OX Fanzine reviews Punk at Sea
- david1170
- 20 minutes ago
- 1 min read
PUNK AT SEA - A Rebellion Festival Photo Book by Michiel Blijboom
Over the years, the Rebellion Festival—held every August in the British seaside resort of Blackpool—has evolved into a kind of global punk gathering. It feels as though every punk and hardcore band, from the veterans to the relative newcomers, has played in one of the rooms at the Winter Gardens venue in the heart of the pedestrian zone; hundreds of bands and musicians perform here annually (including unofficial pub gigs), and the audience travels from all over the world, spanning multiple generations—you might see punk grandparents with walkers alongside their adult children and teenage grandkids. It is a goldmine for photographers; the "star density" on and off the stages—both big and small—is high, but the incredibly colourful (literally) crowd is also a feast for the eyes. It is a showcase of looks and styles, a celebration of individualism.
Amsterdam-based journalist and photographer Michiel Blijboom was right in the thick of it with his camera, and he is celebrating Rebellion’s 30th anniversary in 2026 with a tribute to the audience (and a few celebrities). The experienced sports journalist’s photos are smartly curated, and the captions are entertaining and occasionally wry, yet always appreciative. You can tell that a scene insider with a keen eye for striking people and moments is at work here. There was no staging for the camera; it is a documentary of the perfectly ordinary, wonderful madness that descends for a week each year upon that fucked-up city in the north of England—which the city endures with a stiff upper lip.
Joachim Hiller, Ox Fanzine.
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