This year’s Slam Dunk Festival returns to the UK on the 25th and 26th of May in Leeds and Hatfield! With over 50 acts scheduled to play throughout the weekend, this festival has a little bit of everything. From acoustic performances to head banging metalcore and pop punk acts, there are so many bands to catch and not enough time in the day!
For those of you overwhelmed by the idea of having to choose who to see this year, we’ve got you covered! These are the 15 acts we will definitely be catching at this year’s festival (even if that means sprinting from stage to stage to catch everyone)!
The Plot In You // Jagermeister Stage @ 12:30
2018’s Dispose was TPIY’s most unique album for us and had some huge singles like “Feel Nothing.” Don’t miss out on your dose of late morning-metalcore and Landon Tewers’ phenomenal voice at Slam Dunk.
WSTR // Monster Stage @ 12:30
Don’t waste a second (see what we did there) of your morning, WSTR will be hitting up the Monster Stage and bringing the punchy pop punk ballads from 2018’s Identity Crisis which was one of our favorite albums of the year! They clash with The Plot In You unfortunately so that may be a crisis in itself unless you manage your times!
Hot Milk // The Key Club Stage @ 1:15
Releasing their debut EP, Are You Feeling Alive?, just last week, Hot Milk’s already on track to becoming one of the biggest artists in the scene. With a set expected to be filled with their latest infectious pop hits including “Take Your Jacket” and “Awful Ever After,” stop by The Key Club Stage to see what all of the hype behind this new band is about, you won’t be disappointed.
Tillie // Acoustic Stage @ 1:25
Bringing new material from her brand new EP, Loud Mouth, overseas for the first time, unapologetically candid anti-pop star Tillie is definitely an act to catch if you are looking to hear some stripped-down well-crafted pop tunes. If you are someone that likes to catch artists before they blow up in popularity than make sure you are at Tillie’s set!
Tiny Moving Parts // Dickies Stage @ 1:25
Math-rock/pop-punk legends Tiny Moving Parts are sure to bring their explosive set whilst also channeling emo vibes to the Dickies stage. Their most recent album, Swell, was a huge triumph and we will be definitely hitting up their performance!
Boston Manor // Monster Stage @ 1:25
Now you may have noticed our boys in Boston Manor are clashing with a few of our other picks to catch at this year’s festival. Well be prepared to bend the space time continuum…or dash between stages because you don’t want to be missing any of these bands. BM’s latest album, Welcome To The Neighbourhood, was one of the hardest pop punk albums of 2018 and we wouldn’t want you to miss seeing these guys before they blow up in the scene even more.
Trophy Eyes // Marshall Stage @ 2:00
Aussie boys Trophy Eyes had a real winner last year with their album, The American Dream, and their set at this year’s Slam Dunk is already causing a lot of buzz. Destined to put on an energetic performance filled with a variety of material from their discography, you can count on us to be at their set!
Turnstile // Impericon Stage @ 2:10
Notorious for having their sets cut short for being rowdy and chaotic, Turnstile’s bringing good old classic hardcore punk to Slam Dunk this year. Set to play plenty of material off of their latest album, Time & Space, their set is one to catch if you are looking to exert some built up energy in the pit or head bang from the back of the audience. Either way, make sure you keep one eye open during this set as it definitely won’t be a calm one because, well, that’s just not Turnstile’s style.
Seaway // Marshall Stage @ 3:20
Pagan // The Key Club Stage @ 4:15
If you are on the look out for a band that puts on a performance unlike anyone else, Melbourne-based outfit Pagan is an act you definitely don’t want to miss. With hard-hitting tunes and unbelievable stage energy, Pagan’s set is the perfect thing to watch as you gear up for the final sets of the day.
Real Friends // Marshall Stage @ 4:40
Neck Deep // Monster Stage @ 5:45
What can we say about Neck Deep that you don’t already know…probably not a great deal except that their set is going to be off the chain and you cannot afford to miss this! The Wrexham band are making huge waves all over the world and recently completed a huge UK stadium run alongside Don Broco and Issues which was absolutely insane!
Rob Lynch // Acoustic Stage @ 5:45
If you need a break from all of the head banging, crowdsurfing and pit action you endured throughout the day, head on over to the Acoustic Stage to catch a stripped-down performance from this UK-based singer/songwriter. His set will include a number of hits including his latest single “Baby, I’m Not A Runaway Anymore.”
