Top Ten Bands You Must Watch At Slam Dunk Festival 2023

Bringing the bands and bevs to bank holidays since 2006, Slam Dunk Festival has become the UK’s festival season curtain raiser. Celebrating all things pop-punk, metalcore, and ska, this year’s edition supersizes the fun, with headline sets from pop-punk legends THE OFFSPRING and UK chart-toppers ENTER SHIKARI, as well as reunion shows, album sets, and the scene’s freshest talent.Whether you’re hitting up Hatfield House or Temple Newsam, we pick out ten bands from 2023’s billing that are worth singing your heart out and jumping into the pit for.

ZAND – Amazon/Rock Scene Stage

Sex-positive anthems? Check. Middle fingers to abusers? Check. Horny gremlins? Er, check. Before ENTER SHIKARI can splice genres up for dinner, ugly-popper ZAND is here to take the torch in their festival-opening set. With new EP SEWERSTAR set to soundtrack the summer, catch ZAND steal the show at Slam Dunk Festival. From scream-pop banger I Spit On Your Grave to the goosebump-inducing lighters in the air glow of Battery Acid, to their pop-grime calling card Slut Money; there’s anthems to match the theatrics, whether it’s songs produced by vibrators or feigned gunshots mid-song. Don’t get stuck at the doors, get in early for this one.

HERIOT – Knotfest Stage

If like us, you like your metal so heavy it puts hairs on your chest like a hot bowl of porridge, you’ll already know catching HERIOT open up the Knotfest Stage is a non-negotiable. Since unleashing last year’s future-of-British-metal blueprint – aka Profound Morality – they’ve shared stages with LAMB OF GOD, bumped fists with the folks at Marshall Amplifications, and slayed sets at 2000trees, Bloodstock, and Download. Fresh out of the studio, and off of their first-ever UK headlining tour, with deliriously heavy new single Demure in tow, they arrive at Slam Dunk Festival with one goal in mind: cause chaos and conquer all.

SCENE QUEEN – The Key Club Stage

Slam Dunk Festival doesn’t shy away from showcasing future stars. Last year gave CASSYETTE the spotlight, whilst this year, it’s alt-metal popstar SCENE QUEEN set to steal the spotlight on The Key Club Stage. SCENE QUEEN’s shows are known for whipping up pips, and stirring up sing-alongs; her undeniably infectious mix of modern-pop, glitch-rock, nu-metal, and everything in between setting her apart from everyone. Better yet, readymade anthems 18+ and Pink Whitney won’t only challenge genre conventions, but challenge social norms too, standing up against abusers and groomers in the industry. SCENE QUEEN is the future of the scene. Don’t believe us? Don’t worry, her Slam Dunk Festival set should convince you.

MOVEMENTS – The Kerrang! Tent

Emo revivalists MOVEMENTS might’ve made waves mixing up a potent potion of post-hardcore, alt-rock, and spoken word with 2017’s Feel Something and 2020’s No Good Left To Give. Coming loaded with evolutionary new singles Killing Time and Lead Pipe, MOVEMENTS’ Slam Dunk Festival set is their shot to jump from future stars to scene leaders. With classic cuts Full Circle and Skin To Skin catching fire at last year’s Outbreak Fest, you won’t want to miss one for the history books, and grab yourself a space before the tent taps out from capacity.

KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES – Amazon/Rock Scene Stage

Nine years after giving up the ghost at Cardiff University’s Student Union, alt-rockers KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES reignite the fire and prove the best is yet to come. If the chance to catch the Welshmen Dance All Night once more isn’t enough, they’re celebrating 15 years of their debut album Smart Casual by playing the album from start-to-finish. Made for sun-soaked sing-alongs, there’s no denying the nostalgic love we long to give Easy Tiger and Give Me What I Want, as well as deeper cuts like Shameless and Church Tongue.

NOAHFINNCE – The Key Club Stage

YouTuber. Mental Health advocate. Queer icon. NOAHFINNCE has achieved a lot in just quarter of a century on Planet Earth. And as Slam Dunk Festival approaches, he’s set to add pop-punk superstar to the list. Storming the stage with more energy than a Red Bull factory, don’t be surprised to see thousands scrambling to the front and singing their hearts out. Whether it’s the outcast anthem WORMS (In My Brain) or modern classic Underachiever, don’t miss your chance to catch a future headliner in the making.

LESS THAN JAKE – The Dickies Stage

It’s half six, the sun is shining, the bevs are flowing, and ska-punk legends LESS THAN JAKE are celebrating their classic album Hello Rockview in full. No, you’re not dreaming – Slam Dunk Festival have secured the goods. From opener Last One Out Of Liberty City’s frenetic sax, through to History Of A Boring Town’s woah-oh sing-alongs, onto coming-of-age closer Al’s War; they’ll be singing, they’ll be dancing, and they’ll be all the fun of the fair. And let’s be honest, what’s better than a crowd of thousands skanking in a field to All My Friends Are Metalheads?

CREEPER – The Kerrang! Tent

Co-headliners CREEPER will bring the Ghost Brigade to their first show on British soil since that night at The Roundhouse last year. Closing their Sex, Death & The Infinite Void chapter by beheading frontman Will Gould right on stage, there’s no telling what the theatrical horror-punks will pull next. Whether it’s the tease of new material, the festival-conquering sing-alongs of Misery and Annabelle, or the tent-shaking chaos of Napalm Girls and Hiding With Boys; you better be front and centre for this one.

MALEVOLENCE – Knotfest Stage

The undisputed kings of modern hardcore, Sheffield’s MALEVOLENCE arrive at Slam Dunk Festival with Malicious Intent. If 2022 saw the Sheffield slammers break down the door, headlining Bloodstock Open Air’s Sophie Lancaster Stage, then their Knotfest Stage headliner at Slam Dunk Festival is the victory lap they deserve. On Broken Glass will break necks, Still Waters Run Deep will supercharge slam-dancing, and The Other Side will have you singing into your drinks. Arguably one of Britain’s best live bands, don’t miss them wage war once and for all.

ENTER SHIKARI – Amazon/Rock Scene Stage

No strangers to a Slam Dunk Festival stage, chart-topping genre-hoppers ENTER SHIKARI will celebrate their number one album, A Kiss For The Whole World, and close out the Amazon/Rock Scene Stage. Armed with more bangers than a butchers, and enough lasers and lights to see the festival from stage, there’s ample opportunity to sing your heart out to anthems like It Hurts and Live Outside and slam through the pits to Sorry You’re Not A Winner. Don’t miss these national treasures crowning their triumphant victory for alternative music.

SDF South will take place on Saturday May 27th 2023 at Hatfield Park, Hatfield and SDF North will take place on Sunday May 28th at Temple Newsam, Leeds.

For more information on Slam Dunk Festival like their official page on Facebook.