At the end of May, Slam Dunk Festival, one of the UK's most beloved events in the festival calendar, will return once more. This year's line up features a combination of nostalgic favourites and rising stars from worlds of punk and alternative music.
In the run up to the festival, we caught up with a number of bands for our ‘Postcards From Slam Dunk’ feature.
The first to join us is Chris DeMakes, vocalist/guitarist of ska-punk legends, Less Than Jake.
This will be your third time playing Slam Dunk. How does it feel to be coming back again?
Amazing! It’s an honour, after 25 years of being a band, to be invited to play such legendary festivals.
What do you plan on doing differently to your previous appearances at Slam Dunk?
Not matching English people beer for beer. I’m still hungover from the last time we played Slam Dunk!
You are considered by many to be one of the ultimate festival bands. Does that ever put pressure on you to deliver a show stealing set?
Quite the opposite, actually. If anything, it motivates us to be better than we were last time around.
Given how extensive your back catalogue is, do you have to tailor your set in a different way at festivals?
We know what we have to play to keep the audience happy. Then, we throw in a few songs in for fun for ourselves.
Do you have any specific festival memories, good or bad?
So many memories! Reading, Leeds, and Donnington come to mind. I’ve never seen a bigger circle pit at one of our shows than at Leeds Festival.
It seems you tour over here at least once a year. How would you describe your relationship with the fans in the UK?
Awesome. Here’s the thing, we were a band for almost a decade before we ever came to the UK. We were firing on all cylinders, so to speak.
Combine that with a great record label at the time, and the fact that the British have a wicked sense of humour, we have been coming here almost yearly for the last 16 years. It’s amazing.
You have your new EP, ‘Sound The Alarm’, and have joined Pure Noise Records. What’s next on the horizon for 2017?
TOUR! TOUR! TOUR!
Finally, given that there could be clashes or people at the festival who don’t know you, why should our readers make sure they don’t miss your set at Slam Dunk?
Because even if you hate our music, we are funnier than any band you will see that day. Except maybe Bowling For Soup, they’re pretty funny.
Slam Dunk Festival takes place across the May Bank Holiday weekend at the dates and venues below. Tickets are on sale now from the official Slam Dunk website.
May
27 BIRMINGHAM NEC
28 LEEDS City Centre
29 HATFIELD The Forum