Never mind the Buzzcocks here's art

Sugar & Spite and far from trite - that's what one exhibition is made of.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jul 2016, 11:19 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 17:37 BST
Untitled Dale Grimshaws punk artUntitled Dale Grimshaws punk art
Untitled Dale Grimshaws punk art

Blackpool’s innovative gallery space Blott Studio, at 53 King Street, hosts Sugar and Spite featuring new works by regional and national artists - with a punk twist.

It aims to celebrate this year’s Rebellion Festival and the 40 year anniversary of punk.

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It coincides with the eagerly awaited festival too opening on Thursday and running to Sunday with Blackpool band Litterbug kicking off Friday’s ‘preview’ event with a bang, playing live on the terrace, between 7pm and 9pm, in a one off celebration of the anniversary. The exhibition, free to see, runs from 9.30am to 9.30pm daily.

Skull by KnoxSkull by Knox
Skull by Knox

The gallery features Dale Grimshaw, a leading artist in the London Urban Art scene, who has exhibited at the Academy of Arts in New York, with solo shows in Paris, Berlin and the USA.

East London based street artist Stewy is also involved. His distinctive, life-size stencil portraits of English eccentric punk poets, artists, and other British icons, are commonplace in London, across the UK and Europe.

Then there’s Knox, founding member and frontman of Punk band The Vibrators and a visual artist in his own right, Knox has painted numerous portraits of punk icons, including Joe Strummer and Joey Ramone.

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Some of the resort’s most talented artists add clout to the exhibition as contributors. These include Corrine Streetly, Zoe Cox, Tina Warren, Boz Phillips, Jill Reidy, Laura Green, Caroline J Radley, Claire Griffiths, David Worth and Sugar & Spite residency artist Lauren Green.

Skull by KnoxSkull by Knox
Skull by Knox

And, this, of course, is just a taster for the main event... Rebellion returns with a special outdoor stage as well as action across pretty much of the Winter Gardens for four days starting on Thursday. The premier punk festival features Jilted John, Buzzocks, legendary US punk rockers Descendants, Angelic Upstarts (taking over the Fear spot), Adicts, Stiff Little Fingers and more.

Incredible as it seems, it’s 20 years since the first Holidays in the Sun festival in 1996 and Rebellion proper started in 2007.

After a flirtation with Morecambe - the festival has made Blackpool its home. Visit http://www.rebellionfestivals.com/info

Related topics:Blackpool