Whether you were there for the chaos, the nostalgia, or the next big thing, Slam Dunk Festival once again proved untouchable and triumphantly marked the start of festival season.
Words by Felix Bartlett | 26 May, 2025
Photos by Day Rutherford, Alia Thomas, Josephine Best, Felix Bartlett
Kicking off what is ultimately shaping up to be the biggest summer for alt festivals is no easy feat. Yet, time after time, Slam Dunk Festival (both North and South) has continued to defy expectations and raise the bar, bringing in both iconic legends and up-and-coming icons. 2025 was no exception.
From circle pits that left us bruised and broken to a few cheeky surprise guest appearances and emotional anniversary sets, this year’s edition was one for the books, giving us our much-needed fix of punk, metalcore, and emo across the bank holiday weekend. So join us as we dive headfirst into the bank holiday bonanza mosh pit, wipe the blood off our chins, and break down what went down over the past two days.
In what feels like forever, A Day To Remember finally made their return to UK shores following the release of their cracking new album Big Ole Vol. 1, stepping into their long-overdue headline slot. They delivered a career-spanning set that didn’t hold back, dropping banger after banger. For us elder emos, it was the dream setlist — perfectly balanced between nostalgic anthems and new-era hits like ‘Bad Blood’ and ‘LeBron’, seamlessly nestled into a mix of brutal breakdowns and epic singalong moments. Jeremy McKinnon had us all under his command, leading the band as they flawlessly took us into their world. Whether it was the absolute anthem ‘The Downfall of Us All’ or the tear jerking ‘If It Means a Lot to You’, this was a set destined for the history books — especially as the pyro-filled finale of ‘The Plot to Bomb the Panhandle’ left both Hatfield and Leeds in (metaphorical) flames.
Meanwhile, Neck Deep proved exactly why they’re next in line for festival domination. With a decade of Life’s Not Out to Get You being celebrated later this year, their set at Slam Dunk felt like a full-on pop-punk pilgrimage. Tracks like ‘Can’t Kick Up the Roots’ and ‘Gold Steps’ still pack the same punch they did when we first spun them all those summers ago. And Ben Barlow’s cheeky banter? Still unrivalled — how dare he call out those of us who’ve been drinking in the fields since noon?
Whilst there was plenty of new blood tearing down the stages over the weekend, my heart was set on some of the titans who shaped my youth — and I couldn’t wait to dive back into their sets. Alkaline Trio‘s gothic punk poetry was a true highlight (and I’m sure for many others too), with ‘Private Eye’ and ‘Radio’ belted out across the weekend, sounding as sinisterly catchy as ever. Over at The Used‘s set, we were treated to two different albums played in full — In Love and Death in Hatfield and their self-titled debut in Leeds — making each show a unique time capsule. Bert McCracken was even joined by The Blackout’s Sean Smith on Sunday for a brutal rendition of ‘Box of Sharp Objects’, sending me and others alike into the pit and over the barrier.
While acts like The Used were always destined to put on a spectacular set, Electric Callboy were undoubtedly set to steal the show — even giving headliners A Day To Remember a run for their money — with what had to be the most bat-shit crazy performance of the weekend. Their EDM-metal hybrid turned both Hatfield and Temple Newsam fields into full-blown raves, with crowdsurfers gliding over the masses as we boogied our way into the night.
While there was plenty of nostalgia to fuel our evenings, it was the new blood on stage this year that truly stole the show — and is clearly shaping the future of the scene. If you didn’t already know, Lake Malice are bloody epic. They emerged as one of the festival’s fiercest new acts, with guitarist Blake Cornwall refusing to let a mere mosh pit stand in his way — even as he descended into it, still shredding away on his guitar (impressive, right?).
Let’s be fair — no party is complete without Wargasm’s industrial-punk chaos providing an absolute sensory overload. And although the crowd felt somewhat thinned out at the North show (understandable when you’re up against the likes of Neck Deep), the duo delivered a signature smack of their tried-and-tested nu-metal formula that still makes you want to swing your fist and bang your head.
Back on Main Stage West, we had to get our fix of the legends in Knuckle Puck, who performed a 10th-anniversary set for their album Copacetic. They were followed by the Cali legends Movements, who once again brought a tear to our weary eyes with ‘Daylily’, before we hastily dashed off to catch I See Stars make their grand return to Slam Dunk (their last appearance was in 2012), proving that electronicore never really went out of fashion.
During our time in the South, we had to show love to our absolute favourites, Hot Milk, as they stormed across the Kerrang! Stage, bringing with them the confidence, wit, and charisma they’ve cultivated in the USA — getting us even more hyped for their new album Corporation P.O.P., dropping later this year.
Honourable mentions must go to The Starting Line and Finch, who brought tears to this emo’s eyes — and plenty of others around him.
With New Found Glory closing out a pop-punk legacy (although let’s leave out the Disney tracks next time, eh?), Stray From the Path inciting political fury, and Graphic Nature redefining UK hardcore, Slam Dunk 2025 continues to serve as a gateway to alternative music’s past, present, and future. Whether you were there for the chaos, the nostalgia, or the next big thing, Slam Dunk Festival once again proved untouchable and triumphantly marked the start of festival season. As we head into the festival’s 20th anniversary in 2026, only time will tell whether they’ll be able to top this year’s edition.
Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to ice our necks and rest our weary heads as we prepare for the bust summer ahead!
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