Lucky Punks: Stereoboard's Slam Dunk Festival Picks
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
Written by Gavin Rees
Slam Dunk Festival’s rise in recent years has been mighty impressive. Having blossomed from the confines of a club night at Leeds’ Cockpit, the indoor pop-punk all-dayer now spans three venues, six stages and a bank holiday weekend.
This year, the festivities will be held at Leeds University on May 24, The Forum, Hertfordshire on May 25 and Wolverhampton Civic on May 26, with the All American Rejects set to headline the whole shebang. Here, we take a look at just some of the bands we’ll be keeping an eye on throughout the weekend.
Motion City Soundtrack - Kerrang!/Jagermeister Main Stage
Justin Pierre and his merry band will bring their melody-heavy, anxiety-ridden pop-rock to the main stage, with songs from the excellent ‘Go’ now nestled among a back-catalogue featuring precious few duds. Warm up your lungs for A Life Less Ordinary, in particular.
Also playing: The All American Rejects, Mallory Knox, We Are The In Crowd, We The Kings, The Skints, Canterbury, Blitz Kids.
Capdown - Macbeth Stage
One of the UK’s best punk bands and a live act for the ages...simple really. Capdown have been gigging on and off for the last few years, having initially called it quits back in 2007, and anyone who’s managed to catch a show will be able to tell you that they haven’t missed a beat. Songs from ‘Civil Disobedients’ and ‘Pound For The Sound’ still sound absolutely vital.
Also playing: Less Than Jake, The Ataris, Zebrahead, I Am The Avalanche, Gnarwolves, Decade, Jesse James, Fandangle.
Letlive. - Monster Energy Stage
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you just know that it’s going to kick off when Letlive. get going. Headlining the Monster Energy Stage, the LA post-hardcore troupe will, as ever, be conducted by Jason Butler, one of the most magnetic frontmen in the game.
Also playing: Bury Tomorrow, The Devil Wears Prada, The Ghost Inside, Crown The Empire, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, I Killed The Prom Queen, Caliban, Heart Of A Coward.
Modern Baseball - Atticus Stage
One of the best bands in a Philadelphia punk scene that’s overflowing with great bands at the moment, Modern Baseball released one of the albums of the year to date, ‘You’re Gonna Miss It All’, back in February through Run For Cover. Forget the emo revival nonsense, this is good, old-fashioned pop songwriting.
Also playing: Kids In Glass Houses, Hit The Lights, Real Friends, Neck Deep, State Champs, Save Your Breath, A Loss For Words, Light You Up.
Feed The Rhino - Cheer Up Stage
Throughout the weekend, there will be ample opportunity to get in touch with your sensitive side, but during Feed The Rhino’s set you’d be better off getting a few things off your chest in a different fashion. Never anything other than intense, this Kent quintet play a thunderous mix of punk, rock ‘n’ roll and groove-driven hardcore, all tied together by Lee Tobin’s roar. As they say, it’s loud as fuck.
Also playing: Chiodos, the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Marmozets, Landscapes, Ghost Town, Natives, Verses, the First.
VinnieCaruana - Antique Acoustic Stage
Caruana’s band, I Am The Avalanche, will also do their thing on the Macbeth Stage, but here he’ll strip things back to basics. Expect a few treats from the Movielife’s back catalogue, along with songs from his excellent solo EP, ‘City By The Sea’. Also, keep an eye out for Chas Palmer-Williams, former frontman of the dearly departed Lightyear.
Also playing: Chas Palmer-Williams, You, Me And Everyone We Know, The Lion & The Wolf.
Slam Dunk Festival Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sat May 24 2014 - LEEDS Metropolitan University
Sun May 25 2014 - HATFIELD Forum
Mon May 26 2014 - WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall
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