Kicking off the day with some mid-2000s nostalgia, Hit The Lights bring their brand of pop-punk to an early crowd, but perhaps not with the impact they hoped for. Their tunes feel a little dated: unsurprising considering most of their set is taken from 2006’s ‘This Is A Stick Up…’, and despite the sugary, upbeat hooks, it feels like they never really kick into gear. Nick Thompson’s vocals are a little watery, and the crowd themselves seem rather unenthused, at least, until set closer ‘Bodybag’ injects a welcome burst of energy into an otherwise forgettable set.
Irish alt-emo duo Greywind face a rough start to their set, arriving on stage 30 minutes late due to technical issues with the Key Club Stage. Unfortunately these issues continue to plague the band’s set, muddying the sound and quietening the vocals. It’s a real shame, given the strength of their material: the crushing riff of ‘Here’s Your Deathwish’ is killer, and frontwoman Steph O’Sullivan (who tells the crowd the band last played Slam Dunk in 2016) brings undeniable charisma during the punchy ‘Antidote’. With better luck, Greywind are a band more than capable of leaving their mark.
The tent of the Monster Energy stage is packed to the brim as The Ataris take the stage. Kicking off with the anthemic ‘In This Diary’, the band waste no time plunging the sizeable crowd into a wave of emo nostalgia. ‘We’re playing the old stuff today,’ grins frontman Kris Roe, and he’s not wrong – the set leans heavily on 2003’s ‘So Long, Astoria’ album, and rightly so, as every track is met with singalongs. Unsurprisingly, it’s their raucous cover of Don Henley’s ‘The Boys Of Summer’ that triggers the loudest cheers – and a noticeable mass exodus after. It’s a shame, as those who leave miss gems like ‘I Won’t Spend Another Night Alone’ and title track ‘So Long, Astoria’, both delivered with passion and poignancy, and a reminder for those that stuck around that The Ataris are far more than just THAT cover.
NOAHFINNCE has arguably the best intro of the day as he walks onto the stage to Hannah Montana’s ‘Best Of Both Worlds’. Though the crowd is on the smaller side, what they lack in size they make up for enthusiasm, bouncing along to a riot of synths, punky riffs and infectious choruses. You can hear the influences of the likes of Enter Shikari on tracks like ‘HEADCASE’ and ‘3 DAY HEADACHE’ – fitting, given Noah supported the band on tour last year – and the likes of ‘LIFE’S A BIT’ scream sunshine, in spite of the clouds overhead. A set full of fun, personality, and plenty of promise – even if a little heavy on backing track.
Few bands embody the spirit of Slam Dunk quite like New Found Glory, and their set feels like a homecoming celebration. From ‘All Downhill From Here’ and ‘Hit Or Miss’, through to ‘Head On Collision’ and ‘My Friends Over You’, it’s a veritable greatest hits parade. There’s an emotional edge too, as vocalist Jordan Pundik leads the crowd in chants and cheers of support for absent guitarist Chad Gilbert, who’s recovering from cancer treatment. Their legendary cover of ‘Kiss Me’ gets a rapturous reception, as does a delightfully bizarre rendition of ‘Part Of Your World’. The coolest band on the bill? Almost certainly not, but New Found Glory might just be the most fun you’ll have all day.
Closing Main Stage East are Electric Callboy, and if you’re looking for pure, no holds barred fun, this is the band you’ve been waiting for. As they open with the unmistakable ‘Elevator Operator’, it’s clear this set will be unhinged in the best way possible. The whole performance is a riot of chaos and colour, and the pyro blasts, confetti cannons and hordes of fans decked out in fancy dress only add to the spectacle. They pack in a fair few covers – from playing Sum 41 classic ‘Still Waiting’ with band drummer Frank Zummo, to a stripped back version of ‘I Want It That Way’ – alongside their original tracks, including ‘Hypa Hypa’, the song that launched them into the meme stratosphere. It’s a set that truly feels less like a gig and more like one huge crazy house party, and you get the sense that Electric Callboy wouldn’t have it any other way.
Our headliners for Slam Dunk 2025 are pop-punk stalwarts A Day To Remember, and given their 20+ year long career, it’s hard to believe they’ve never done the damn thing before. They start off as strong as it gets, opening with ‘The Downfall Of Us All’ and leading straight into ‘I’m Made Of Wax…’, and truly, there couldn’t be a band more perfect for the festival. The set is a masterclass in everything that’s made them such enduring scene favourites, from the chugging riffs of ‘Resentment’ to the relentless energy of ‘All I Want’, and of course, their now iconic cover of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since U Been Gone’.
Even newer material like ‘All My Friends’ slots in seamlessly alongside the classics, showing the band haven’t lost their knack for massive hooks. As they close on two huge, crowdpleasing singalongs – the always moving ‘If It Means A Lot To You’ and the anthemic ‘All Signs Point To Lauderdale’ – A Day To Remember have finally delivered a killer headline set for the festival they feel made to headline, and proven that the greatest things are worth waiting for.
