Slam Dunk returns for another year, ironing out the creases and delivering the goods…
Taking over Temple Newsam Park just a year shy of its 20th birthday, Slam Dunk North once again delivers on its promise of being Leeds’ biggest gathering of alt-culture lovers.
Since 2006, this annual event has been a red-circled date on the calendars of Northern elder emos and be-fringed kidults across the region – or at the very least, the subject of a Whatsapp group or two. Glance around the sprawling festival site and you can see they’ve shown up in droves for this year’s edition despite a few turbulent years while its team endured some new-venue teething problems after transitioning from the city-centre to a field.
In fact, looking at this year’s crowd, it’s clear that Slam Dunk has become something bigger than an annual alternative showcase. As gates open and fans pour in, the only thing more noticeable than the sea of black hoodies on show is the number of kids and even babies in attendance. Almost two-decades in and Slam Dunk has become a multi-generational affair and something to be enjoyed by a newer and considerably shorter generation.
That’s not to say it’s lost its edge. Deep in the pit or in the relative darkness of one of its two live-music tents, you’ll still have to watch out for a rogue crowd surfing Converse booting you in the back of the head or more than a faint whiff of weed. There’s also the creeping sense that the cat may be out of the bag a little bit with regard to just how much fun Slam Dunk is. At least a few of those long-time black-hoody owners may find themselves noticing the odd bucket-hat-wearing, MDMA-grinning face in the crowd and wonder when they decided pop-punk and alt-rock was worth paying attention to.
Still, it’s all good news for the festival’s organisers who have put on quite a party. As usual, Slam Dunk manages to scatter a hearty mix of old school legends and buzzy up-and-comers throughout its multiple stages. Having ditched its no-clash approach (a few years back, the Monster Energy tent had double-stages, with bands playing back-to-back. It was busy to say the least) and ironed out bottlenecks, every act is happily accessible. It’s great for fans, who find themselves frequently stomping two and fro Temple Newsom as they tick bands off their to-watch lists.
After the likes of Irish emo outfit Greywind warm up The Key Club Stage, the Main Stage West dives full-pelt into a line up of new-age pop-punk fun. Hit The Lights wake us all up, before Knuckle Puck deliver their classic Copacetic album in full. The Ataris pack out the Monster Energy tent before The Starting Line help fight off the rain on the main stage with some good ol’ nostalgia.
Next, Michigan’s emo outfit Hot Mulligan graduate to the same stage having last played under a festival tent, as genre heavyweights New Found Glory deliver a set packed with familiar ear-worms. Neck Deep seem taken aback to find themselves next on the bill and scheduled above a band that inspired them to start making music. However, with an all-bells, whistles and fire stage set up, this Welsh pop-punk five-piece soon make the space their own and only get a little political while warming Leeds’ up for tonight’s Main Stage West headliners, A Day To Remember.
Read any review of almost any festival and you’ll find some very specific moans. “Getting there was a nightmare,” “The food was rubbish” or “The queues for the toilet almost made me piss my pants”. However, as a regular attendee of Slam Dunks past, 2025 seems to be the year organisers have finally ironed out the pain points.
None of the above gripes were experienced by this reviewer. In fact, the venue’s shuttle bus service was surprisingly so well orchestrated, fans arrived early, left late and still managed to catch connecting trains home. No small feat, especially on a Bank Holiday Sunday. With 2025’s edition in the bag – and proving to be a boozy, super-fun success – all eyes are now on the event’s 20th edition. With pinch-points ironed out, the scene is set for a truly memorable birthday year that fans will no doubt be eagerly awaiting.
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