The Big Slam Dunk Review 2026

Slam Dunk? We believe so! In fact, the festival's fifteenth birthday had one of the strongest weekends to date. The duelling dates at both Leeds and Hatfield rarely miss, but this year sunk the basket with its most ambitious roster yet. Staying true to its pop-punk roots, American high-fliers GOOD CHARLOTTE take the headlining slot, flanked by TAKING BACK SUNDAY and DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL. On the newer, heavier rebranding of their other main stage, hardcore takes precedent with unlikely assailants KNOCKED LOOSE and MALEVOLENCE.

HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS' early afternoon set provided the branding for the weekend. As a festival 'for lovers', the appreciation of emo and greebo culture left punters heart-eyed. Here is what we caught across both dates.

Words: Kat Stepanikova (KS), Laura Davies (LD), Lou Viner-Flood (LVF), Theviya Karunaharan (TK), Shania Richards (SR), Zuzanna Pazola (ZP)

Photos: James Smith

PEST CONTROL

When you are one of the first bands to perform at a festival, making a good impression is vital. From the moment PEST CONTROL takes to the stage, it is thrash-central. People in their audience prove they are listening through sharp, bustling movement. The band’s fast-paced riffs translate into high energy — something their crowd evidently knows best. It is their track P.M.C that sparks familiarity with spectators, who yell the song title when it is quoted in the lyrics. One can hope this is what we will see more of – especially so early in the day – at festivals like these. (SR)

UNPEOPLE

Taking the stage in an early set of the day were UNPEOPLE. Jumping straight in with Waste, the band gave the audience nothing but electric energy from the outset. Vocalist

Jake Crawford has a fantastic blend of vocals and growls to create a sound that is rather unique, especially when layered with the vocals of the other band members. With a perfect mix of aggressive and accessible sounds, UNPEOPLE’s songs are the perfect festival hits as they flawlessly move between the old song Moon Baboon and the debut performance of the new single Clouds. The set ended with guitarist Luke Caley sitting atop a fan's shoulders in a circle pit whilst the band closed with their anthemic hit The Garden. For an early performance, UNPEOPLE truly set the crowd up for a festival to remember. (LD)

HERIOT

To perform so early on a warm British summer’s day is a challenge indeed, but HERIOT pull it off with suaveness and grace. There is a certain command that vocalist Debbie Gough has over the audience, which jolts with a buzz of movement as the band marches through their six-song set. Heads do more than nod; circle pits kick up dust to all-consuming riffs. Crowdsurfers sail over the barriers. With a performance this polished, it’s a surprise HERIOT aren’t further up the bill. They close with At The Fortress Gate and the crowd is warmed up indeed, their palates properly satiated with the taste of heavy metal. (SR)

DEAD PONY

Playing the Scott’s Key Club Stage early in the day is no easy task, but DEAD PONY wasted no time in making the tent feel alive. Bursting in with loads of energy from the get-go, the band delivered a set that felt upbeat, chaotic, and genuinely fun, with Anna Shields’ vocals staying impressively steady throughout. Tracks like Eat My Dust! and Freak Like Me from their latest EP were clear highlights, with a good chunk of the crowd already knowing the words and throwing themselves into it. For a set that happened so early in the day, DEAD PONY made it feel like the festival had already kicked into full gear. (ZP)

BROADSIDE

“Who’s ready to shake some ass?” is definitely the best way to open up a performance when it’s a hot, sunny, Slam Dunk day, inside the Key Club stage tent. BROADSIDE wasted no time getting the crowd going, with vocalist Ollie Baxter dancing his way through the band's discography, with fan favourites I Think They Know, Blissed Out and even Cruel, with guest vocals from THE HOME TEAM's Brian Butcher making an appearance. The band brought exactly the right amount of energy for a sweaty, dance party, with their pop punk sound and were a band not to be missed. (LVF)

STATIC DRESS

Building up to STATIC DRESS’ album release, Injury Episode, the band has made sure that fans were immersed in a pop-up tent. Returning to a festival they had grown up attending, the band seized the opportunity to deliver a performance packed with intensity and passion. As anticipation surged through the crowd, Olli Appleyard’s comparison to Slam Dunk South’s crowd had riled fans to circle pits and crowd surfers. Their performance of …hospice had moved fans, even with a slower song during their set. It was evident that fans were left feeling content and ready for their album launch. (TK)

COMEBACK KID

COMEBACK KID took over the Main Stage East later in the afternoon, and even through the heat, they still received a huge crowd hungry for good riffs and never-ending mosh pits. The Canadian hardcore punk band did not go easy on the Northern crowd, and they, in payback, gave their all for all ten songs. Frontman Andrew Neufeld brought jaw-dropping vocals that went hand in hand with the hypnotising riffs, and it was no surprise he ended up by the barricade multiple times throughout the whole set. There was just something mesmerising about seeing the vocalist belting the sickest fry screams while a person in a tiger costume was having a blast in the pit. (KS)

GUILT TRIP

The day marches on, and GUILT TRIP takes to the stage. By this point, their audience proves they are thoroughly warmed up. Here, the circle pit is graced with the appearance of a metalhead in a Cookie Monster costume. And before you can question how someone can do such a thing in humid conditions, vocalist Jay Valentine commands the crowd to two-step. It is clear that GUILT TRIP has everyone in the palm of their hand with the power of their massive, enticing riffs. (SR)

THE HOME TEAM

By the time THE HOME TEAM hit the Key Club Stage, the tent was packed so tightly it was almost impossible to get inside, and it was immediately clear why. Vocally, Brian Butcher sounded almost identical to the records, bringing a level of precision that felt genuinely impressive in a live setting. Their set was groovy, energetic, and ridiculously easy to get into, with hits like Hell, Brag, and Loud garnering massive reactions - the crowd seemed to know every single word. The appearance of BROADSIDE’s Ollie Baxxter for Somebody Else’s Face pushed that excitement even further. This truly felt like watching a band on the edge of something massive. (ZP)

TONIGHT ALIVE

If there was one band that was hugely anticipated that day, it was without a doubt TONIGHT ALIVE with its big UK comeback. Fans welcomed the Sydney quartet very warmly, singing every song word by word, and it was more than enough to make the members appreciate all the support and love they had received. The ten-song long performance was for most a journey back to their past days, and the setlist mirrored this sentiment by bringing songs from their older releases. Jenna constantly interacted with everyone present, but the pinnacle came when she jumped into the circle pit during the cover of Little Lion Man. Truly a proper way to celebrate the reunion of one of the greatest rock bands of the 2010s. (KS)

STAND ATLANTIC

Bringing the Aussie sun to Hatfield, STAND ATLANTIC started their set with a bang. Switching between newer songs such as Kissing Killer Cobras and older hits like Lavender Bones, there was something for everyone in the audience, and it truly captured what a STAND ATLANTIC show is all about. Despite the blazing heat, there were mosh pits galore and more people on shoulders than at any other point in the day, proving that this set was where the party was. Debuting new song Velcro, the band proved that no STAND ATLANTIC song is a bad song, and the rest of the set stayed just as strong with Criminal and Hate Me (Sometimes). To round off a set full of girly pop dancing and headbanging, the band ended with Deathwish and truly showed the audience the versatility of their catalogue and just how to party. (LD)

BOSTON MANOR

Despite the intense heat, BOSTON MANOR pulled in a huge crowd at the Monster Energy Stage and proved exactly why they remain such a reliable force in the scene. Their set was unfortunately paused just two songs in due to a medical emergency in the crowd, which the band handled quickly and professionally, before eventually returning to continue the show. Despite only being able to play a further three songs, they delivered a tight, polished performance, sounding completely locked in musically. Fan favourites like Passenger and Foxglove went down exactly as expected, giving the crowd plenty to scream back. BOSTON MANOR always know how to put on a great show, and Slam Dunk North was no exception. (ZP)

VUKOVI

The Scottish darlings VUKOVI had few technical difficulties early into their set, but that did not stop them from giving all their energy to the crowd, who were excited to see them play. Although their set was only eight songs long, the vocalist Janine made sure it was some of the most memorable eight songs of the festival, as she constantly ran from the stage to the barricade and back. From a Scottish flag on stage to the appearance of Jake Crawford of UNPEOPLE, there was not a single dull moment in sight. (KS)

DEAF HAVANA

Celebrating 15 years of their second album Fools & Worthless Liars, DEAF HAVANA wasted no time in throwing the crowd back into a nostalgia-fueled haze, with lead vocalist James Veck-Gilodi opening the set with an acoustic rendition of The Past Six Years. The band then led us through the years before, playing seven of the tracks from the album, alongside other fan favourites like Boston Square, Sinner and Trigger. Special mention goes to them bringing Smiles All Round and Friends Like These out of retirement. Being in the crowd when Sean Smith, from THE BLACKOUT and Sappenin’ Podcast, came on stage to do the screaming vocals was something special and felt like we had been transported back in time, to easier days. (LVF)

MALEVOLENCE

Sheffield’s own MALEVOLENCE brought one of the most brutal sets of the whole day. Charged with pure violence from the second the frontman Alex Taylor stepped on the stage until the end, the crowd was far from being shy when it came to singing and moshing – and that was evident almost immediately, as one of the most feral circle pits Slam Dunk has seen in its history took place during Self Supremacy. MALEVOLENCE also did not fall behind with their guest appearances - from Andrew Neufeld of COMEBACK KID, to Bryan Garris of KNOCKED LOOSE, to Jay Valentine of GUILT TRIP, it would be only appropriate this was absolutely one of the most memorable sets of the whole day. (KS)

TAKING BACK SUNDAY

With Slam Dunk celebrating its 20th anniversary, TAKING BACK SUNDAY’s exclusive 20th anniversary performance of Louder Now felt perfectly placed. Playing the full non-deluxe album in order, before closing with the massive Cute Without The ‘E’, the set was pure nostalgia from start to finish. The crowd sang along at full volume throughout, turning the whole thing into a huge, cathartic throwback. Frontman Adam Lazzara looked like he was having the time of his life, dancing through songs, swinging his mic, and jokingly telling the crowd to keep up. It felt monumental, but also strangely intimate, like old friends coming together to scream old favourites. (ZP)

KNOCKED LOOSE

As one of the most anticipated sets of the weekend, KNOCKED LOOSE absolutely did not disappoint. From the moment they stepped on stage, the energy was relentless, with crushing vocals, punishing instrumentals, and huge production making the whole set feel enormous. The pits were constant, crowd surfers barely stopped, and the band somehow kept raising the intensity. Guest appearances made it even more special, with vocalists from HERIOT, MALEVOLENCE, PEST CONTROL, LOATHE, and STATIC DRESS joining the band throughout their set. It’s hard to pick one standout moment from a set this strong, which says plenty about just how completely they dominated this slot. As the headliners of the heavy stage, KNOCKED LOOSE delivered something unforgettable, cementing hardcore’s place at the centre of the UK alternative festival scene. (ZP)

GOOD CHARLOTTE

Buzzing with excitement, the crowd by the Main Stage West was counting down seconds until the pop punk giants began their big Yorkshire comeback. The four-piece knew what the fans wanted from them and brought exactly that – emo anthems, emotionally charged moments and even a good dollop of pyro throughout the night. With majority of the setlist consisting of songs from their hit albums The Young And The Hopeless and Good Morning Revival, such as Riot Girl, Keep Your Hands Off My Girl, The River and The Anthem, GOOD CHARLOTTE indeed brought an unforgettable finish to Slam Dunk’s 20th run. (KS)