All Time Low head up this year’s Slam Dunk line up
So, it’s that time of year again. Slam Dunk is just hours away, and we’re trying to get our head around what bands we’re gonna watch. As usual, there’s way too much choice, but here’s our picks from across the stages. If you’re after clashfinders, head to this handy link.
Gnarwolves
Vans Off The Wall Stage
Opening up the Vans Off The Wall Stage is the awesome Gnarwolves. We’ve been backing the band since way back, and their first appearance at Slam Dunk should be an amazing one. Make sure you get down early, or wait until next year, when you’ll have to fight many more people for a space into see them! (TA)
The American Scene
Macbeth Stage
Straight off the back of their first European tour with The Story So Far, The American Scene are set to open the MacBeth stage just after Gnarwolves finish with some raw delivery of emotional rock. Receiving a mixed reception across the continent, Slam Dunk could prove the platform the band needs to push them to higher echelons. If nothing else, tracks such as ‘Just Say It’ and ‘Used to It’ should incite an early sing-along. (BT)
Tonight Alive
Main Stage
Still fighting inevitable comparisons to Paramore, Tonight Alive have been breaking through in their own right since last year’s ‘What Are You So Scared Of?’ Promising a combination of high energy pop-punk and infectious melody, the Main Stage has every chance of doing what it did for Paramore back in 2007 – advancing them towards a household name. (BT)
Transit
Macbeth Stage
Alternatively, if you don’t fancy some Tonight Alive flavoured pop punk, Transit will be bringing tracks from their new effort ‘Young New England’ to the UK for the first time. Expect sing alongs to the classics and us to be right down the front shouting ‘Weathered Souls’ at the top of our voices!
Heights
Monster Stage
Recent Punktastic Introducing band Heights have a lot to prove at Slam Dunk. For many this will be the first opportunity to see them with Alex Monty at centre stage. Showcasing material from ‘Old Lies for Young Lives’, it will be interesting to see if the live performance echoes the subtle changes in their metalcore sound. (BT)
The Story So Far
Macbeth Stage
Continuing the Macbeth stage’s incredible line up is the oft-imitated The Story So Far. They’ll be sure to show a few bands just how to do a live pop punk show, and you can expect the room to be a see of bopping beanies for the duration of their set. We’ll be taking our uncovered heads to the front (if we can make it) for some sing alongs and more than a few beers. (TA)
Man Overboard
Macbeth Stage
Playing Slam Dunk the weekend before the release of their new album ‘Heart Attack’ will mean Man Overboard are almost certain to premier some new material. Revellers at the Macbeth stage can expect to be treated to a mixture of old and new, delivered through Zac Eisenstein and Nik Bruzzese’s off-kilter dual vocals. Something Corporate-esque  piano rocker ‘Wide Awake’ is sure to get the crowd swaying. (BT)
Fireworks
Macbeth Stage
Continuing with the pop-punk onslaught on the Macbeth Stage, voices will undoubtedly be lost singing along to Fireworks. Their live show continuously delivers high-energy slabs from ‘Gospel’ and ‘All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion’, and those lucky enough to squeeze themselves to the front will unquestionably be sweaty and bruised, but incomparably cheerful. We haven’t see the band in ages and we’re stoked to do so two days in a row. (BT)
Polar Bear Club
Vans Stage
It feels like ages since we’ve seen Polar Bear Club despite it being less than a year ago, and even though the band feel a little bit tucked away at Slam Dunk this year, we’re still excited to see what the band have to offer. It’s getting to the point where a new song or two could be expected and we’re seeing some old favourites sneaking back into the band’s recent sets, so we’re super excited. (TA)
The Wonder Years
Macbeth Stage
It’s no secret that we are in love with the new The Wonder Year’s album here at Punktastic. For many – including us – this is the first opportunity to see the band play tracks from ‘The Greatest Generation’, and we for one are bloody excited. Songs such as the equally brutal and catchy ‘The Bastards, The Vultures, The Wolves’ should sit comfortably next to the unique ‘There, There’ or ‘The Devil In My Bloodstream’. A possible appearance of seven minute epic ‘I Just Want to Sell out My Funeral’ may just take the roof off the stage. Expect this to be the most rammed moment of the whole stage up until this point. (BT)
The Early November
Macbeth Stage
Although some may argue that The Early November are a little down-tempo for this time of the evening, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Macbeth stage crammed full of diehard fans for this extremely rare opportunity. Technically the second appearance of Ace Enders over the weekend – he is also gracing the Keep A Breast Stage with his acoustic arrangements – the all-out emo of the full band may break some figurative hearts. With last year’s ‘In Currents’ being one of the most beautifully brooding records in recent memory, and the inevitable appearance of heartache anthem ‘Ever So Sweet’, this set is has the potential to take you on a mesmerising journey. (BT)
Four Year Strong / King Prawn
Macbeth Stage / Vans Stage
There’s always some pretty big questions over which headliners to watch at Slam Dunk, and this year we’re gonna have to wimp out and say that we’ll have to split it over the two days we’ll be attending.
On Saturday we’ll be giving Four Year Strong as much of our voices as we can possibly handle, and then Sunday will largely involve us getting ultra nostalgic over King Prawn’s hip hop / ska fusion. It’s been many, many years since we’ve seen them live, so we couldn’t think of a better way to round off the weekend. (TA)
There’s also a full stack of bands we haven’t even been able to mention there (a uniquely Slam Dunk problem), so just keep an eye on our Twitter and Live Blogs over the weekend for all the rolling coverage to see our plans fall apart. If you want to join in, use the hashtag #PTSlamDunk and we’ll pull your tweets in our stories!
We hope you all have a lovely weekend, and we’ll see you on the other side!
Words by BEN TIPPLE and TOM AYLOTT