The Top 10 Bands you should watch at Rebellion Festival 2025

Rebellion Festival returns for its 29th year (in some iteration) and is now looming on the horizon of summer like a punk monolith. With eight indoor stages and over 300 bands you really are spoilt for choice and it does make a weekend in Blackpool all the more worthwhile. 

Whittling 300+ bands down to a top 10 list was a feat of huge proportions and we definitely haven’t touched on a lot of the incredible bands you can see across the weekend. Take this as a starting point for your look through the immense line-up. 

Not only do Rebellion have some of the biggest names in the scene, they also are big supporters of the underdogs too. For an excellent variety of up-and-coming bands in the scene check out the Rebellion Introducing Stage. Read on for our top 10 recommendations across the weekend.

Bruise Control

A genre smashing band in the tiniest shorts and biggest mullets you’ve seen outside of the 70s, Bruise Control have truly broken into the festival circuit in a big way. If you missed them at boomtown last year or Manchester Punk Festival, Bearded Theory and 2000 Trees so far this year, make sure to catch them at Rebellion. High energy, great stage presence, and taking elements of classic punk, hardcore, garage, and indie, Bruise Control have something fresh and interesting about them that makes them a must see.

Circle Jerks

An incredible legacy act and one to say you’ve seen before their 50th anniversary are Circle Jerks. Early originators of the hardcore scene in LA, featuring Black Flag’s original singer, Keith Morris, they are cited as influences for many of the bands you see on the circuit to this day. With six studio albums and countless shows under their belt, Circle Jerks bring gritty hardcore and determination to Rebellion with messages from the 70s still standing true to this day.

Skinhawk

Super fresh on the Reading scene formed in the summer of 2024, Skinhawk have made a name for themselves and fast. Immersive political nerd-punk that takes you on a journey from your DnD table to your local pub to a loud angry punk show, their sets are shout-a-long fun, angry, and melancholy. Skinhawk are only just starting out so now is your prime chance to brag about seeing them before they’re huge.  

Millie Manders and The Shut Up

Taking pop-punk and making it cool to listen to again, Millie Manders and The Shutup take hard hitting topics like sexism, poverty, and the rise of the far-right and make them accessible and poignant. More than just a band, Millie Manders and The Shutup are true activists and voices in the community, taking their time on and off stage to talk about what’s going on in the world. They are fantastic musicians and Millie has an excellent voice well suited to keep a crowd engaged and taking a message home with them.

Bite Me Bambi

Blending the rhythm and bounce of the ska-punk you love to hear with pop influenced melodies, Bite Me Bambi are a refreshing light-hearted dance-a-long band. One of the newer bands on the bill formed in 2019 in California and independently releasing their debut album Eat This earlier this year they have a lot of energy and joy. Having succeeded in breaking into the UK ska-punk scene and being well-loved across the country, there are even more opportunities to see lead singer Tahlena Chikami in Taylor More Swiftly, a ska-punk Taylor Swift covers band featuring Beth Pegler of Old Chase and Boys Ruin Everything, Karl Smith of The Bar Stool Preachers, and Andy Baker of Andy B and the World who you can see on tour later this year. 

Muddy Summers & the Dirty Field Whores

Clad in the black and red of anti-fascism, Muddy Summers & the DFWs live and breathe their message. Foot-stomping, chest-pounding folk-punk and protest songs bring the crowd together in a unifying and gratifying way. With humorous takes on everyday issues and the wider political climate, tackling big topics in such a way that there is something for everyone to laugh and dance along to.

Phat Problem

Bright, brash, and loud, Phat Problem come clad in UV and flash warnings. Noisy street-punk from Brighton they are a high-energy act not to miss at Rebellion. Lead vocalist Frankie brings their anger at the ‘cis-tem’ to the stage alongside their love of performing in a captivating way that you can’t help but slam dance along to. Talking personal struggles, politics, and disrupting the mainstream, they will keep you wanting more.  

Skunkworm

Guildford based Skunkworm are maybe the youngest band at Rebellion this year, formed from college projects and now playing more and more prominent venues and line-ups, Skunkworm have an unfiltered energy that we hope they cling onto. Bringing a fresh take to post-punk with incredible vocals from lead singer Harrison they are a band you should make time to see at Rebellion. 

Split Dogs

British rock’n’roll to a T. Split Dogs have an infectious energy built for live shows, with grungy vocals and great riffs to boot they have found themselves equally at home on both punk and rock line-ups while bringing something new to both. Gigging hard across Europe and the UK Split Dogs are all go and enrapturing crowds and building their ever-growing fanbase. 

Wonk Unit

There is so much to say about Wonk Unit and so much that you can’t describe until you experience it. Formed in 2006 as a diary and catharsis for lead singer and Daddy Wonk, Alex, the band has become so much more for them and everyone involved. Proper punk you can sing, dance, shout, and cry along to and well worth a watch and then several more watches.

Rebellion offers much more than just bands with a dedicated literary stage and talks across the weekend too. You can check out the likes of Chumbawamba, Neville Staple, and Irvine Welsh talk about their careers, experiences, and links to the punk scene, these talks are always fascinating insights into key figures in the scene.

Rebellion takes place at Winter Gardens in Blackpool from the 7th-10th August. Tickets are still available and set times are up on the website so you can plan your weekend. https://www.rebellionfestivals.com/ 

Photos: Kayleigh Fryer

Words: Kayleigh Fryer