Festival Preview: Slam Dunk Festival 2016

If you hadn’t have guessed by now, the Slam Dunk Festival is one of our favourite times of the years. For many year now it has proven to be a highlight on the UK festival calander, as it has repeatedly delivered in quantity and quality and this year is no different.

With 2016 being the festival’s 10th anniversary, Slam Dunk has gone above and beyond by delivering a packed bill of bands that stretch across the genres of rock, metalcore, ska, pop punk and beyond.

With so much to choose from, Already Heard has attempted to pick out 10 acts you should definitely see this weekend.

Think we’re missing someone? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

View more of Already Heard’s coverage from Slam Dunk Festival 2016 here.

PREVIEW | LINE-UP | PLAYLIST | STAGE TIMES

Preview

New Found Glory

These Florida pop punks are often labelled kings of the genre for a good reason; they’ve repeatedly producing bangers left, right and centre. Over the past 15 years, New Found Glory have become renowned for their brand of crunchy and catchy pop punk. Throughout that time they’ve built a reputation for often being the highlight of many a festival, and as they return to Slam Dunk for only the second time, we’re got a feeling they’ll do exactly that. (SR)

Where & When: 7:45pm – Main Stage (all dates)

Every Time I Die

Whilst the main stage headline spot will be certainly be a slick, feel-good affair from Panic! At The Disco, for those wanting something a bit more grittier, look no further than Every Time I Die. The Buffalo, New York have a reputation for producing frantic, festival-stealing sets. With work on number 8 nearing completion, Slam Dunk is the perfect opportunity to be reacquainted with the rowdy quintet. (SR)

Where & When: 9:45pm – Impericon Stage (all dates)

Moose Blood

Having recently completed a sold out tour and their forthcoming Autumn set to do the same, Moose Blood are quickly getting used to playing to be crowds. Just one year on from their Slam Dunk debut on the “Fresh Blood” stage, they’re set to play the main stage. It’s the first of many festival appearances before their much anticipated second album, ‘Blush’ is released in August. If recent single ‘Honey’ is anything to by, expect the Canterbury quartet to kick off Slam Dunk with a set full of melancholic emo pop anthems. (SR)

Where & When: 1:30pm – Main Stage (all dates)

Yellowcard

Yellowcard are playing ‘Ocean Avenue’ in full! Surely that’s enough to entice you to take a visit to the main stage? Nevertheless it’s sure to be a set drenched in summery nostalgia as the Jacksonville, Florida group offer a range of big hooks. It’s inevitable that ‘Way Away,’ ‘Only One,’ and ‘Ocean Avenue’ will be sung loud and proud by everyone in attendance. (SR)

Where & When: 4:55 – Main Stage (all dates)

Roam

If you’re looking for an energetic start to the day at Slam Dunk, you could do a lot worse than check out these young guns from Eastbourne on the Key Club stage. They tick all the pop punk boxes, but there’s something fresh and exciting to their sound, their well worked arrangements putting them a cut above the competition. With killer tracks like the frantically thrashy ‘Deadweight’ it’s sure to be a hot half hour of heaving pit and sweating walls. (EL)

Where & When: 2:15pm (Leeds & Hatfield) / 2:20pm (Birmingham) – The Key Club Stage

Real Friends

With the anticipation for Real Friends’ sophomore studio album ‘The Home Inside My Head’ reaching its peak, the Illinois’ pop punk collective return for their second Slam Dunk appearance. We’re looking forward to Dan Lambton’s trademark inspirational words and having a good finger-point to some of our favourite pop punk jams. (LJ)

Where & When: 5:00pm (Leeds & Hatfield) / 5:15pm (Birmingham) – ‘The Key Club Stage.

Creeper

Over the past 18 months, Creeper have repeatedly been called “ones to watch” and for a good reason – they are awesome. The Southampton six-piece have a unique, eerie sound that has won over many admirers. Make sure to catch them at their debut Slam Dunk performance for a dance, a mosh, a sway or all of the above, in what will be the first of many appearances for Creeper. (LJ)

Where & When: 7:20pm – ‘Fresh Blood’ Stage (all dates)

Four Year Strong

Hailing from Massachusetts, the bearded blokes from Four Year Strong are bound for Slam Dunk once again to deliver a show-stealing set. Known for their monumental guitar parts and on-point live performance, we can’t wait to mosh out to ‘Find My Way Back’. (LJ)

Where & When: 6:00pm (Leeds) / 7:25pm (Birmingham) / 8:20pm (Hatfield) – The Key Club Stage

Rob Lynch

Mr. Rob Lynch has a long love affair with Slam Dunk. Having debuted at the festival under his former Lost On Campus, Rob has emerged as an acclaimed singer-songwriter in recent years. Last year he delivered a stellar set with his backing band. This year he’s back solo yet Lynch’s catalogue of sincere and heartwarming songs still have plenty of appeal and charm. If you’re looking for an opportunity to lay back and have a blissful singalong, then Rob Lynch is your guy. Who knows we might even get a sneak preview of his forthcoming second album. (SR)

Where & When: 7:20pm (Leeds & Hatfield) / 8:10pm (Birmingham) – Acoustic/Solo Stage

Set Your Goals

Having been inactive for the best part of four years, Set Your Goals are back! And Slam Dunk is the perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with the San Fran hardcore pop punks. Like fellow SD band Four Year Strong, Set Your Goals carry a set of party-filled, mosh-ready anthems. From ‘Mutiny’ to ‘Summer Jam’ to ‘Gaia Bleeds (Make Way for Man)’ there’s no doubt it’s set to go off when SYG hit the Key Club stage. (SR)

Where & When: 8:20pm (Leeds) / 6:15pm (Birmingham) / 7:10pm (Hatfield) – The Key Club Stage

Line-Up

Playlist

Stage Times

NORTH | MIDLANDS | SOUTH

NORTH – LEEDS CITY CENTRE- 28/05/2016

Map | Clashfinder

MAIN STAGE (Millennium Square – Outdoor)
Panic! At The Disco 9:25 – 10:40pm
New Found Glory 7:45 – 8:55pm
Mallory Knox 6:20 – 7:20pm
Yellowcard 4:55 – 5:55pm
Mayday Parade 3:40 – 4:30pm
Young Guns 2:30 – 3:15pm
Moose Blood 1:30 – 2:05pm

ATLAS STAGE (Cookridge Street – Outdoor)
Of Mice & Men 9:30 – 10:40pm
ISSUES: 8:20 – 9:05pm
Memphis May Fire 7:10 – 7:55pm
The Amity Affliction 6:05 – 6:45pm
Northlane 5:00 – 5:40pm
We Came As Romans 4:00 – 4:35pm
Miss May I: 3:05 – 3:40pm
The Word Alive 2:10 – 2:45pm
coldrain 1:20 – 1:50pm

THE KEY CLUB STAGE (O2 Academy – Indoor)
The Story So Far 9:30 – 10:30pm
Set Your Goals 8:20 – 9:05pm
The Starting Line 7:10 – 7:55pm
Four Year Strong 6:00 – 6:45pm
Real Friends 5:00 – 5:35pm
As It Is 4:00 – 4:35pm
Hit The Lights 3:05 – 3:40pm
ROAM 2:15 – 2:45pm
Trash Boat 1:25 – 1:55pm

DESPERADOS STAGE (Rose Bowl Car Park – Outdoor)
The King Blues 9:45 – 10:45pm
The Beat 8:30 – 9:20pm
Zebrahead 7:15 – 8:05pm
Capdown 6:00 – 6:50pm
King Prawn 4:50 – 5:35pm
Catch-22 3:45 – 4:25pm
The JB Conspiracy 2:50 – 3:20pm
[Spunge] 1:45 – 2:25pm

IMPERICON STAGE (Leeds Beckett Student Union – Indoor)
Every Time I Die 9:45 – 10:45pm
Cancer Bats 8:25 – 9:20pm
Norma Jean 7:15 – 8:00pm
Hacktivist 6:10 – 6:50pm
Heart Of A Coward 5:05 – 5:45pm
Gnarwolves 4:10 – 4:45pm
Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! 3:15 – 3:50pm
WSTR 2:25 – 2:55pm
The One Hundred 1:35 – 2:05pm

FRESH BLOOD STAGE (Leeds Beckett Student Union 2 – Indoor)
New Years Day 8:20 – 9:05pm
Creeper 7:20 – 7:55pm
Blood Youth 6:30 – 7:00pm
Cane Hill 5:40 – 6:10pm
Hellions 4:50 – 5:20pm
Dead! 4:00 – 4:30pm
Boston Manor 3:10 – 3:40pm
Waterparks 2:20 – 2:50pm
With Confidence 1:30 – 2:00pm

UPRAWR STAGE (Rose Bowl Underground – Indoor)
Shikari Sound System (DJ Set) 9:30 – 11:00pm
Bury Tomorrow (DJ Set) 8:00 – 9:30pm
The Qemists 7:15 – 8:00pm
Mel Clarke 6:00 – 7:15pm
Party Blinders 5:00 – 6:00pm
Stokes Lets Go 3:45 – 5:00pm
Astroid Boys 3:00 – 3:45pm
Lee Blackfox 2:00 – 3:00pm
Jack & Lewis 1:00 – 2:00pm

ACOUSTIC / SOLO STAGE (Baa Bar – Indoor)
The Rocket Summer 8:15 – 9:05pm
Rob Lynch 7:20 – 7:55pm
Grumble Bee 6:30 – 7:00pm
Away Days 5:40 – 6:10pm
Greywind 4:50 – 5:20pm
Elder Brother 4:00 – 4:30pm
Seafoal 3:10 – 3:40pm
Lianne Kaye 2:20 – 2:50pm
Bethan Leadley 1:30 – 2:00pm

MIDLANDS – THE NEC, BIRMINGHAM – 29/05/2016

Map | Clashfinder

MAIN STAGE (Genting Arena – Indoor)
Panic! At The Disco 9:25 – 10:40pm
New Found Glory 7:45 – 8:55pm
Mallory Knox 6:20 – 7:20pm
Yellowcard 4:55 – 5:55pm
Mayday Parade 3:40 – 4:30pm
Young Guns 2:30 – 3:15pm
Moose Blood 1:30 – 2:05pm

ATLAS STAGE (Pavilion 1 – Indoor)
Of Mice & Men 9:30 – 10:40pm
Memphis May Fire 8:20 – 9:05pm
ISSUES 7:10 – 7:55pm
The Amity Affliction 6:05 – 6:45pm
Northlane 5:00 – 5:40pm
We Came As Romans 4:00 – 4:35pm
Miss May I 3:05 – 3:40pm
The Word Alive 2:10 – 2:45pm
coldrain 1:20 – 1:50pm

THE KEY CLUB STAGE (Forum Live – Indoor)
The Story So Far 9:55 – 10:55pm
The Starting Line 8:35 – 9:20pm
Four Year Strong 7:25 – 8:10pm
Set Your Goals 6:15 – 7:00pm
Real Friends 5:15 – 5:50pm
As It Is 4:15 – 4:50pm
Hit The Lights 3:15 – 3:50pm
ROAM 2:20 – 2:50pm
Trash Boat 1:25 – 1:55pm

DESPERADOS STAGE (S1 Car Park – Outdoor)
The King Blues 9:45 – 10:45pm
The Beat 8:30 – 9:20pm
Zebrahead 7:15 – 8:05pm
Capdown 6:00 – 6:50pm
King Prawn 4:50 – 5:35pm
Catch-22 3:45 – 4:25pm
[Spunge] 2:40 3:20pm
The JB Conspiracy 1:45 – 2:15pm

IMPERICON STAGE (Pavilion 2 – Indoor)
Every Time I Die 9:45 – 10:45pm
Cancer Bats 8:25 – 9:20pm
Norma Jean 7:15 – 8:00pm
Hacktivist 6:10 – 6:50pm
Heart Of A Coward 5:05 – 5:45pm
Gnarwolves 4:10 – 4:45pm
Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! 3:15 – 3:50pm
WSTR 2:25 – 2:55pm
The One Hundred 1:35 – 2:05pm

FRESH BLOOD STAGE (Piazza – Outdoor)
New Years Day 8:20 – 9:05pm
Creeper 7:20 – 7:55pm
With Confidence 6:30 – 7:00pm
Waterparks 5:40 – 6:10pm
Boston Manor 4:50 – 5:20pm
Blood Youth 4:00 – 4:30pm
Dead! 3:10 – 3:40pm
Cane Hill 2:20 – 2:50pm
Hellions 1:30 – 2:00pm

UPRAWR STAGE (Forum Live (Smoking Area) – Outdoor)
Shikari Sound System (DJ Set) 9:30 – 11:00pm
Bury Tomorrow (DJ Set) 8:00 – 9:30pm
The Qemists 7:15 – 8:00pm
Mel Clarke 6:00 – 7:15pm
Astroid Boys 5:15 – 6:00pm
Stokes Lets Go 4:00 – 5:15pm
Party Blinders 3:00 – 4:00pm
Lee Blackfox 2:00 – 3:00pm
Jack & Lewis 1:00 – 2:00pm

ACOUSTIC / SOLO STAGE (Forum Live 2)
The Rocket Summer 9:20 – 9:55pm
Rob Lynch 8:10 – 8:35pm
Greywind 7:00 – 7:25pm
Grumble Bee 5:50 – 6:15pm
Away Days 4:50 – 5:15pm
Elder Brother 3:50 – 4:15pm
Lianne Kaye 2:50 – 3:15pm
Bethan Leadley 1:55 – 2:20pm
Seafoal 1:00 – 1:25pm

SOUTH – THE FORUM, HERTFORDSHIRE – 30/05/2016

Map | Clashfinder

MAIN STAGE (Hutton Lawn – Outdoor)
Panic! At The Disco 9:25 – 10:40pm
New Found Glory 7:45 – 8:55pm
Mallory Knox 6:20 – 7:20pm
Yellowcard 4:55 – 5:55pm
Mayday Parade 3:40 – 4:30pm
Young Guns 2:30 – 3:15pm
Moose Blood 1:30 – 2:05pm

ATLAS STAGE (Piazza – Outdoor)
Of Mice & Men 09:30 – 10:40pm
ISSUES 8:20 – 9:05pm
Memphis May Fire 7:10 – 7:55pm
The Amity Affliction 6:05 – 6:45pm
Northlane 5:00 – 5:40pm
We Came As Romans 4:00 – 4:35pm
Miss May I 3:05 – 3:40pm
The Word Alive 2:10 – 2:45pm
coldrain 1:20 – 1:50pm

THE KEY CLUB STAGE (Forum (Main Room) – Indoor)
The Story So Far 9:30 – 10:30pm
Four Year Strong 8:20 – 9:05pm
Set Your Goals 7:10 – 7:55pm
The Starting Line 6:00 – 6:45pm
Real Friends 5:00 – 5:35pm
As It Is 4:00 – 4:35pm
Hit The Lights 3:05 – 3:40pm
ROAM 2:15 – 2:45pm
Trash Boat 1:25 – 1:55pm

DESPERADOS STAGE (Road Stage – Outdoor)
The King Blues 9:45 – 10:45pm
The Beat 8:30 – 9:20pm
Zebrahead 7:15 – 8:05pm
Capdown 6:00 – 6:50pm
King Prawn 4:50 – 5:35pm
Catch-22 3:45 – 4:25pm
[Spunge] 2:40 – 3:20pm
The JB Conspiracy 1:45 – 2:15pm

IMPERICON STAGE (Refectory – Indoor)
Every Time I Die 9:45 – 10:45pm
Cancer Bats 8:25 – 9:20pm
Norma Jean 7:15 – 8:00pm
Hacktivist 6:10 – 6:50pm
Heart Of A Coward 5:05 – 5:45pm
Gnarwolves 4:10 – 4:45pm
Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! 3:15 – 3:50pm
WSTR 2:25 – 2:55pm
The One Hundred 1:35 – 2:05pm

FRESH BLOOD STAGE (Attic – Indoor)
New Years Day 8:20 – 9:05pm
Creeper 7:20 – 7:55pm
Boston Manor 6:30 – 7:00pm
Hellions 5:40 – 6:10pm
Dead! 4:50 – 5:20pm
Cane Hill 4:00 – 4:30pm
Waterparks 3:10 – 3:40pm
With Confidence 2:20 – 2:50pm
Blood Youth 1:30 – 2:00pm

UPRAWR STAGE (Hutton Lawn 2 – Outdoor)
Shikari Sound System (DJ Set) 9:30 – 11:00pm
Bury Tomorrow (DJ Set) 8:00 – 9:30pm
The Qemists 7:15 – 8:00pm
Mel Clarke 6:00 – 7:15pm
Party Blinders 5:00 – 6:00pm
Stokes Lets Go 3:45 – 5:00pm
Astroid Boys 3:00 – 3:45pm
Lee Blackfox 2:00 – 3:00pm
Jack & Lewis 1:00 – 2:00pm

ACOUSTIC / SOLO STAGE (Style Bar – Indoor)
The Rocket Summer 8:15 – 9:05pm
Rob Lynch 7:20 – 7:55pm
Away Days 6:30 – 7:00pm
Greywind 5:40 – 6:10pm
Grumble Bee 4:50 – 5:20pm
Elder Brother 4:00 – 4:30pm
Bethan Leadley 3:10 – 3:40pm
Seafoal 2:20 – 2:50pm
Lianne Kaye 1:30 – 2:00pm

Slam Dunk Festival links: Website|Facebook|Twitter|Instagram

View more of Already Heard’s coverage from Slam Dunk Festival 2016 here.

Words by Sêan Reid (SR), Edward Leyland (EL) and Lucy Jones (LJ).