It really is the most wonderful time of the year, it’s finally festival season and kicking us off as they do every May Bank Holiday, it’s the first alternative Christmas of the year – Slam Dunk North is back for another stacked year at their home in Leeds Temple Newsam Park.

Each year Slam Dunk go bigger and bigger, this year they have pulled out all the stops with one of the biggest and best line-ups bringing together alternative fans from all over for one hell of a party. With last years mud slide being feared again, that view of sunshine as we walked through the festival gates with a Monster in hand instantly lifted the spirits of everyone one site – the prayers were still there of a dry year as I don’t think my Vans would survive two years in a row.

With the gates opening nice and early, it was straight to the Kerrang! Stage for todays first act and a band I’ve been really looking forward to watching again. Lake Malice always produce such a killer live show every time and to have them kick start today is the perfect way to go. Wasting absolutely no time, they kick off with the incredible ‘Blossom’, the type of song that’s suited to perfection to open up a pit and a festival set. The energy on the stage was eventually matched in the crowd as we seen our first pit of the day for ‘Mitsuko’, the best part of the pit is that it was started by guitarist Blake Cornwall who gets into the crowd and demands a circle pit around him as he kicks in with the drop on the song – such a fun thing to watch in the set and something that’s stuck since they started doing it.

Singer Alice Guala’s vocals always hit hard and her screams are absolutely crushing – the leaps this band is taking is fully deserved and they are showing time and time again why they are taking slots like this and playing to a big ass crowd at 11:30 in the morning. With a stacked summer line-up, be sure to catch them as the return to the UK in July to play Rader & 2000Trees Festivals.

The steps are well and truly getting in today as it’s quickly off to the main stage east for the next two bands. First up we are treated to a new force in the metal scene with a shredding performance from Defects. With their mind-blowing debut album ‘Modern Error’ exactly a year old this weekend, they celebrate in style by opening this stage. A set made up mainly of that record, they received a well-deserved reception from a big crowd that turned out to watch them. Fans were also treated to new music, ‘Heretic’ went off and gives a nice indication of the next chapter for this band.

Next we remain at the main stage east for a band who just go from strength to strength and coming into their first Slam Dunk weekend straight off the back of a huge response to latest huge single ‘Bittersweet Scars of My Past’, Dream State are here to cause a scene. With a jam packed summer ahead of them including appearances at Radar Festival and Rock For People as well as supporting Funeral For a Friend in Cardiff, they are shaping their own path in the scene. Fronted by Jessie Powell, the band always produce a high energy live show and today’s set was no different - setting the tone with the incredible ‘Still Dreaming’ sending the crowd into a frenzy straight away, regardless of how early it may be, both fans and band are fully in the mood for this. This weekend is the perfect time to drop their new single, with it only being a week old the crowd still ate it up and gave it the reception is deserved - Jessie told us that this is her favourite release so far and the love it’s receiving is incredible. I also need to give a shoutout to personal favourites in the set like ‘Chin Up Princess’, ‘Hand In Hand’ & ‘Primrose’ that always go hard in any setting. So much positivity can be said about the Dream State live experience however the biggest thing to take away from it is a sense of belonging - weather you come solo or with a group, you are never alone and that’s one thing that stands out with this band, it’s a family togetherness feel.

It’s off to The Key Club stage now to catch up with one of the most exciting new bands in the UK right now. With a big headline tour just announced as well as their huge support slots with You Me at Six, Leicester’s Mouth Culture are quickly gaining well deserved attention and their set proved exactly why that is. From the minute they step on stage, they produce nothing but high energy, passion and chaos - their live show and sound make them stand out from the rest and it really is a true testament to their talents. With a tent packed with eager viewers, they waste no time in getting down and dirty. Unleashing big tunes like ‘No Shame’, ‘Cherry Red Rage’ and latest killer single ‘Ratbag’. they produce one of the best sets of the day and I’ve not even had lunch yet. These guys are powering forward with a lot of momentum and are showing that they can more than hold their own with the big names.

This year, They Key Club stage certainly produced some of the best new names in the scene and back to back we were treated to two bands who have quickly risen in recent months. First up is that famous windbreaker band, Graphic Nature. The Kent boys are fresh off a huge UK/EU tour with Thrown and are ready to bring their chaotic set to the festival circuit. I love everything about watching these guys live, not only are the songs we scream back at them special for a verity of personal reasons but its a safe space to let yourself go and go wild for however long the set is - Harvey Freeman and co give absolutely everything they have on stage and that was certainly matched by todays crowd. From the opening riff of ‘Headstone’ to the final drop of ‘Fractured’, the pits were on top form throughout this, setting my age aside, it was still hard to keep up.

South Arcade are another band that is sweeping their way through the music scene right now - from huge festival appearances and support slots and Heavy Music Award nominations, 2025 has really been the biggest in this bands career. The speed they are going, there has got to be a main stage slot coming soon. Despite the fact they play Big Weekend in Liverpool just hours before, you’d never have known with the energy they brought with them. Big fan favourites ‘Nepo Baby’ & ‘How 2 Get Away With Murder’ really raised the volume with the crowd shouting back every word. There is a common theme with every band I’ve caught today and it’s that they’re all so fun to experience live - that is certainly something you can file this band under, even just watching them bounce around the stage fills you with so much happiness because you can tell just how they enjoy life up there. They may finish off their set with ‘Stone Cold Summer’, but things are only just heating up for this band.

We now turn our attention to one of tonight’s headliners, and to see Hot Milk top a stage at a major festival is a special thing to witness. With their second album just around the corner, it’s fitting to see all their hard work over the years come together and get a headline slot. Despite only being from down the road in Manchester, this has a big homecoming feel, despite clashing with the main stage headliners, the fans came in their numbers to watch the chaos club. Any Hot Milk show always has the same burst of chaotic energy both on and off stage - singer Han Mee always brings the party vibes weather it’s in a club venue or headlining a stage at Slam Dunk. ‘Insubordinate Ingerland’ has only been out for a short time so of course it was tonight’s opener and the reception was like a World Cup winner coming home. They continue the onslaught of bangers with ‘Horror Show’ and ‘I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I’M DEAD’ completing a killer opening 3 songs barely giving anyone the time to catch their breath.

With a lot of bands that I love, there is always one song that triggers the emotional side and makes it near impossible to listen with a dry eye - ‘Breathing Underwater’ is one of those songs. The sheer emotion that has been put into this song and the meaning behind it really makes it special to hear live and to sing your heart out like its only you watching the band, it’s moments like this that make everything you do in life worth it.

The middle to end part of the set was of course filled with chaotic anthems that were made to send crowds wild - ‘ Split Personality’ being another personal favourite, Jim’s screams during the breakdown really does channel something inside that makes it near impossible to stand still. ‘Bad Influence’ & ‘PARTY ON MY DEATHBED’ would complete proceedings before the encore was brought to a close with the classic ‘Glass Spiders’. This was 100% a set for the Slam Dunk history books and something I was proud to witness and be a part of. Next up for the chaos club will be album number two followed by their biggest headline tour to date in November.

Thankfully I was lucky enough to catch what was lest of A Day To Remembers mammoth headline slot getting down to the main stage just in time to scream ‘disrespect your surroundings’, although a spectacle to witness live, very upset to have just missed the famous Kelly Clarkson cover ‘Since U Been Gone’. A stand out moment of this set was to catch some of the new material in live form, the new record ‘Big Ol Album Vol 1’ is incredible from start to finish and to hear ‘Le Bron’ and ‘Feedback’ live was a real moment. ‘Miracle’ was an instant hit as soon as it landed in 2022, the breakdown hits hard in typical ADTR fashion and it’s even bigger live, plenty of fire on stage and lots of headbanging off, its just the perfect mix.

A big crowd singalong is always special, when it comes to ‘If It Mean’s A Lot To You’, the singalong doesn’t get much better than this - people on shoulders, hugging friends all singing beautifully in unison to a song that really does mean a lot to so many and will forever be a special moment in every set they do. They round off in style with a tone of confetti and streamers to the sounds of ‘All Signs Point To Lauderdale’ completing what was a very explosive set filled with the old and the new.

And there we have it. Slam Dunk 2025 sadly comes to a close and might just be the best one yet. The changes made to the site both inside and out really showed the dedication that the organisers have to making this thee best festival. Each little detail that goes in to making this festival what it is, is exactly the reason why it is one of the best. The team at Slam Dunk work tirelessly all year round to build this weekend and to book the biggest bills you’ll see. It’s always such a privilege to play a small part in attending this festival.

Next year will see Slam Dunk turn 20 and we can be certain they will be going bigger than ever. Will YOU be there?

Festival Review: Slam Dunk North

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Festival Review: Slam Dunk North

Festival Review: Live at Leeds In the Park

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