Social networks, festivals and the sense of belonging: Framing Rebellion festivals in Blackpool

Abstract The purpose of this article is to examine the Rebellion Festival that takes place every year in Blackpool, reflecting on its organization and its role as a unified field for the international punk scene. I will proceed with my study in two steps. First, I will present some theoretical approaches concerning festivals, social networks and the punk scene. Next, reflecting on Erving Goffman’s frame analysis, I will investigate ‘what is really happening’ in these festivals. Frames are analytical layers that can enrich our perceptions of economic and socio-political aspects of cultural events. Going through different frames, the activities of participants in Rebellion festivals can be regarded as forms of entertainment, revival rituals, political participation, commerce, etc. Thus, frame analysis allows us to see Rebellion festivals as significant sites that reflect the multiplicity, the complexity and the flexibility of punk, empowering its continuation and offering various options for the artists, the organizers and the fans.