SlamDunk Festival - Review

We hit Leeds this Bank Holiday Sunday for the always awesome Slamdunk Festival. Bigger than ever- 5,000 kids, sold out over 6 stages, the festival is host to a who's who of the current hip and cool crowd. Not bowing out to potential big name headliners, it instead relies on a feast of the current hot and happening bands, both from the UK and acroos the Ocean.

Our day kicks off with a brief set from UK hopefuls Young Guns on the Fishing For Eskimo stage. The place is still filling up, but the band are warmly received, including starting the first circle pit of the day.



Next up we catch a few songs of other UK hopefuls All Forgotten. By now the room is rammed and it appears that all the touring has paid off as these guys control an incredible crowd.



Next we head to the main stage to see The Audition lay down a set of pop punk dance tunes. Always reliable, the guys are on top form and see excited to be part of such a great bill.

Kids In Glass Houses set on the main stage is nothing short of a revelation. They storm through a set that peppers a few new songs between those from their incredible debut album, Smart Casual. Probably the only show they will do this year as they write for the new album, it's simply a joy to watch. Set of the day.

After a bite to eat, we catch the end of Cobra Starship's main stage set. I can't work this band out- how can one of the members of one of the great pop punk bands (long sinced defunct Midtown- check them out!) End out fronting this pointless and tiresome act. A true example of style over substance, the posturing and lame dance moves become tiresome very quickly.

In Case Of Fire are our next port of call. It's a shame these guys haven't attracted a bigger crowd. They are a brilliant band with a host of epic songs in their arsenal. Probably better suited on a bill with Muse that what is essentially a pop punk festival, they are fighting a losing battle from the first chord, which is truly sad as they are a great band.



The Blackout however have a huge crowd in the palm of their hands, and rightly so. It's great to see this band getting on their way to stardom. They are unbeatable live, and in new album, The Best In Town, they have a timebomb waiting to go off. As ever, dual vocalists control the crowd with ease, their between song banter is always hilarious. This band are larger than life and are going to explode this year.

It takes us forever to get out if the room so sadly we miss You Me At Six's conquering mainstage headline performance, though general opinion seems to be that it was as awesome as people have been predicting.

A good day, all in all, it was impossible to see all the bands we wanted to- top of those that we missed were The Ghost Of A Thousand, Attack Attack, The King Blues, Polar Bear Club and We Are The Ocean- go check them all out as well, they rule.

Were you at SlamDunk? Let us know who you thought rocked, that we missed!!!