Festival News: Slam Dunk hit the big 20 next year, and only a bumper line-up will do
Slam Dunk hits the big 20 next year, and only a bumper line-up will do.
It’s barely September, but it’s already time to start planning the Summer. And, along with the likes of My Chemical Romance’s five UK shows, what will be System Of A Down’s first London shows in eleven years, and Iron Maiden’s ‘curated weekend event’ at Knebworth, there’s already a hell of a lot of choice.
Let’s throw Slam Dunk into the mix.
With next year being their 20th anniversary, it seems like they’re pulling out all the stops. First up, a generous handful of headliners. The top billing goes to the European exclusive of Good Charlotte, recently returned to the land of the musically living with August’s ‘Motel Du Cap’. There’s also Taking Back Sunday, themselves celebrating a 20th anniversary by way of Louder Now. And, most dramatically, the first ever UK show of ska-punk legends Sublime!
There’s also the cheeky, accidental link of a pretty special hardcore band, as per the swiftly removed post on Good Charlotte’s website, but let’s not celebrate just yet…
Elsewhere, rising stars and favourites both old and new are set to storm the Hatfield and Leeds stages next year. From the emo anthems of Dashboard Confessional, Hawthorne Heights and Motion City Soundtrack to the chaotic classics of Goldfinger and Zebrahead, the older echelon of fans are well represented. There’s even A! — who, along with being fantastically fun live, are also the hardest band to find on streaming services if you don’t already know a song name. But what about the heavier side of Slam Dunk? Well, leading the charge comes Southampton’s Bury Tomorrow, fresh off the release of this year’s ‘Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience’, along with both arguably the hottest new name in alt-metal, PRESIDENT, and Toronto’s Cancer Bats. Maybe there’ll even be a cheeky appearance of Bat Sabbath — who knows!
Then, on the rockier side, there’s the incredible (and apparently inseparable) duo of The Home Team and Broadside, along with Unpeople, finally making their Slam Dunk debut; there’s also the pop-punk fun of Allister and the Australian duo of festival favourites Stand Atlantic and the long-awaited return of Tonight Alive to look forward to.
Want something a little more energetic, though? Running the gambit of the punkier side, we’ve got the rockier The Menzingers, Zebrahead and Set Your Goals, while the more trumpet-touting* ska side’s boasting The Suicide Machines, along with the afore-mentioned duo of Goldfinger and Sublime.
And all of this in just the first announcement, just the first 23 bands.
Tickets are on sale now for this end of the second decade of Slam Dunk history. Do you dare risk missing out?
*Trumpets not necessarily guaranteed.
Words by James O’Sullivan
