite match the stage presence of someone like Vic Ruggiero the night before still went down really well. 

We then went down to our first visit to the Olympia to see Eddie & The Hot Rods who like most bands over the weekend in the Olympia suffered from a poor sound (especially on the larger of the two  stages).  But still went down a storm.

 

It was a real toss up then between long time favourites the Damned and new boys and girls Pete Bentham & the Dinner Ladies.  Pete won!  This time back in the Pavilion were we first saw them and still employing a squad rotation system.  They sounded as good as ever and they are the kind of band that truly make this festival great, a bit different to the mainstream but punk as fuck in attitude.  And a set packed with killer tunes.  Check out the recently released Space Punx ep for a quick fix and I have it on good authority from the horse’s mouth (well Pete’s) that a new album is in the pipeline. 

We hung around in the Pavilion for a short while but the endurance test that is a day at Rebellion was taking its toll on all of us, so we rather shockingly decided to call it a day and head off for an early night.  Felt slightly guilty for missing some great bands today but there were so many clashes it was impossible not to miss some bands over the weekend that I really wanted to see.  I suppose with something as large and great as this you have to focus on the good stuff you end up experiencing.