Festival News: Slam Dunk have just unleashed a new wave of artists for 2024 and it sure is a doozy.
The organizers at Slam Dunk have just unleashed a new wave of artists for 2024 and it sure is a doozy.
Just over a month ago, fans of the revered festival were finally granted a taste of what was in store. From the likes of heavyweights You Me At Six, The All American Rejects, I Prevail or The Interrupters, fresh-faced Slam Dunk up-and-comers Bob Vylan or Pale Waves, or UK rarities of Boys Like Girls, We The Kings and Head Automatica — alongside a LOT of other fan favourites — 2024, even from just that first wave, was shaping up to be a Slam Dunk all ready to carve itself into the history books.
But, of course, 27 names does not a festival make. So, joining the likes of You Me At Six and I Prevail come another 12 names, including another few of the exclusive anniversary shows that Slam Dunk is so loved for. First up, let’s start with the heavies. Literally — making the way across the pond for a big ol’ Slam Dunk appearance are metalcore standouts The Ghost Inside, helping to return Slam Dunk’s heavy stage to its usual grand scale. There’s also emo classics The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, recently over in the UK for a string for European dates in October, as well as the now-double decade decadence of Stick To Your Guns; and, of course, they couldn’t reunite without gracing Slam Dunk. The conquering heroes, the returning rebels, the fan favourites of Welsh outfit The Blackout, who, after a stellar set at Download 2023 and a string of UK dates scheduled for the start of 2024, will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of seminal album ‘The Best In Town’.
Speaking of anniversary sets, there was one American pop punk outfit that bands were clamouring for. Recently announcing — and selling out — three shows celebrating sophomore stand-out ‘The Finer Things’, fans couldn’t help but notice that State Champs were neglecting the UK. Well, turns out it’s all good; ‘The Finer Things’ will be coming to Hatfield and Leeds next year as the album’s only UK dates. Hatfield and Leeds will also be greeted by the fantastic Against The Current, who are Current-ly touring the UK on their Nightmares and Daydreams world tour, as well as relatively new (but no less good!) kids on the block As December Falls.
Elsewhere, we’ve got TikTok sensation Taylor Acorn; we’ve got the superb, serrated-saccharine stunners of Honey Revenge; melodic hardcore trailblazers, and established legends, of H2O; finally, to the ska-heads and punks reading this, don’t worry about Slam Dunk forgetting you. The announcement’s also got both Big D and the Kids and Snuff, as a final two to round out the announcement.
There is of course more to come, though that’s unlikely to hit until the new year; for now, the 39 names are enough to salivate over and prepare for. Bring on 2024.
Words by James O’Sullivan
