Festival News: On the most emo of holidays, Halloween, Slam Dunk sure have treated us.
On the most emo of holidays, Halloween, Slam Dunk sure have treated us.
This better not be some cruel trick. The first announcement a few weeks ago was met with the same criticism as usual: ‘but what about us heavy folk??’ Cancer Bats, President, Bury Tomorrow — all well and good, but it seemed to be missing that oomph that drives us punters in their droves to the See Tickets checkout screen.
Well, consider that remedied.
As a surprise announcement to round out the end of the month — and to possibly pre-empt the Download and 2000trees line-up drops coming next week — we’re already getting the full heavy line-up.
Two heavy stages. Side by side. No clashes. Throwing it back to what will likely be the sweaty, chaotic double tent that we had in 2021’s 15th Anniversary Slam Dunk, anyone wanting to 2 step, mosh, crowd-surf, and generally exhaust themselves to the heaviest of riffs and the most brutal of screams can only be celebrating today!
Let’s start with the big’uns. Possibly the biggest band in the hardcore world, fresh off of both headlining O2 Brixton and Outbreak festival in Manchester, the big dogs of Knocked Loose are set to headline the heavy stage, joined by none other than Malevolence, themselves set to play O2 Brixton within the next week or so. The beautiful duo of Bury Tomorrow and the enigmatic President were already announced, sure, but were Currents? Comeback Kid? Saosin? Static Dress?
A damn fine addition to an already enticing 20th Anniversary line-up, and if they’d left it there tongues would have been a-wagging regardless.
But they weren’t done.
Insert French fish saying ‘a few hours later’: and, as if this year’s Halloween saw the festival collectively dress up as Tom Holland in a Marvel movie, the entire line-up’s now been revealed, well ahead of expected. There’s too many names to wax lyrical about all of them, so let’s do just a roll call! Joining the already announced 20+ names headlined by Good Charlotte and Taking Back Sunday, including the 14 afore-mentioned heavy names, come: A Loss for Words, Bayside, Boston Manor, Call Me Amour, Dead Pony, Deaf Havana (celebrating 15 years of ‘Fools and Worthless Liars’), Hands Like Houses, Madina Lake, Origami Angel, Punk Rock Factory, SiM, State Champs, Trash Boat, Vukovi and Youth Fountain.
That's a hell of a lot of bands, and a hell of a lot of time for you to get excited. The gauntlet’s been thrown for Summer festivals, and it’s a hell of a one to beat.
Words by James O’Sullivan
