Slam Dunk Festival is set to take place at Hatfield Park on Saturday, May 24th, before moving to Temple Newsam in Leeds on Sunday, May 25th. This year’s lineup includes popular acts such as A Day To Remember, Electric Callboy, and Neck Deep.
Slam Dunk Festival is consistently an enjoyable outing, and it has become a key event in the calendars of many. Read below RAMzine’s run-down of the full line-up.
Main Stage West
A Day to Remember (21:00 – 22:15)
A Day To Remember are on the heavier side of pop rock so they’re sure to satisfy a wide array of people in the audience. With a laundry list of late 2000s emo adjacent classics like ‘All I Want’ and ‘The Downfall of Us All’ and ‘If It Means a Lot To You’: A Day to Remember are sure to end their headlining slot with thousands of people singing “la la la la la la la la”.
Neck Deep (19:20 – 20:30)
Neck Deep are a beloved band in the pop punk scene from Wales and it’s wonderful to see them grow from humble beginnings to the main stage of Slam Dunk for one of the biggest UK shows of their career. Celebrate their back catalogue of songs from three summers ago like the beautiful ballads ‘Wish You Were Here’ and ‘December’ as well as the bouncy bootcampbootycamp drumming of ‘Gold Steps’ once it’s finally time to stop being sad.
New Found Glory (17:55 – 18:55)
Pop punk royalty, New Found Glory, are bringing their infectious breed of youthful hyperactive modern sounding pop punk with bangers like the annoying boyfriend/girlfriend national anthem, ‘My Friends Over You,’ and the existential dread we all have to face sooner or later with ‘All Downhill from Here’.
Hot Mulligan (16:45 – 17:30)
Hot Mulligan are a true Midwest emo band hailing from Michigan and they’re set to bring that sad energy we’ve all come to love about this wonderful genre. Check out the shoegaze style vibes of ‘How Do You Know It’s Not Armadillo Shells,’ ‘No shoes in the Coffee Shop’ (or socks).
The Starting Line (15:35 – 16:20)
The Starting Line is one of the lesser-discussed acts of the 2000s emo/pop punk genre, but they’re still heroes of the genre. Their back catalogue may be limited, but it’s quality over quantity for The Starting Line. Check out ‘Best of Me’ and ‘Leaving’ and get ready to be transported back to the mid-2000s.
Movements (14:30 – 15:10)
Opting for a more laid-back approach but still maintaining some of the more emotionally demanding elements of emo and post hardcore, Movements are sure to scratch the sad itch. Their latest single ‘Where I Lay’ is sure to go down incredibly well amongst older classics like ‘Daylily’ and ‘Colourblind’.
Knuckle Puck (13:25 – 14:05)
Knuckle Puck are a pop punk/emo band from Chicago, their sound is deeply influenced by the late 2000s/early 2010s pop punk sound and they’re only getting bigger. Be sure to check them out before they properly blow up in the UK with a set full of bangers like their brand new single ‘Nice to Know Ya’ and the Midwest emo epic, ‘Untitled’.
Hit the Lights (12:25 – 13:00)
Hit the Lights are a pop punk band from Ohio in the same vein as bands like Metro Station. They’re firmly rooted in pop rock, and their sound is super bright and colourful and matches their aesthetic brilliantly. Expect a set of life-affirming pop punk in the form of tracks like ‘Save Your Breath’ and ‘Drop the Girl’.
Sweet Pill (11:35 – 12:05)
Opening Main Stage West and the entire festival is Sweet Pill, a super laid back Midwest Emo band from Pennsylvania. Sweet Pill are full of beautiful, clean guitar passages that pave the way for energetic distorted guitar parts complete with this swaying energy and emotive vocals. A great way to start the day. Check out ‘Dog Song’ and ‘High Hopes’ for a clearer picture of Sweet Pill.
Main Stage East
Electric Callboy (19:45 – 20:55)
It was only a matter of time before Electric Callboy headlined a stage at Slam Dunk. Their high-octane shows, goofball comedy and mixture of slamming metalcore riffs and techno drops make them a must-see on every bill they’re a part of. Their latest single ‘Elevator Operator’ will fit nicely in a set with ‘We Got the Moves’ and ‘Pump It’.
The Used (18:15 – 19:15)
The Used celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the most iconic emo albums of all time: In Love and Death. ‘I Caught Fire’ and ‘All That I’ve Got’ are tracks that have lasted through the years and helped inspire so many newer bands on this lineup.
Finch (17:05 – 17:55)
Finch took a hiatus back in 2016 and came back swinging a few years later and now they’re finally making their way back to Slam Dunk with their driving emo/alt rock style. If you’re reading this sentence, my editor didn’t let me make an American Pie joke about Finch sleeping with your mom so you should check out ‘Letters to You’ and ‘What it is to Burn’.
Stray from the Path (15:55 – 16:40)
Everyone should be fired up by this time of day and what better way to use that energy than getting angry at the state of the world with Stray from the Path. Inspired by Rage Against The Machine and a massive amount of politically driven hardcore bands, Stray from the Path are sure to make your blood boil and do some damage with tracks like their brand new single,‘Kubrick Stare’ and the iconic rager, ‘Guillotine’ – Be sure to pick a billionaire to dedicate it to.
Landmvrks (14:50 – 15:30)
Landmvrks are a French metalcore band with just a hint of Linkin Park added to the mix. The nu metal influence is just subtle enough to scratch the itch with tracks like ‘Sulfur’ still containing the right amount of metalcore breakdowns to satisfy your bloodlust. Their new album The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been, containing ‘Blood Red’ and ‘Creature,’ releases on April 25th. Just enough time to get ready for their set.
Imminence (13:45 – 14:25)
Swedish metalcore outfit Imminence are a fairly progressive band without leaning too far into the genre. There’s a lot of synth work that fills out their sound and makes them sound massive. ‘Chasing Shadows’ showcases the band at their most eclectic with complex lead guitar lines and colossal drums mixed with epic synths.
Dream State (12:40 – 13:20)
Dream State are a Welsh alternative rock/metalcore band that make use of electronica-inspired synths that help punctuate anthemic choruses and raucous guitar work. Their latest single, ‘Bloom,’ is sure to go down well amongst classics like ‘White Lies’.
Defects (11:45 – 12:20)
Combining a Lamb of God esque sense of rhythm and groove with modern metalcore technicality, Defects are an upcoming band in the metalcore scene that have managed to carve out a niche and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with. There are riffs, little twiddly bits and breakdowns just like you’d expect from any metalcore band worth their salt. Their latest release, Modern Error, was a critically acclaimed release and gave us a powerhouse track in the form of ‘Scapegoat’.
Kerrang Stage
Hot Milk (20:50 – 21:50)
Rising through the ranks of the alternative scene at an insane speed and hailing from Manchester, Hot Milk are set to dominate the Kerrang stage with a killer set of emo power pop punk. Their new single ‘90 Seconds to Midnight’ from their highly anticipated new album Corporation POP is a track you won’t want to miss seeing live.
Wargasm (19:40 – 20:25)
Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ll have seen Wargasm on countless tour posters and festival lineups across the UK over the past few years. Bridging the gap between The Prodigy and Limp Bizkit, Wargasm are an electronic nu-metal outfit getting ready to once again burn it down like ‘Pyro Pyro’ at one of their biggest UK shows yet.
As It Is (18:30 – 19:15)
2025 will be the year As It Is celebrates the 10th anniversary of their modern emo classic, Never Happy, Ever After. The Brighton emo rockers will be playing the entire album in full exclusively at Slam Dunk so you can expect ‘Cheap Shots & Setbacks’ and gorgeous emotional moments like ‘My Oceans Were Lakes’.
Twin Atlantic (17:25 – 18:05)
Twin Atlantic are an alternative rock/power-pop, rock/emo/indie band from Glasgow, but you’d be able to tell that really quickly if you were to put on one of their songs. Twin Atlantic are a band that pride themselves on big stomping rock anthems with mega choruses like ‘Heart and Soul’ and ‘Make a Beast of Myself’.
Noahfinnce (16:25 – 17:00)
British YouTuber and multi-instrumentalist Noahfinnce brings their bright bubbly pop rock to Slam Dunk just after releasing their debut album, Growing up on the Internet, last year. Noahfinnce is full of youthful and infectious exuberance as well as fantastic stage presence. There’s a brilliant mixture of bright pop rock like the electro pop mix in ‘Headcase’.
Rain City Drive (15:25 – 16:00)
Rain City Drive are a band that live for giant catchy hooks and powerful vocals from The Voice contestant Matt McAndrew. There’s a great deal of pop appeal without sacrificing the dark mood and guitar work. Check out ‘Neverbloom,’ ‘I’d Rather See Your Star Explode’ and ‘Medicate Me,’ their amazing collaboration with Dayseeker.
I See Stars (14:25 – 15:00)
I See Stars blend electronic elements, pop song structure and driving guitar work and drumming to create a sound that harkens back to Myspace-era metalcore while still feeling fresh and innovative. ‘D4MAGE DONE’ and ‘ARE WE 3VEN?’ show the band at the height of their abilities.
Point North (13:30 – 14:00)
Hailing from California, Point North may be a pop punk band but their sound packs an incredible punch. Songs like ‘World vs Peace’ and ‘Bring Me Down’ have that accessible pop quality along with crushing drop-tuned guitar work. Highly recommended if you’re a fan of catchy sing-along hooks and ultra-heavy guitar work.
Sophie Powers (12:35 – 13:05)
Sophie Powers is a Canadian pop-rock act riding high on the new wave of aggressive hyperpop infused with a harder rock attitude in the same vein as Scene Queen and Vain. She may have gained notoriety with her American Idol appearance featuring her performance of ‘STFU’ but her other songs like ‘Nosebleed’ and ‘Move With Me’ show an artist with something to prove.
Lake Malice (11:40 – 12:10)
Opening the Kerrang stage is the feral electronic nu metal assault of Lake Malice. Having dropped a brand new single, ‘Scatterbrain,’ as well as having a whole back catalogue of vicious ragers like ‘Stop the Party,’ Lake Malice are just beginning to claw their way to the top.
Monster Stage
Millionaires (22:25 – 22:50)
Closing out the festival with an after party to end all after parties, MySpace scene royalty, Millionaires, will be bringing the party anthems all the way back from 2009. Bring your gigantic scene hair and as much pink as you possibly can and get ready for anthems like ‘Alcohol’ and ‘Party Like a Millionaire’.
Alkaline Trio (20:40 – 19:40)
One of the biggest pop punk/emo acts of the 2000s and featuring former Blink 182 frontman, Matt Skiba, Alkaline Trio are set to perform one of their biggest shows in the UK on the Monster Stage of Slam Dunk. Expect bangers like ‘Mercy Me’ and hits from their brand new album Blood, Hair and Eyeballs.
Less Than Jake (19:15 – 20:15)
Less Than Jake are back once again to deliver a set of kickflip anthems that perfectly replicate the feeling of having mozzarella sticks. Less Than Jake always brings an amazing show full of killer ska punk, including ‘That’s Why They Call It A Union’ from Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 and ‘All My Best Friends Are Metalheads’ from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4.
Streetlight Manifesto (18:05 – 18:50)
Streetlight Manifesto are a fairly modern interpretation of ska punk hailing from New Jersey. They’re a band that balances the ska and punk elements really well and strike a perfect balance between guitar-driven aggression and brass-driven groove. ‘Would You Be Impressed’ and ‘We Still Fall Together’ are essentials for the ever-expanding ska punk playlist we all have.
Zebrahead (16:55 – 17:40)
Rap/punk/ska rockers and Slam Dunk regulars, Zebrahead, are back once again and still rocking like they did back in the good old days. ‘Anthem’, ‘Falling Apart’ and ‘Rescuing Me’ are all classics that hopefully make the setlist this year. If you drop litter at Slam Dunk, don’t forget to pick it up, pick it up, pick it up. There was nowhere natural to put that joke in this preview so Zebrahead got it. Congratulations Zebrahead!
The Aquabats (15:45 – 16:30)
Imagine if The Wiggles were superheroes and played Ska Punk for everyone and you’d have The Aquabats. A fun time for absolutely everybody, complete with goofy fun songs like ‘Pool Party’ and ‘Super Rad’. Be sure to check out their set if you’re ready for some serious silliness.
The Ataris (14:40 – 15:20)
The Ataris are an emo/pop punk band from Indiana and they’re most notable for their emotionally driven tracks like ‘So Long, Astoria’ and ‘In This Diary’. Their biggest hit is a cover of Don Henley’s ‘Boys of Summer’ which adds a bit of a darker edge to the 70s classic.
Home Grown (13:40 – 14:15)
After an almost 20-year hiatus, Home Grown are finally back in the UK for a set of late 90s/early 2000s skater punk with tracks like ‘Why Won’t You Leave Me’ and ‘You’re Not Alone’. It may have been a few decades but there’s no doubt they can still bring the kickflip anthems.
Save Ferris (12:40 – 13:15)
Appearing at the height of the ska punk movement of the 90s, Save Ferris became a cult band with their bright sunny lyricism and fun-filled attitudes. They’re widely beloved for their Ska cover of ‘Come On Eileen’ by Dexy’s Midnight Runners but they have a whole back catalogue full of bangers like ‘Spam’ and ‘Goodbye’ from their brilliant 1997 album, It Means Everything.
The Meffs (11:45 – 12:15)
The Meffs are a modern British punk band that wear all of their influences on their sleeves. From The Sex Pistols to The Clash to The Jam, The Meffs are highly recommended for those looking for a more vintage punk sound with a more contemporary edge. Check out tracks like ‘Broken Britain, Broken Brain’ and ‘Clowns’.
Key Club Stage
Note: The stage times are different between Hatfield and Temple Newsam. This article only features Temple Newsam stage times; visit Slam Dunk’s socials for Hatfield stage times.
Scowl (20:20 – 20:55)
Headlining the Key Club Stage is American hardcore/pop punk band Scowl, their genre might be a bit of an oxymoron to some but they’re a perfect split of fun bounciness and aggressive attitude. Their latest album, Are We All Angels, only just dropped this month and we’re all excited to see tracks like ‘Fantasy’ and ‘Not Heaven, Not Hell’ live for the very first time.
South Arcade (19:25 – 19:55)
South Arcade are an Oxford-based pop punk band that wear their 2000s influences on their sleeves. Tracks like ‘2005’ and ‘How 2 Get Away With Murder’ have the bubble gum pop punk sound you’d associate with someone like Avril Lavigne, albeit with a bit of extra edge.
Graphic Nature (18:35 – 19:05)
Graphic Nature blends nu metal with metalcore to create something completely hostile and unhinged. They’ve opened for the likes of Vended and Bloodywood and drawn some of the most insane crowds in recent memory. Check out their singles ‘Human’ and ‘The Killing Floor’ for a clear insight.
Split Chain (17:45 – 18:15)
Split Chain are a must see for fans of Deftones. The Bristol based outfit blends nu metal with shoegaze to create what they call “dreamo”. Their debut album drops after Slam Dunk on July 11th but you can still expect to hear a few tracks from it like ‘I’m not Dying to Be Here’ and ‘Bored. Tired. Torn’.
Delilah Bon (16:55 – 17:25)
Delilah Bon has started to gain some major traction after her recent headline tour and Download set. Her brand of aggressive female empowerment anthems like ‘Dead Men Don’t Rape’ will definitely start a dialogue. You can check out our coverage of her set opening for Scene Queen in Leeds back in 2023 here.
Free Throw (16:05 – 16:35)
Free Throw are from Nashville, Tennessee but they embody that Midwest emo sound with their use of beautiful intricate clean guitar work and complex drumming which make the distorted guitar parts all the more effective. Check out ‘Pallet Town’ and the contender for best song title in this article: ‘Hey Ken, Someone Methodically Mushed the Donuts’.
Heart Attack Man (15:15 – 15:45)
Heart Attack Man are a straight up punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They’re closer to an act like Green Day during their Dookie or perhaps Pinkerton-era Weezer with their bright colourful choruses and youthful energy. Check out their singles, ‘The Gallows’ and ‘Laughing Without Smiling’ from their upcoming new album Joyride The Pale House.
Mouth Culture (14:25 – 14:55)
Mouth Culture are a Leicester-based alternative rock band that draw a lot of influence from the Midwest Emo scene with their use of complex clean guitar work, added shoegaze elements and even a bit of 2000s indie rock. Mouth Culture are sure to impress those looking for something a bit more progressive with tracks like ‘Had Enough’ and ‘Sharkbait’.
Kid Bookie (13:35 – 14:05)
Kid Bookie represents a more progressive approach to nu metal/rap rock in a lot of ways. The fact that a rapper is on the bill at Slam Dunk at all is indicative that the attitude is the most important part of being accepted into the alternative scene. His collaborations with Corey Taylor have helped cement his place as a powerful figure in angry music. Be sure to check out ‘Game’ and ‘Stuck In My Ways’ before his set.
Winoa Fighter (12:45 – 13:15)
Winona Fighter have a hell of a lot going for them right now: a brand new banger of a record, Apologies To The Chef, a killer set of bouncy tracks with hilarious pop punk titles and one of the best band names at the festival. Check out their new album which features bangers like ‘You Look Like a Drunk Phoebe Bridgers’ and ‘Hamms in a Glass’.
Greywind (11:55 – 12:25)
Greywind are an Irish band that are an emo act at heart. With huge melodramatic choruses and emotionally driven melodies, Greywind are sure to come out swinging as they open the Key Club stage at Hatfield. Check out their EP Antidote which features the brilliant scream along anthem, ‘Here’s Your Deathwish,’ and the emotional rock ballad, ‘Swing and Sway’.
