Sunday at Rebellion Festival means it's time for LOUD WOMEN to take over the Rebellion Introducing Stage again for the day! Stacy Norman and Donna Craine were there to capture the action...
Blagged
Stacy: It’s never an easy task, being the first band to play a stage on the last day of a festival – people are tired, hungover, some are strictly reserving their energy for specific bands. This wasn’t a problem for Blagged though – after having seen them open for Catbite a few weeks ago, I knew they’d be more than up to the challenge. They get the crowd jumping (literally) with their catchy brand of 90’s style punk.
50 Foot Woman
Stacy: Next up, we have 50 Foot Woman, from Limerick, Ireland. With the crowd warmed up, they go into their song ‘Let The Punk Go On’, and went on to demonstrate their knack for switching seamlessly between melodic punk you can dance to and harder, shoutier stuff.
Quick Romance
Donna: Quick Romance‘s sound was an intoxicating blend of guitar, bass, and drums that channelled a thrilling, post-punk energy. Front person Matilda Scotland was tiny in size but massive in energy and attitude.
Amidst the chaos and brilliant noise, a moment of heartfelt humility stood out. The lead singer Matilda thanked the crowd and declared that playing at Rebellion was the biggest thing the band had ever done, giving a special shout-out to LOUD WOMEN for putting them on. Their performance was a perfect blend of genuine emotion and raw, undeniable talent, a powerful reminder of what makes Rebellion and LOUD WOMEN so special: a place where small, passionate bands can have their dreams come true and leave a lasting impression. The set built until Matilda was lay on the floor screaming lyrics as the audience went wild. This led into what they said was their only released song ‘Brian Jones’s Hair’, brilliant sound, a builder of a song in pace and noise. What a way to end the set.
COWZ
Stacy: It’s time for something a bit different now, as Brighton queer alt-pop duo COWZ take to the stage. Today they’re joined by their new drummer, who really adds a whole other layer to their sound. Some people may have been a bit unsure at first – soundwise, this was quite a contrast from the previous three bands! However, I’m a firm believer that “punk” is more than a specific sound or look – it’s an ethos, it’s about the way you do things, the things you talk about in your music, and so much more. The people that stuck around quickly got into things, and as curious passers-by popped in to have a listen, the Pavilion filled back up. If you didn’t leave this set with ‘Domination‘, their scathing-yet-shimmery takedown of the 1%, stuck in your head then, I’m sorry, I’m not sure what’s wrong with you!
Goo
Donna: LOUD WOMEN’s Cassie introduced Goo as “most likely your new favourite band”. She wasn’t wrong. Two observations about Goo. The first being, I got a sense that this band had thought of everything. The attention to detail was beautiful, such as having atmospheric sounds in the background during transitions between songs. I appreciate that, it really kept me in the zone. This thoughtful approach was especially evident towards the back of the stage, where a synth player was creating some cool sounds with their vocals on a loop.
Secondly, Goo’s ability to blend different styles with such fluidity. One moment, they were serving up cool, jazzy riffs and mid-song jams, and the next, they’d seamlessly shift into a full-on punk assault. Their performance was a journey of dynamic changes, from melodic verses to rocking out in a way that had the crowd fully engaged. They delivered a high-energy set, even finishing with a song “for the punks”, they knew their audience! Goo is a band that truly has it all, and their set was a masterclass in musical versatility and dynamic performance.
Anarchistwood
Stacy: How do I begin to describe a band like anarchistwood? Describing their sound as “prank rock”, anarchistwood are a band who don’t just attract your attention – they grab it, turn into a three breasted balloon animal, and hand it back to you via a trumpet solo. As soon as they hit the stage, everyone in the vicinity is awestruck by the face paint, the costumes… most have no idea what to expect, as the theatrical sensory overload begins (the reaction of one of the security guards was priceless!).
It’s difficult to truly sum up the experience of seeing anarchistwood live – they’re a truly unique band. At times, you feel as though you’re in some obscure, underground New Orleans jazz bar, while a few seconds later, you’re transported to an old-school anarcho-punk gig. This is chaos in the best, most beautiful sense of the word. They’re a band that must be experienced to fully appreciate.
The Twistettes
Donna: For a band celebrating their 10th anniversary, The Twistettes proved they’re as vital and fierce as ever. This being their first-ever Rebellion, they delivered a blistering set driven by nothing more than bass and drums, creating a truly enormous sound. The band told us that they had a new album out and treated us to songs from it such as ‘Bounce Baby’ which is a fast and danceable tune, ‘Big Boned’ which is a stomp and an anatomy lesson that ended in a chant. My fav though was ‘All I Want’, which Jo D’arc said sounded like it was about a person, but actually it’s about her love of the party, even though the party doesn’t always love her. I can relate, however I was dancing so much that I forgot my angst about hangovers.
WENCH!
Stacy: Hull band WENCH! are up next, with their riot grrrl-infused punk. I’m always impressed when anyone can do drums and lead vocals at the same time (seriously, how?), and Kit is inspiring to watch as she does both of those things perfectly. All three members are clearly passionate about the things they’re talking about in their music, and it’s infectious. One of the younger bands on the line-up, WENCH! should act as reassurance to anyone worried about the future of punk – don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere!
Las Fockin Biches
Donna: Hailing from Mexico, Las Fokin Biches made their presence known on the LOUD WOMEN stage with a memorable entrance. The lead singer Fer, initially sporting a nun habit, wasted no time, with the first headbang sending the headpiece flying. This immediate, unapologetic energy set the tone for a set that was both fierce and utterly captivating. Their sound was a dynamic blend of styles. Bass player Ingrid introduced a song about justice, about not being quiet, which shifted seamlessly from a big rocky sound to a more gentle melodic bass line. Their song ‘Somas’, which they said was dedicated to all the girls who’ve left everything behind for an artist’s life, was bouncy, angsty and full of energy. I entered the lyrics to this song into a translation tool. I love that every verse ends with ‘because we worked our arses off’. Additionally, the third verse goes: ‘It’s hard to stay in rock. While your parents tell you, “it’s better to study,” it’s hard to stay in rock when society will say, “it’s better to get a job”. I’m really glad they didn’t conform, because no one will forget this memorable performance for a long time and I’m certain there will be many more unforgettable performances from this band.
Bridget.
Donna: Essex grunge-flavoured-punk Bridget. is our next performer. With influences ranging from Amyl and the Sniffers to PJ Harvey, Bridget is a powerful frontwoman, her impressive vocals remaining the star of the show whether she’s stalking across the stage, mic in hand, or picking up her guitar on songs like Cloud 94. She has the energy and presence of someone who belongs on a massive stage, and I have no doubt that’s where she’s headed.
BEX
Next up, the explosive rising star that is BEX. She has been spending her summer bringing her bass-driven, bratty punk sound to festivals all around the UK, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she finds herself playing the main stages of these events in a few years time. A couple of songs in, and she has the Pavilion filled, with people jumping, dancing, and batting around massive red balloons.
Her set flew by, and by the time she came to her final song of the night, SPYD4 KING, I think it’s safe to say there are a lot of new BEX fans in the room.
It was such a fun way to end the weekend – same again next year?
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