Rebellion is an independent live music venue and nightclub at 2B Whitworth Street West in central Manchester, England. Founded in 2013, it is located beside Deansgate Locks and directly beneath Deansgate railway station. The venue has a flexible capacity of around 400 to 520 people and is divided into a main concert room, lounge and smaller second room. Rock and metal form a major part of the programme, alongside punk, hardcore, alternative music, drum and bass, psytrance and other electronic genres.

Rebellion developed particularly strong ties to Manchester’s metal scene during the 2010s. Events manager and promoter Eytan Wineapple, also involved with Manchester Metal Collective and Noise Promotions, helped bring an increasing number of heavier bookings to the venue. By the middle of the decade, Rebellion had become a regular meeting point for the city’s metal crowd as well as an important stop for touring bands. Its role grew further following the closure of nearby Sound Control in 2017, which removed another established club-sized venue from Manchester’s live music circuit.

The main room is predominantly standing, with the audience positioned close to the stage. Several bars, seating areas and an outdoor smoking area are located elsewhere in the building, while the different rooms can be used independently for concerts, afterparties and DJ events. Rebellion generally opens around scheduled shows and club nights rather than operating as a daytime pub.

Metal bookings range from traditional heavy metal and doom to death, black, progressive and modern extreme metal. Bands appearing at Rebellion have included Batushka, Rivers of Nihil, Anaal Nathrakh, Textures and Armored Saint, while more recent programmes have featured Portal, MØL, Hellripper, Havok, Messa and numerous smaller touring acts. The venue has also hosted Manchester rounds of Metal 2 the Masses, giving local bands the opportunity to compete for a place at Bloodstock Open Air.

Punk festivals, alternative club nights and electronic events regularly share the calendar with heavy music, including the long-running Deadbolt alternative club night. Since opening in 2013, Rebellion has established itself as one of Manchester’s main club-sized venues for metal, punk and alternative music, with a programme that combines international touring acts, local bands and late-night events.

ADDRESS:
2B Whitworth St W, Manchester M1 5WZ, United Kingdom

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