Slam Dunk Festival is this weekend and with a massively impressive lineup for 2015’s edition of the festival there is a whole host of talented bands to watch over the course of the day. Whether you will be bouncing around to pop-punk, throwing down to deathcore or skanking to ska, there is something for everyone who craves alternative music. We at Rocksins proudly present a breakdown of the festival’s six stages covering all the best bands to watch at Slam Dunk festival 2015!
MAIN STAGE
The main stage for Slam Dunk is jam-packed with some of the biggest names in pop-punk. Rising stars PVRIS take to the stage early in the day whilst UK fan favourites Neck Deep are poised to continue their impressive dominance of modern pop-punk ahead of their second studio record due for release later this year.
On the back of the massively successful self-titled record that was released in October last year, Lower Than Atlantis, take to the main stage before rising British stars Don Broco aim to win over new fans in otherwise uncharted territory. Whilst the main stage is largely filled with new and exciting talent, it’s a blast from the old school realm of pop-punk with Taking Back Sunday serving as sub-headliners before You Me At Six close the day’s activities with a setlist comprising of tracks from their first record, Take Off Your Colours.
MONSTER ENERGY STAGE
If you crave breakdowns and something that is heavier than the cheery pop-punk on the main stage the Monster Energy Stage more than caters for your needs. New and emerging metalcore mob SHVPES open the stage early in the day before the musically interesting The Color Morale take to the stage. Following an incredibly successful opening slot on this year’s Kerrang tour, Beartooth will smash out the anthems before Australia’s titans of deathcore, Thy Art Is Murder, bring the breakdowns ahead of their highly anticipated new record, Holy War.
Bury Tomorrow can be considered one of metalcore’s hottest properties at the moment and this is only strengthened with the band serving as the festival’s ‘special guest’. Slam Dunk caters for the weird and quirky and that exactly what will be brought when Crossfaith unleash a barrage of breakdowns and electronica fused mayhem. Similar to Taking Back Sunday on the main stage, Finch, serves as a nod to the old school with anthem after anthem belted out from the band and crowd alike.
Similar to Bury Tomorrow, While She Sleeps are leading the charge for British metal. 2015’s Brainwashed was a massive hit with the band gaining serious momentum and While She Sleeps’ performance at Slam Dunk will surely serve as a must-see event. Headliners of the Monster Energy Stage, Architects will provide serious cases of whiplash with breakdowns played at ferocious pace, all whilst the ever energetic Sam Cater screams his heart out.
DESPERADOS STAGE
Whilst the main stage and Monster Energy Stage very much is genre based, the Desperados stage serves to cater a whole host of bands with a range of varying musical styles. Notable for their upbeat musical focus, Patent Pending, perform incredibly early in the day whilst fan favourites Zebrahead perform much later on. By fusing punk with ska Goldfinger will surely be a sight to see whereas Millencolin will provide a set of pure unadulterated punk rock. Yet it’s headliner, Reel Big Fish, that will draw the biggest crowd. With their music creating an uplifted and overwhelmingly positive atmosphere, Reel Big Fish will be a hilariously enjoyable spectacle.
THE MACBETH STAGE
The MacBeth stage at this year’s Slam Dunk festival has a whole range of pop-punk based bands performing throughout the day. British rising stars As It Is open the proceedings before Knuckle Puck and ROAM continue the pop-punk party. Bayside will change the tone slightly to a more punk focused edge until sub-headliners Fireworks set the tone back to a pop-punk vibe. Headliners of the MacBeth stage, The Wonder Years, are set to close the day’s activities in style with a performance that resembles everything wonderful about the pop-punk movement.
THE IMPERICON STAGE
Similar to the Monster Energy stage, the bands billed on the Impericon stage cater to those who appreciate everything a tad heavier in life. Sheffield natives Dead Harts will unleash carnage from the start of the festival whereas Being As An Ocean serve to give the crowd a breather until Trash Talk, who could provide the most intense and violent mosh pits of the day.
Fresh off from their appearances at this year’s Impericon Festivals, Australian hardcore party mob Deez Nuts and the emotion driven Stick To Your Guns will continue their dominance of the modern hardcore scene before Comeback Kid unleash slick riffs and rapidly spat vocals. Gallows’ latest record, Desolation Sounds, marks a new era for the band and Slam Dunk serves the perfect chance for fans to hear a large majority of the new record performed live. Last but not least, headliners The Bronx will close the stage in fine style.
THE KERRANG! FRESH BLOOD STAGE
Akin to every major festival the final stage of Slam Dunk festival acts as the perfect chance to witness the alternative’s scenes rising stars. Wind In Sails will provide a relaxing acoustic atmosphere whilst Only Rivals and particularly Baby Godzilla will up the tempo somewhat. Perhaps the most anticipated band of this stage are the wildly adored This Wild Life who will tear on the heartstrings in attendance.
Slam Dunk Festival has a huge variety of artists performing over the three dates in Leeds, Wolverhampton and Hatfield. With such a huge quantity of bands performing there is surely something for anyone who appreciates their guitars heavy, huge anthemic choruses and to see their heroes perform at a fantastic day for live music.
Slam Dunk South at Hatfield is now sold out, and now is your final chance to snap up last minute tickets for Slam Dunk Midlands at Wolverhampton and Slam Dunk North in Leeds. Do not miss out on what is going to be THE best one day festival of the UK festival calendar year. Get yourselves over to www.slamdunkmusic.com right now and grab those last few tickets.
