If you’re heading to Slam Dunk Festival this Bank Holiday weekend then you’re undoubtedly already banking on a day of beers, sunshine and all the best pop-punk / alternative bands. Let’s face it, we need Slam Dunk to be great this year. The scene that comes with the touring festival has had a hard time in the last year or two with a growing list of bands that can get in the sea as a result of the actions of certain members. But we still need emo bands. We need pop punk too. And Slam Dunk 2018 will deliver all that and hopefully restore our dwindling faith in the scene we hold so dear.
So, here is what will make 2018 extra special at Slam Dunk:
- Double the Headliners, Double the fun
That’s right, this year Slam Dunk not just welcomes Good Charlotte to head up its Main Stage to relive some of those early 00’s anthems but Jimmy Eat World are topping the bill too. It’s a tough call where to spend your time (especially with Every Time I Die and As It Is also headline their stages) but it’s fair to say that the organizers have nailed those two headline choices. Either way you’re gonna kick it old school and screaming your lungs out with either ‘Girls Don’t Like Boys’ or ‘The Middle’ at the end of the day.
2. Taking Back Sunday (and Saturday and Monday)
With just as much prestige and as full a back catalogue as the headliners, the return of Taking Back Sunday feels like an extra bonus to this already stacked line-up. The emo kings are the main support to Jimmy Eat World and are always guaranteed to bring the party with songs from the soundtrack of teenage angst like ‘Make Damn Sure’ and ‘Cute Without The E (Cut From The Team)’.
3. Newbies on the Main Stage
Usually reserved for the old timers and guaranteed big hitters, Slam Dunk is this year pulling together a few of the best new bands to the top of its bill. Feisty pop bangers get the Main Stage festivities up and running with Knuckle Puck while hyped emo scensters Creeper get a crack on the big stage later on. Certain to bring mayhem, ex-Gallows frontman Frank Carter continues to step out on his own with The Rattlesnakes while PVRIS continue to leap up festival bills as the act as the warm-up to Good Charlotte.
4. Best of British
While the headliners might be flying in, the bulk of Slam Dunk 2018 is all about some great homegrown bands within the scene. The line-up is littered with some huge names with headliners in the making in Lower Than Atlantis and Twin Atlantic standing out on the Monster Energy Stage. Sprinkle in some huge up and coming names like Trash Boat, ROAM, Woes, Astroid Boys and the glorious return of Me vs Hero.
5. Everything else!!
Let’s face it, its gonna be insane. Glorious sunshine and a plethora of amazing ska bands like Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger and Zebrahead playing is a recipe for success. Not one but two sets everyday from Four Year Strong- the second of which being an intimate acoustic performance sounds just perfect. A first chance to hear some new music from State Champs? Go on then. Northlane tearing up the Impericon Stage before ETID headline is sure to be carnage. And, all those new bands heading for The Breakout Stage deserve your support too. It’s going to be massive.
Plan now to not miss out on your favourite bands but Slam Dunk is the only place you’re gonna see so many pop-punk, emo, ska and alternative bands in one (three) place this year. Slam Dunk 2018 heads to Leeds on Saturday before Hatfield and Birmingham over the rest of this Bank Holiday Weekend. Enjoy!
