Gig Review: Slam Dunk Festival 2022 at Hatfield House 4/6/22

Slam Dunk Festival 2022 has come and gone and it was another great day of friends, fun, food and fantastic music. After a train journey where I accidentally got on the wrong train and brought some strangers with us, Emma and I arrived an hour before the opening band was due to start and met up with our group. Once everyone had gathered, we made our way into the festival. After getting through the ticket barrier, we were held in some kind of holding area before we were allowed in to the main festival arena. We later found out there was a problem with the card reader machines at the bars so the organisers made the decision to get people to wait outside for longer before they let us in.

 

Once inside we made our way to the Dickies stage, where we would spend the majority of our day, to see opening act The Suicide Machines. Their set started at 11.40am which was pretty silly but showed just what a stacked line up the stage had in store for the day. This was the band’s first time back in the UK in almost twenty years and it was good to see a nice sized crowd gathered early to see them. When the band appeared and began their set you could certainly tell from the crowd’s stillness that it was still oh so early for a punk show. So, after playing one song, the band’s lead singer Jay Navarro climbed into the crowd and decided to spend the rest of the set there. This was a masterclass on how to control a crowd, as from then on the set got rowdier and rowdier. Jay was passing the microphone around the crowd giving plenty of people the chance to have a sing and it was a lot of fun. I was really impressed with how smoothly things ran despite the chaos that was happening. They played a mixture of old favourites such as Break The Glass, High Anxiety and of course New Girl, alongside some songs from their most recent album, Revolution Spring. This was the perfect way to start the day and I was pumped to see them do a full set the next night at the New Cross Inn.

After Suicide Machines we made our way to the Rock Scene stage for Meet Me @ The Altar. Meet Me @ The Altar are one of the most exciting new bands in the scene and I was keen to check them out – it was great to see that I wasn’t the only one as the tent was very busy. Playing a mixture of pop punk and easycore, MMATA were the perfect Slam Dunk Festival band, displaying plenty of energy on the stage as the band jumped around the stage. This energy poured over into the crowd who responded in kind. One of the highlights of the set was when they played Hit Like A Girl and dedicated it to all the women in the crowd. This lead to a couple of ladies in the crowd getting on their friend’s shoulders. Then a chap also decided to do this, I get that he was having fun and enjoying the band but perhaps read the room, mate. The band also did a fun and slightly cheesy cover song medley where they played Sweetness by Jimmy Eat World, My Friends Over You by New Found Glory, My Own Worst Enemy by Lit and Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit. This was a fun moment that was a nice nod to the band’s musical roots and something very fun for the crowd. This was the band’s first time in the UK but I expect that we’ll be seeing them many more times in the future.

Next on the agenda was seeing a bit of Hot Water Music. We had a while to kill before then though so decided to grab some food. I enjoyed a delicious vegan hot dog before heading back to the Dickies stage. We had only planned to see a bit of Hot Water Music as they clashed with another band but we did manage to get four songs, including my personal favourite HWM song Wayfarer. The band had had some issues with their airline misplacing their gear but thankfully they were able to borrow stuff from the other bands and the show was able to go on. The band sounded in top form and it was difficult to pull myself away to go see and the next band.

Pinkshift were one of the bands I was most excited to check out. We headed over to the Key Club tent, a tent with two stages dedicated to the newer bands on the scene, as the band were just about to start. Pinkshift were another band who were making their first appearances in the UK and I was very pleased to see the size of the crowd that had gathered. It was also a super enthusiastic crowd which is always great to see. Pinkshift play a fun mix of 90s grunge and 2000s pop punk that works wonderfully well. I was under the impression that the band was a three piece but for the tour they have become a five piece which gave them a massive sound. Their front person Ashrita Kumar was extremely powerful onstage, I struggled to keep my eyes off them. With a big voice and an endless supply of energy, they put everything they had into the performance and it’s so pleasing to see. The same can be said of their bandmates who bounced around the stage throughout. Pinkshift are the future of pop punk. They’ve just signed to Hopeless Records so expect to hear some exciting new songs soon!

After Pinkshift, we headed back to the Dickies stage for the band I was probably most excited for – actual punk rock legends in the form of The Vandals. I’ve been wanting to see The Vandals for the best part of twenty years and have never managed it. They were the last of the bands I loved when I was getting into punk rock that I was desperate to see live but never have. I had kind of resigned myself to the fact that I was probably never going to get the chance. I was very happy to be proven wrong. When they took to the stage I left our group of friends who were hanging out by the sound tent and near enough ran down towards the front to get the best possible position. Now, I said in our preview podcast that I was fully expecting to be disappointed by the set, as I had hyped it up to myself so much and I wondered how well their humour would translate in 2022, but I was very pleased to see my concerns were unwarranted. The Vandals were everything I hoped they would be. They played a set full of my favourite songs, played really well and cracked me up. Any band that has Brooks Wackerman playing drums for them is going to be super tight and I was so impressed by Warren Fitzgerald’s incredible guitar playing whilst also being the silliest person at the festival. The Vandals are all about having as much fun as possible and the crowd responded really well to them. I assume there were a lot of other people in the crowd who had waited years to see the band and everyone lapped it up. Highlights of the set included People That Are Going To Hell, It’s A Fact, Oi To The World, I’ve Got An Ape Drape, My Girlfriend’s Dead and cover Don’t Stop Me Now where Warren took over lead vocals and hid behind a banner having off the side of the stage. It was wonderful and I hope it’s not so long before The Vandals return, hopefully for their own tour.

Streetlight Manifesto were next to take to the Dickies stage and there was an excitement in the air. Streetlight are another band that rarely play anywhere and haven’t been to the UK for a long, long time. We’d gone for a quick lap of the festival site to stretch our legs between the Vandals and Streetlight Manifesto sets but made it back as the band were soundchecking. It seemed as if they had been having some trouble with the sound which I think delayed the start of their set. However, as soon as the band started the set with A Moment Of Violence, all of the waiting was forgotten and the crowd went off. It felt like everyone around me was not only singing along to every word but every horn line as well. I stood in awe witnessing the technical proficiency that the band play with. I’ve been fortunate enough to watch some very skilled bands over the years but not many come close to touching Streetlight. If it’s possible, they’re potentially too good. Streetlight aren’t a band that talk much between songs (which was a big contrast to The Vandals), instead they focus on blasting through their set. If I’m being completely honest, this took something away from the set for me as it felt too well rehearsed but, as the songs are so long, I guess it meant they could squeeze more in to the set. And let’s be honest, we see Streetlight for the music not the banter. Dan #2 and I spoke on the CPRW Podcast about how next time we see Streetlight we hope it will be at their own show rather than a festival so we can get more deep cuts in the set, hopefully that’s a thing that will happen again one day.

Mom Jeans were next on our itinerary. The four piece were playing on the Key Club stage and we made our way over as soon as Streetlight Manifesto finished their set. Earlier in the week Emma and I had been in North London for The Flatliners gig at Tufnell Park. Before the gig we stopped in Camden for some pizza and passed the Underworld where Mom Jeans had been headlining. They had a huge queue waiting to get in at around 6pm and from everything I’ve heard from friends who went it was a very special night. I had listened to them a bit in preparation for Slam Dunk and enjoyed their take on jangly emo/pop punk so decided I would go and check them out. This was a fantastic decision (well done me) as they put on a fantastic show. Despite not knowing the songs they played well at all, I felt super included in the set just from the fantastic atmosphere that the crowd had created. We were all there to see a top band do their thing and have a great time. Festivals are always a great opportunity to go and see bands that you perhaps wouldn’t normally and I’m very pleased I caught Mom Jeans. Also the best dancer of the weekend award has to go to the band’s bass player, supplying some sick and dope moves.

After a brief comfort break, we headed back to the Dickies stage to see the end of Pennywise’s set. We caught Society, their cover of Stand By Me, Fuck Authority and Bro Hymn and that was enough to keep me happy. Pennywise are such a good festival band, they have such a big following and they always play the big hits that’ll keep their fans happy. Even if you don’t know much of Pennywise’s back catalogue, there’s no doubt you know Fuck Authority and Bro Hymn and will have sung your lungs out with the band to the choruses of both songs. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Pennywise and I’m glad they never change.

I think one of the bands our group was most excited to see was The Interrupters. The Californians have played a huge role in making ska punk cool again and are one of the best live bands in the world at the moment. They’re also an absolutely perfect festival band with their songs about family, friendship, unity and empowerment. Being surrounded by so many friends and likeminded people seeing The Interrupters is a special feeling, especially with the content of their songs. After the last couple of years, these messages hit home harder than ever. With only forty-five minutes for their set The Interrupters powered through, seemingly trying to squeeze as many songs in as possible and I personally really appreciated it. We got to hear so many favourites, a couple of brand new songs and I nice covers medley. I’ve seen them play a similar covers medley before where they teased playing songs from bands from San Francisco. They’ve now changed this up a bit where they teased playing songs from Epitaph Records releases instead. They played intros to Keep Em Separated by The Offspring, Linoleum by NOFX and Ruby Soho by Rancid, before settling on playing a full cover of Sorrow by Bad Religion. I’d love to hear a recorded version of the cover. This was my fourth time seeing The Interrupters live and something that’s always seriously impressed me was how tight and slick the band are, there aren’t many better at the moment. They’re back in the UK for a full tour in a couple of months and they’ll have UK ska favourites The Skints and Bar Stool Preachers as support. Those will be special nights.

We headed back to the Dickies stage next to see The Flatliners. It was kind of weird to see the band play this tent as it seemed to be more of a new band stage and The Flatliners are anything but new. After seeing them play a full headline set a couple of days earlier we knew they were in top form and were looking forward to seeing the band playing more of a ‘best of’ set. And that’s exactly what we got. Songs such as Resuscitation Of The Year, Carry The Banner, Count Your Bruises, Monumental and set closer Eulogy sounded as good as ever. Chris Cresswell has one of the most consistently brilliant voices in punk rock. In the space of a few days I’d heard him sing in a venue, outside with Hot Water Music and then inside a tent with the Flatliners. All three times he sounded brilliant. The Flatliners provided half an hour of pure sing-along joy before we headed back to the Dickies stage.

When we arrived at back to the Dickies stage Boston’s Dropkick Murphys were already in full swing. We met back up with our group and all quickly realised something was not right at all with the sound. We were stood very central with the stage and all we could really hear was the bass. Admittedly, from looking at the set list from the day before, we knew that we wouldn’t know many of the songs they were playing (the majority of our group were a bunch of old school DKM fans who hadn’t listened to a lot of the band’s newer material) so that didn’t help but even songs like Worker’s Song and Barroom Hero sounded off because of the loud bass. I had theorised that the setlist was as it was because lead singer Al Barr hadn’t been able to make the tour due to important family commitments so you’ve got to commend the rest of the band for soldiering on without him. Unfortunately, I did find this set quite disappointing and I don’t think I was the only one. Maybe I should have taken the time to really listen to the band’s latest album Turn Up That Dial before going to see them.

While most of our group stayed at The Dickies stage for headliners Sum 41, we decided to head back to the Key Club one last time to see Nova Twins before catching the end of the Canadian pop punk legends. Nova Twins are a band from London who have been making waves in the UK alternative scene. I didn’t know much about them other than the bit of research I had done for my preview but I was looking forward to witnessing them live. As they confidently strode onto the stage it felt like something big was about to happen. Despite Sum 41 playing just two minutes away, I was impressed by the size of the crowd that gathered. I also enjoyed how diverse the crowd looked. There were folk from all walks of life ready to party with the band. Mixing punk, hip hop and rave music, the set offered something for everyone. It was a powerful set which I have no doubt moved a lot of people in the crowd. Whether you were a long time fan of Nova Twins or you popped in because you didn’t fancy watching Sum 41, I am certain you were transfixed on what was happening on the stage. The band’s singer had this great swagger about them whilst the bassist gleefully hopped around the stage with boundless energy. Coming away from the set I was of the opinion that, of all the bands in the UK at the moment, Nova Twins should be band that the mainstream press should be really getting behind. Not only are they an excellent band but they feel important and something the alternative music scene really needs right now.

After Nova Twins, we made our journey back to the Dickies stage one last time for Sum 41. Sum 41 are a band I grew up on as a teenager but had never seen live. We arrived back at the stage as the band were halfway through their set. We attempted to get back to the spot we had been in all day with our friends but it was so crowded there was no way of getting back in. Unfortunately, we were really far back and struggled to get any kind of decent view. We could see that the band had a massive inflatable devil on stage with them as well as fire and a full light show. It looked to be a very impressive sight and it was nice to have something interesting to look at, as I could barely see the members of the band. I think this was part of the problem of having no real clashes for the headliner. There were sooooo many people there. From what I’ve heard from friends after the festival, Sum 41 put on a superb show and showed why they have achieved all they have in their career. The songs I did get to hear the band play included In Too Deep, Queen’s We Will Rock You, Fat Lip and Still Waiting. Some top tier Sum 41 and a classic cover.

After Sum 41’s set, everyone in the festival made the slow walk back to the buses and trains in an attempt to get back home. This sadly proved harder than we had hoped due to disruptions on the train line but we eventually made it home after what was a fun filled day. For whatever reason, Slam Dunk does seem to get a lot of stick from people. I’m sure a lot of the time it’s warranted but I always see Slam Dunk as a great day out with my friends watching bands we perhaps wouldn’t normally go and see. No doubt you’ll see me back at Hatfield House in 2023.

This review was written by Colin Clark.

Column: Slam Dunk Festival 2022 Preview

Slam Dunk Festival 2022 has really come around quickly, hasn’t it? This probably is because 2021’s edition of the festival only took place in September due to easing of Covid-19 restrictions. It was a great day out and I have many fond memories and now I’m looking forward to spending another day in Hatfield (hopefully in the sunshine) with lots of my friends and watching lots of fantastic bands. Slam Dunk always put on an absolutely stacked line up with heavy hitters from most points of the alternative music umbrella.

Obviously, we’re most excited for the punk and ska stuff that’s happening at The Dickies stage. With no Punk In Drublic stage this year and Rancid and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones both pulling out early doors, the Slam Dunk organisers have really put together a mega line up. However, one complaint that Slam Dunk and many other festivals quite rightly get is the lack of diversity on the line ups. So, instead of doing my standard picks for the festival, I’m going to focus in on the acts that have members who don’t identify as men or have people of colour in them. It’s great to see these bands being included on the line up and it’s really a great step in the right direction of having a more inclusive line up at the festival.

As December Falls
Nottingham’s As December Falls are an alternative rock four piece. The band released their first EP in 2016 and have since released two further full lengths. If you’re unaware of their sound (like I was) then the easiest comparison is probably Paramore. Their songs are packed with plenty of hooks and lead singer Bethany Curtis has a really impressive vocal. I imagine this young band are already turning a lot of heads in their scene and look to get bigger and bigger with a set at 2000 Trees also scheduled for 2022. As December Falls play on the Key Club Stage.

Hot Milk
Hot Milk are a dual fronted emo power-pop band from Manchester. Starting with just a bottle of wine and an acoustic guitar, Hot Milk have developed a huge sound and are seemingly unafraid to explore different sounds in their music. The two different vocalists complement each other well and the breakdowns in their songs look set to start some mega pits. Catch Hot Milk on the Rock Scene Stage.

The Interrupters
California’s The Interrupters have played a big part in bringing ska punk back to the forefront of the punk scene in recent years. Following the release of their album Fight The Good Fight, the band really blew up and deservedly so. After Rancid decided to drop off Slam Dunk this year, I don’t think the organisers could’ve got a more like for like replacement. Singing songs of friendship, family and unity, The Interrupters are one of the can’t miss bands of the entire weekend. The Interrupters are playing the Dickies Stage.

KennyHoopla
Ohio’s KennyHoopla combines indie punk with elements of hip hop, pop punk and new wave. Despite their young age, Kenny has been making big waves in the scene and has already earned big tour support slots with the likes of Yungblud and Machine Gun Kelly. It seems like Kenny is on the way to some very big things and it won’t be many more years until they are placed much higher up the bill. Jump on the KennyHoopla train at the Rock Scene Stage.

Magnolia Park
Magnolia Park only formed in 2019 so the fact that they have found their way onto the Slam Dunk line up already is a testament to how highly thought of the Orlando, Florida, based band are. The pop punk band have a massive sound and write songs fit for big arenas. I particularly like their message of inclusivity and their desire to have a pop punk genre where people of all backgrounds are represented on and off the stage. Magnolia Park could become a very important band in the pop punk scene in the years to come. Magnolia Park are on the Key Club Stage.

Meet Me @ The Altar
Meet Me @ The Altar are one of the most exciting new bands in pop punk. Taking elements of 2000s pop punk and giving it a fresh sound, MMATA are going to earn thousands of new fans at Slam Dunk Festival. They’ve been hotly tipped for a couple of years now and have recently signed to Fueled By Ramen, the home of bands such as Fall Out Boy, Panic At The Disco, Paramore and All Time Low – that’s some really impressive company. The three piece look set to be the next massive success story for the label. I’m looking forward to seeing Meet Me @ The Altar at Rock Scene Stage.

Nova Twins
It’s amazing to see two black women headlining the Key Club Stage at Slam Dunk. And it’s very much deserved. Amy Love and Georgia South bring together heavy basslines, dashes of electronics and a grimey punk attitude to create their own self described sound of Urban Punk. A very unique band in the alternative scene that will command your attention. Catch them headlining the Key Club Stage.

Pinkshift
I was so pleased when I saw Pinkshift announced for Slam Dunk 2022. The three piece have been one of my favourite discoveries of the past couple of years and I’m pleased to see everyone else becoming a fan of the band as well. Combining the heaviness of 90s grunge along with the irrepressible hooks of 2000s pop punk, Pinkshift have enough crossover appeal for fans of the crunchier and softer sides of pop punk. Do not miss Pinkshift! They play the Key Club Stage.

The Summer Set
The Summer Set are a long running pop rock band from Arizona, USA. Their original run was between 2007 and 2017 but in 2021 the four piece announced they would be reforming. I assume that means that Slam Dunk Festival is their first time back in the UK since they reformed so that’s got to be so exciting for fans of the band. The Summer Set are playing the Rock Sound Stage.

Yours Truly
Yours Truly are flying over all the way from Australia for Slam Dunk Festival. The pop punk act have been making big waves in their homeland with their debut album, Self Care, peaking at number 19 in the album charts. An incredible achievement. Now the four piece are gearing up for their next release and have already released a couple of new singles this year from their forthcoming EP. Yours Truly play the Rock Sound Stage.

This column was written by Colin Clark.

Gig Review: Slam Dunk Festival 2021, South, Hatfield House 5/9/21

Slam Dunk 2021 actually happened and I have to say immediately it was one of the most fun days I’ve had in years. My attendance, since this edition of the festival was first announced back in 2019, was most likely not going to happen. It originally clashed with another festival I had tickets for (Bristol Booze Cruise), then a lot of the bands I was most keen to see had to drop out and with the ones that did remain, I was super sceptical about them coming over. Booze Cruise, along with every other event, got cancelled or postponed because of that bloody worldwide pandemic so that clash went away. As the festival’s new date began to get closer, I began to get more of an itch to attend the festival but I continued to hold out on getting a ticket until the last possible moment. That moment being when I knew that some of the overseas bands that were booked were in the country but that they were also allowed out of the airport. I was also waiting to hear back from Slam Dunk about a press pass but sadly that didn’t happen (hey, Slam Dunk, next year yeah?).

The day of the festival arrived and I had to set out early. I live in Bedfordshire, not far from Hatfield House where Slam Dunk takes place at all. But because of having to get all sorts of connecting trains at different points, my journey was far more complicated than it should have been. Why is it that trains only go up and down and not across around these parts? I also wanted to make sure to get to the festival site with enough time to get through the ticket area with plenty of time to get to the Punk In Drublic stage for the opening band. As the build up for the festival grew there had been a lot of drama on the festival social media posts about tickets not being sent out and kids getting stressed and confused about the COVID-19 protocols that would allow you access to the festival site. I expected getting in to take longer than usual. This couldn’t have been further from the truth. After meeting up with my friends we strolled up to the gate and basically walked straight through. To be completely honest, I was a bit concerned that the chap who checked my COVID passport barely looked at it at all – I hope the rest of the people working the gate were more thorough!

To start the day we made our way to the Punk In Drublic stage which was returning to Slam Dunk for the second year. I have memories of the first Punk In Drublic stage at Slam Dunk being opened by California’s The Bombpops and them playing to a huge crowd. Unfortunately the crowd that greeted Sweden’s The Baboon Show wasn’t quite so big but that didn’t stop the rock ’n’ roll foursome putting on a big show to start the day. They played a blend of heavy rock and punk that I think would have sounded great in an indoor setting but perhaps didn’t translate as well on a sunny, outdoor stage. It was a spirited performance though with the band clearly masters at working a crowd. I assume that the band were new to the majority of people in attendance and I’m certain that they came away as new fans of The Baboon Show. They’ll be back next year for a tour with the legendary Descendents.

Next we made the journey over to the Key Club stage for the Popes Of Chillitown. Regular readers of CPRW will know of our love of the Popes. We’ve been watching them live for years and it was amazing to see them get the chance to play at a festival like Slam Dunk. As they only had a thirty minute set it meant that the band could only squeeze in about five songs. This didn’t stop them from putting on one hell of a show for the massive crowd that had gathered to see them. These guys have spent years on the road in the UK and have clearly earned a massive fan base along the way. I always think that the band are at their very best when they’re on stage and, despite the early start, they brought all of the energy to Slam Dunk. During their opening song they had the crowd dancing enthusiastically. Popes frontman Matt/‘Tarzan’ was at his frantic best, jumping all over the stage along with getting down to the crowd and singing with them. Seeing these guys playing this festival and absolutely smashing it shows why the festival should take more chances on the so-called smaller stage and allow them to showcase what a talented place the UK DIY scene is. Congrats to the Popes on this exceptional performance.

After Popes we made the trek back to the Punk In Drublic stage where Buster Shuffle had already begun their set. The South London based ska band were a late addition to Slam Dunk, replacing Texan folk punks Days N Daze who sadly had to drop out at the last minute due to issues with travel. Buster Shuffle felt like a perfect addition given the warm sunny day. Their upbeat ska/two tone was made for sunny days in a field and I had a lovely time watching them. Despite some issues with their piano early on, the band powered through to deliver a slick set. I’m not overly familiar with the band but it’s the type of music where you can have a great time regardless and it seemed that Buster Shuffle managed to get the sizable crowd moving throughout their time on stage.

Following on from Buster Shuffle were a pair of UK punk rock legends. First was Snuff. Snuff seem to have been one of the most active bands on the touring scene since gig restrictions have been lifted so were well practiced for their set. This was my first time seeing them since Dan from Spoilers had the joined the band on bass and they had a three piece brass section especially for the occasion which was nice as well. Snuff very much fit the bill of a no nonsense punk rock band, storming through their set with minimal banter between songs but when they do stop for a chat it’s always very entertaining. Personally, I prefer Snuff when they play their more cockney sing-along songs, songs like Arsehole and Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads went down a treat along with a really fun cover of The Merrymen’s Feeling Hot Hot Hot. All punk bands should be covering Calypso music on hot and sunny days. Snuff were a lot of fun as always.

UK skacore heroes Capdown were next to take the stage and you could feel the anticipation and excitement throughout the crowd. Capdown are arguably the most influential bands of their era so this extremely rare chance to see them play live was one you couldn’t miss. It’s been a few years since Capdown played any type of show but as soon as they took to the Punk In Drublic stage it was like they had never been away. Lead singer and saxophonist Jake Sims-Fielding was a ball of energy, bouncing around the stage whilst screaming out the lyrics to the opening tracks. What struck me quickly was how good the sound was for the band. I’ve often found outdoor gigs to not have the best sound but that could not be said on this stage. Capdown sounded massive. As you would have expected, the band stormed through all the favourites, each track getting a bigger reaction than the last. Personally I loved hearing Cousin Cleotis, Pound For The Sound, An A-Political Stand Of Reasons and, of course, Ska Wars. There’s always a real concern that this could be the last Capdown show whenever they play but if this was the last (I really hope it wasn’t) then it was a hell of a way to end it.

Next we made our way to the main stage to see Creeper. I don’t think I’ve seen Creeper since they headlined the opening day of the very first Manchester Punk Festival back in 2015. At the time they had only released their debut EP. Very few would have predicted the absolute behemoth of a band they have become since then. Their most recent EP, American Noir, debuted in the UK charts at number 13 which is absolutely insane for an independent punk rock band. It was now 3 o’clock in the afternoon and the sun was beaming down relentlessly. It was a little strange seeing a band who have such a spooky aesthetic playing in the bright sunshine rather than a dimly lit club but it didn’t stop Creeper from putting on a big set. Frontman Will Ghould is a wonderful performer and even from my vantage point, towards the back of the biggest crowd I’d been in at the point of the day, I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. During their nine song set, they played a great mixture of old and new songs. I was pleasantly surprised that they played VCR off of the debut EP alongside the newer stuff. Another highlight was when Hannah came out from behind the keyboards to perform a brilliant duet of Misery with Will. Creeper really showed why they are so highly thought of within the UK alternative scene.

Up next on the agenda was the Key Club stage for the super special surprise guests. Except they weren’t a surprise for us as the Leeds leg of Slam Dunk had happened the day before and it was already revealed the day before as UK pop rock heartthrobs McFly. I’d seen a lot of people had been disappointed that it hadn’t been Neck Deep as the secret guests but I was actually quite happy to see McFly playing and it seemed like a lot of people in Hatfield felt the same. I feel like McFly were a gateway band for a lot of people as they entered the world of guitar-based music. I went along as I figured when else would I ever get the opportunity to see them – I certainly wouldn’t buy a ticket for their own gig. Though to be honest I’m not sure I can really count this as seeing them. By the time I arrived at the stage, the crowd was so full it wasn’t really possible to get a good vantage point and all I could see was the one person running to the front of the stage and playing McFly songs. Could’ve been anyone. The kids at the front that I could see however seemed like they really enjoyed themselves and that was nice.

Following straight on from McFly were A. A are almost twenty five year veterans of the UK rock scene but somehow this was my first ever time seeing them. Obviously they’re best known for their big hits Nothing and Starbucks but they have a big catalogue of fantastic rock tunes to work from. Despite being one of the hottest days ever recorded (maybe an exaggeration), frontman Jason Perry took to the stage dressed like he was about to hit the slopes. I’ve been told on previous tours he dressed as a Deliveroo rider, complete with the bag – I guess the man enjoys dressing up. I absolutely loved A’s set. From start to finish it was an incredible amount of fun and it was great to see how many passionate fans the band still has after all these years. From making playful jibes towards McFly, to releasing a small confetti cannon and encouraging the crowd to do a walking circle pit, Jason had the crowd in the palm of his hands throughout. The aforementioned Starbucks and Nothing (which closed the set) got the biggest reactions from the crowd but my personal favourite track was Old Folks. A were potentially my highlight of the entire day and the next time they play a venue local to me I will be making every effort to go and see them again.

On my preview of Slam Dunk Festival I published a few weeks ago I mentioned that I’d like to see both Anti-Flag and [Spunge]. Unfortunately for me they clashed. What a bummer. I decided I would see [Spunge]. To be honest, I absolutely love Anti-Flag but [Spunge] are the band that started this whole punk and ska adventure I find myself in so there was no big dilemma really. Plus, on a really sunny day like it was, it’s only right to go and dance to some ska. I was very pleased to see that I wasn’t alone in my thought process as [Spunge] also drew a massive crowd. Before the set Paul Smith of Be Sharp Promotions and I speculated on if it would be best of set or if they would play a load of songs from Room For Abuse in preparation for the upcoming tour. It turned out to be a best of set and the band just played banger after banger. It’s always amazing to see [Spunge] bring so much joy to so many people and, from the opening moments of Ego to the final beats of Kicking Pigeons, the crowd were having the time of their lives. Along with all the old favourites, the band squeezed in a performance of their newest song Just Sayings. Over the last couple of years [Spunge] have been drip feeding us a few new singles so I wonder if that means a brand new album is on the way? I really hope so. I can’t wait to see them on their Room For Abuse Tour in October.

With [Spunge]’s triumphant set complete we made our way to back to the Punk In Drublic stage for the final three acts of the day. First was Chicago’s Alkaline Trio, making their first appearance in the UK (aside from the day before) in years. I think it’s fair to say that Trio were a lot of people’s most anticipated band of the day. From the moment that the band began to play openers Private Eye and We’ve Had Enough the crowd embarked in a huge sing-along. Unfortunately the band had some issues with their bass cabinet during the opening songs so had to take a short break to fix it. During this drummer Derek Grant treated the crowd to a short drum solo. It was a nice treat seeing one of the best drummers in the world perform such a solo. From then on Trio played a storming set featuring songs from their entire back catalogue. Much like Creeper – who I saw running through the crowd, excited to see their heroes – Trio have a bit of a spooky demeanour so it was a bit strange to see them play in the bright sunshine. I did feel like it took a little bit away from the set on a whole as some of the imagery that the songs provoke are quite gloomy but that didn’t prevent the crowd from having a great time. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t play Stupid Kid or Radio but I did enjoy hearing Every Thug Needs A Lady, Mercy Me, Armageddon, Warbrain and This Could Be Love for the first time in years. We’re looking forward to them returning for a UK tour with Taking Back Sunday next year.

Two bands left and it was time to admit that I was starting to struggle. I decided to take myself away from the group to find something to eat, get a drink and have a little bit of a sit by myself before the penultimate act of the day started their set. So I did. After finding food and drink I found myself a spot to sit and replenish my energy levels. It was a much needed piece of restbite and was quite nice just to do a bit of people watching and take in the events of the day. It really did feel fantastic to be back in that environment again.

After eating, I decided I better head to the toilet before meeting back up with my group. Frank Turner And The Sleeping Souls were just starting their set and I noticed quite a few people sprinting across the site to see them. Frank Turner is one of the most beloved performers in the country but I must admit that I was surprised to see just what a great reception he got on the Punk In Drublic stage. I arrived at the stage about halfway through the set. It turns out that I timed it perfectly as the band were just starting Photosynthesis, one of the songs that introduced me to Frank Turner many years ago. Following this Frank performed his version of the NOFX classic Linoleum. This was one of the highlights for me as NOFX early this year retired the song and it always earns a big sing-along. Especially in this type of crowd. It was extra amusing as NOFX were on the side of the stage watching before their set. This was my first time seeing Frank and the band in about four years and I was reminded why I used to enjoy seeing them so much. The final four tracks completed a great performance – Try This At Home, Recovery, I Still Believe and Four Simple Words ensured that they finished with a bang and got the crowd ready for what was to come.

It was finally time for the last band of the day, the legendary NOFX. As ever, I was hoping they would play The Decline (still haven’t seen it live) but unfortunately they did not. I’ve always found NOFX a little hit or miss live so I was interested to see what it would be this time. To my delight it was a hit. Starting out with Backstage Passport before jumping into Dinosaurs Will Die was the perfect beginning, really getting the crowd amped up. It had been a long and really hot day so you could have forgiven the crowd for being a little lethargic. This definitely didn’t seem to be the case. We were hanging out towards the back of the crowd but from my vantage point it very much seemed as if the pit was going wild. Between tracks there was the customary NOFX “banter”, including asking a parent why they’ve brought their child to see them before explaining what snowballing is to them. From there they played What’s The Matter With Parents Today? A song I recently rediscovered a love for after listening to Pump Up The Valuum for our album club podcast series. There was a great moment when Frank Turner joined the band on stage to sing NOFX’s version of The Ballad Of Me And My Friends. This was my second time seeing Frank sing with NOFX while they play one of his songs after seeing them do Glory Hallelujah a few years ago. Looking back at the setlist, it seems that they didn’t play a few of their traditional big hitters such as The Separation Of Church and Skate, Bob and, of course, the retired Linoleum. I did expect them to play Linewleum but sadly they didn’t. We did get to hear I Love You More Than You Hate Me from Single Album though. Looking at setlist.fm it appears that the band played a set featuring tracks from thirteen of their albums which was nice to see. My personal highlights were Leave It Alone, Radio, Eat The Meek, Franco-Unamerican (partly due to my pal Toby’s dancing) and the finale Kill All The White Men. NOFX closed the day with a massive punk rock party that left everyone leaving feeling great.

As I said way back at the start of writing this review I left buying a ticket to the festival until the very last minute. Gosh I’m glad that I did. After the last eighteen months of mostly being indoors and not seeing anyone this day was needed far more than I realised. It was a moment of forgetting all of the horrible things that have happened all over the world recently and a chance to remember what life was like before. The bands were all fantastic but to be back in a environment with friends and like minded folk who are all in good spirits was the best feeling. I had such an amazing time and I really didn’t want to go home. Massive thanks to the Slam Dunk and Punk In Drublic crews for defying the odds and somehow making this festival happen despite everything that was thrown at them. What a day!

This review was written by Colin Clark.

Column: Slam Dunk Festival 2021 Preview

This weekend, by some minor miracle, Slam Dunk Festival is happening. Obviously, the worldwide pandemic we’ve all been suffering through since March 2020 has made organising a festival a very tricky proposition. Due to the all the restrictions that have been put in place by the government, the festival has been moved around countless times and the line up has gone through a number of different variations. At the time of writing this, hopefully the line up will remain as it is until the event but who knows what will happen given the current climate of the world!

I should start by saying that the majority of bands I talk about throughout this article will be featured on the Punk In Drublic stage. That was the stage I spent most of my time at at Slam Dunk 2019 and it will be the place to find me in 2021. I’ll be the devilishly handsome one in the shorts and the black band t-shirt. The stage will once again be headlined by NOFX. Since NOFX last came to the UK they have released a split with Frank Turner (who will also be appearing) as well as their fourteenth album Single Album. It’s NOFX so who knows if they’ll play anything from those releases but you can guarantee that it’ll be one of the most talked about sets of the weekend.

Joining them on the Punk In Drublic stage are Chicago’s Alkaline Trio. Trio have not been to the UK since touring with NOFX way back in 2015 (I assume partly due to Matt Skiba’s work with Blink-182) so their announcement was met with much excitement from fans of the band. This year the band celebrated the twentieth anniversary of their breakthrough album From Here To Infirmary so I’m expecting the set to be heavy on songs from that album alongside plenty of favourites spanning their entire career.

Stepping away from the Punk In Drublic stage for a minute we have Creeper. The Southampton based five piece continue to get bigger and bigger and have become one of the most exciting bands in the UK alternative scene. Channelling influences such as AFI and Alkaline Trio whilst showcasing their own unique style, Creeper have to be one of the most anticipated sets of the festival. The band recently released eight track American Noir which performed incredibly well in the UK popular music charts, this will be the first time the majority of the crowd will have had the opportunity to see these songs performed live.

Returning to Punk In Drublic for a comeback I never expected to see happen is Capdown. The UK skacore legends have been inactive for years now so when they were announced for Slam Dunk it was quite the surprise. It feels fitting for Capdown to be making their return now given the boom that ska punk is having and it’s entirely appropriate that one of the most influential bands in the UK scene graces the big stage once again. Recently we covered the classic album Civil Disobedients on the CPRW Podcast and I cannot wait to see some tracks from it live once again.

Talking about legendary UK ska punk bands, Slam Dunk gives us a chance to see [Spunge] a few weeks before they begin a UK tour to celebrate twenty one years of their album Room For Abuse. I’ve made it clear a number of times just how influential [Spunge] were on me, they were my gateway band into ska and punk music and without them I wouldn’t be the person that I am today. Any chance I get to see them I try and take. This will be a set full of smiley, bouncy faces.

The Popes Of Chillitown, one of the bands leading the newest group of UK ska bands, will be making their Slam Dunk debut on The Key Club stage. Based in London, the Popes have been wowing crowds all across the UK for years now with their intense and energetic style of ska punk. Word is the band have been working hard on some new material and I’m very excited to hear that. Popes Of Chillitown will be one of the first bands on at both festival sites and are guaranteed to get the party started early.

Pittsburgh punks Anti-Flag are a late addition to the line up, replacing Pennywise who sadly cannot make it over anymore. Anti-Flag are one of the best live bands on the planet, always managing to whip a crowd into a frenzy with their politically charged anthems. I would expect a greatest hits set of songs spanning their entire career. Bass player Chris#2 is one of the most engaging performers in punk rock – he’s part bass player, part singer, part acrobat and part rabble rouser and is an absolute delight to watch.

Last but certainly not least in this preview is Snuff, another legendary UK band joining the line up. Before the pandemic started, it seemed as if Snuff had been more active than they had been in years and it’s pleasing to see an eighteen month break hasn’t slowed their momentum. Combining cockney charm with ferocious punk rock, there’s not another band in the world who do it like Snuff. I would imagine there will be a lot of younger folk at Slam Dunk who aren’t familiar with Snuff but I urge those folk to give Snuff a go because of their influence to so many of the current crop of UK punk rock bands. Dan from Spoilers also plays for Snuff now and it’ll be really cool to see him on a big stage.

Big props to all the organisers of Slam Dunk Festival for struggling through this last year and managing to still put on a very impressive line up. The last year and a half has been incredibly difficult for everyone professionally and privately. Let’s hope that the festival goes on without a hitch and we can have some semblance of what life was like before.

This Slam Dunk Festival 2021 Preview was written by Colin Clark.