Summer was here and it was time for the Punks annual trip to Blackpool for Rebellion Punk Festival, up in Sunny Blackpool, Lancashire. A time when thousands of Punks from all over the world sweat themselves sober in leather jackets by the seaside to the 200 plus bands and various events going on at the Winter Gardens complex over a 4 day period. And this year there was a great line up.

Arriving early on Thursday, I first went around to check the merchandise area. As the only thing I wanted to see during the daytime was MAX SPLODGE of SPLODGENESSABOUNDS doing his acoustic set. I walked into the Acoustic Stage and went to grab a Beer with my friend and Rebellion 2013 companion Mary, who had flown over from Finland just to see the festival, for the first time. As we got our drinks, I turned round and who should be at the bar next to us? Yes,it was MAX SPLODGE himself! After a photo and quick chat,we let him get ready for his spot. Although he was having problems with his guitar and having a Kazoo player as a horn section, he was brilliant. Performing Splodge classics like "Tough Shit Wilson" and "Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps Please."

After more exploring and bumping into CHARLIE HARPER of UK SUBS, we caught a band of Scottish men, using a set of Bagpipes as a Punk instrument! Absolutely brilliant. Then onto the Legendary where THE STRAPS who were launching their new album. They Sounded good to me, but on the first day there was drinking to be done. So a few more were sunk, then onto ABBA SENSATION, yes, an ABBA tribute band. Sadly though, they were miming to backing tapes, with the odd spoken word being live. But that didn't stop us from dancing away. The main man to see tonight was WALTER LURE - who played with The Heartbreakers. He put in a great set, including the classics "Get Off The Phone", "Chinese Rocks", "Too Much Junkie Business" and lots more. His backing band were fantastic, and he did bring on a special guest, but I was too drunk to remember who it was! Thursday ended in style.

Friday opened with a hangover from hell, but also my friends from Coventry, ARMY OF SKANKS. These guys played like their lives depended on it. Despite the awful sound in the Olympia Hall (more on this later), they proved to be the highlight of the festival of the newer bands that played. I am sure Jess Timms is the only performer to have stage dived this year!! PETER & THE TEST TUBE BABIES next, what can I say? Another solid performance from the band, and their new Cd "Piss Ups" is well worth the money. "BANNED FROM THE PUBS" being their set highlight. RADIO DEAD ONES from Germany were a new band to me, but I enjoyed their (slightly drunken)set a lot. SPLODGENESSABOUNDS put on an excellent, rockin' show. My highlight of Friday was the excellent song "My Socks Gone Down My Shoe." Back down to Olympia for EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS, but the sound hadn't improved so I left and headed for THE BUSINESS in the Empress Ballroom....One of the best OI! bands in the world, still playing since the 1988 re-union. Classic like "Do A Runner" "Harry May" and "Drinking and Driving" getting the Skins in the audience going at full pelt. Went back to catch THE DAMNED and THE BUZZCOCKS at The Olympia, but as the room is all ceramic tiles, the sound in here was just like White Noise, shame as I really wanted to see both bands. But again,I decided I couldn't listen to that for two hours and left.

Saturday began with the brilliant London band DECADENT FEW, then up to the literary stage to catch up with my pal TEDDIE DAHLIN as she did her talk with JOHN ROBB on her books "A Vicious Love Story" and "Fast Living: Remembering The Real Gary Holton." I filmed the interview, and you can search for it on Youtube to hear the full stories behind the books.A in depth review of "Fast Living" will be here in Punk Globe soon. If it isn't already in this issue. Straight down for 999, who had ARTURO BASSICK of THE LURKERS on Bass duties for the night. They played like a band half their age, rattling off "Nasty Nasty", "Feeling Alright with The Crew","Emmergency" and "I'm Alive with such passion.. After a music break, we caught the end of STREET DOGS, who were good. Then came 4 Band Suckerpunch..... The UK SUBS were their usual great selves. CHAS AND DAVE, legendary Cockney duo, blew the roof off with " Gertcha", "Rabbit", "Snooker Loppy" and the finale of the brilliant Ain't No Pleasing You" this song means a lot to me. So I was in tears of happiness and singing until my voice went. COCKNEY REJECTS were up next, and what a show, proving the boys still have what it takes and can show young bands a thing or two. The night ended with COCKSPARRER, helping us to go to our hotel singing.

Sunday - the Final day, and it was up with THE DUGZ (formerly PRARIE DUGZ) from Scotland, a great female fronted hardcore band making the best of a bad sound in the Olympia, but had us all by the frantic rhythms and the throwing out of shirts and Cds to the crowd. GOLDBLADE were next with JOHN ROBB,still a great band to this day! Then it was off to my festival favourite, KUNT AND THE GANG, singing his minor internet hits like "Bangers And Mash", "Use My Arsehole As A Cunt"and "Jimmy Saville And The Sexy Kids"...not all good clean fun, and not for the easily offended, but if you have a sick sense of humor like me, go see this man. He is a Legend! The best 35 minutes of Rebellion for me. Finaly off to see Birmingham legends DRONGOS FOR EUROPE turn in a great set, but again with terrible sound in that hall. Well that was my Rebellion 2013, I decided to give Sham 69 a miss after a recent fall out with Jimmy Pursey. I didn't see The Exploited as I think Wattie now sounds like a broken Vacuum Cleaner. I have seen Jello Biafra before many times.

If you get the chance to go to Rebellion, you should. Great people, great times, cheap beer and good laughs. Bring on Rebellion 2014!!!