Slam Dunk Festival is a day-long music festival created by Leeds independent label, Slam Dunk Records, in 2006. Since then, the indoor festival has grown in popularity, subsequently adding two more dates in the Midlands and the South. It has also won Best Festival at the Kerrang! Awards in both 2014 and 2015. This year celebrates the festival’s tenth anniversary, taking place in Leeds on the 28th May, Birmingham on the 29th, and Hatfield on the 30th.
In previous years, Slam Dunk Festival has seen some of the biggest names in the current rock scene headlining their events. To name a few of these – Architects, Don Broco and Kids in Glass Houses have all made appearances. 2016 promises to be spectacular, with alternative rock favourite, Panic! At the Disco, being the headliner. They will be supported by pop-punkers, New Found Glory, who previously headlined the festival in 2010.
This year, Slam Dunk offers a diverse range of styles to fill the appetites of punters across its eight stages. This includes metal core titans, Of Mice and Men, bringing their blistering live show to headline the ‘Monster Energy’ stage. Also appearing on the same stage are Australian progressive metal band, Northlane, The Word Alive, Miss May I, and Issues.
The variation continues; up and coming emo band, Moose Blood will be opening the main stage, in addition to Yellowcard, performing their full debut album, ‘Ocean Avenue’. There is also the option of seeing some raw talent on Kerrang’s ‘Fresh Blood’ stage including Cane Hill and horror punk rockers, Creeper.
Alternatively, the ‘Ska & Punk’ stage hosts artists ranging from 2 Tone legends, The Beat to King Prawn and Capdown. If you want to relax after moshing to Set Your Goals or Norma Jean, you can go to the ‘Acoustic’ stage to see the Rocket Summer, the solo project of multi instrumentalist Bryce Avery, or singer-songwriter Rob Lynch.
With all the diversity on offer, Slam Dunk is a festival that shouldn’t be missed. See the full line up at:
http://slamdunkmusic.com/festival.
Words by Ermis Madikopoulos