Head Automatica
Most musicians don’t even have a single band that has reached legendary status, let alone two. Daryl Palumbo is not most people. Not content with shaping the entire post hardcore scene, back in the early noughties he formed Head Automatica who then proceeded to release one of the best pop-rock albums of the decade. It’s that album which we’ll be getting in full early in the afternoon at Slam Dunk. Decadence is a non-stop booty shaker of a record, filled with sexy, high energy bass lines, jazz influences and of course, possibly the most danceable emo anthem of all time, ‘Beating Heart Baby’. If the sun hits at just the right moment early afternoon this has the potential to be one of the most danceable, feel good sets of the day.
One Step Closer
If you decide to take a gamble and see a smaller band who you might not have heard before at Slam Dunk, you need to make it One Step Closer. The Pennsylvanian pop punk/melodic hardcore crew are more accustomed to heavier fests, having played Outbreak twice in the past but with their brand new record, All You Embrace possessing a healthy dose of bands like Citizen and early Rise Against in its sound, Slam Dunk seems like the perfect option. Be prepared for stage dives, circle pits and perhaps even a glimpse of the band repping their utterly fantastic jorts. Also, make sure you pick up one of their UK tour exclusive football shirts, because they’re bloody gorgeous.
Funeral For A Friend
Some sets are meant to go down in history (pun intended) before they’ve even happened. When Matt Davies left Funeral For A Friend last year after over two decades with the legendary Welsh post hardcore band, many were shocked. However, because the band had already decided to play Slam Dunk, they stuck to the old adage of the show must go on and recruited fellow Valleys boy and Holding Absence frontman Lucas Woodland to handle vocals. With Lucas having a generational set of pipes on him and being a longtime fan of the band, you can only assume this is a dream come true for him. Indeed, it makes the promise of seeing some of the most legendary British emo of all time performed in a unique way, this has to be one set that you simply cannot miss.
The Wonder Years
Picture it; it’s the end of a long day, you’re tired, your feet hurt and you’ve had a bloody good day. Then The Wonder Years come onstage and 0.you find a whole new reserve of energy and a good bit of it will be dedicated to screaming and crying at the same time. The Pennsylvania crew, lead by the unmatchable vocal presence of Dan ‘Soupy’ Campbell, promise to end your day in emotional, cathartic style. With a now-legendary discography and a sound that mixes The Menzingers with the bouncier elements of pop punk, they’ve made Slam Dunk a home of theirs for years and this stage headline set will feel like a homecoming.
The Blackout
This is The Blackout! The Welsh party-emo scamps reformed last year and, after a stellar run of shows across the UK, they’re back at one of their spiritual homes. You know what you’re getting from the Merthyr crew; high energy and a lot of fun, hopefully mixing tracks from their whole career into what they’ve promised to be a special set focused on their 2009 record The Best In Town. Fans old and new will be screaming ‘whoa oh’ at the top of their lungs and swarming the stage as soon as bangers like ‘Children Of The Night’ and ‘STFUppercut’ kick in. If any tracks from their ‘We Are The Dynamite’ or debut EPs get brought out though, expect people of a certain age to put their backs clean out.
Guilt Trip
The hardest band at Slam Dunk 2024? You’d be hard pressed to find anybody else as devastating or violent as the Manchester metallic hardcore wrecking crew kicking about over the weekend. Mixing breakdowns with bounce and snarling vocals as their trademark sound, they may be on early but rest assured, they’ll make the most of the time. With their debut album Severance lighting up the back end of 2023 along with their relentless touring of late, it’s all starting to come together. Part of the MLVLTD crew, you can expect their set to feature a healthy dose of spin-kicks and windbreakers, but their new tunes have enough absolutely massive choruses so if they survive the pit, the band will definitely pick up some new fans along the way.
As Everything Unfolds
Upcoming darlings of the British heavy music scene, As Everything Unfolds have the world at their feet. Massive tunes, a dedicated following and most importantly, the ability to hopefully cross over to mainstream audiences and entrance them with their brand of bouncy melodic post hardcore. Lead by the powerhouse vocalist that is Charlie Rolfe, they’re no strangers to the road and putting the hard yards in to better their craft. Bringing tracks from last year’s Ultraviolet to the stage, they’re the perfect band for early on in the day, as nothing wakes you up more than chunky, bouncy riffs and some of the best earworms going.
You Me At Six
For many fans of alternative music, this may get a little too much. You Me At Six have been a staple of the British music scene for two decades now, cementing their legendary status with massive anthems and some mainstream-bothering hit records. Now though, they’ve decided that the time is right for the band to end, making the pilgrimage to Slam Dunk on their farewell tour. With absolutely no shortage of festival headline sized bangers to call on, expect a wild mix of emotions as the band take punters on a journey through their whole career. From the career defining highs to their lows, they’ve never strayed from being one of the closest bands to their fans around and in terms of legendary sets, it could be one that stays in the memory for a long time to come.
The Interrupters
It wouldn’t be slam dunk without a bit of ska, would it? The Interrupters aren’t the only skankers on the bill by any means, but they’re definitely the biggest ska band to come along for a good while. With tracks like ‘She Got Arrested’ and ‘Take Back The Power’ being astronomical, it’s difficult to not picture the entire stage being swarmed with dancers, stage divers and people singing their lungs out. Aimee Interrupter has a status of one of the most dynamic, captivating lead singers in music today, a nonstop dynamo who come rain or shine, will make the show one to remember. Just make sure you remember your pork pie hat and practice your air trumpet in preparation.
Stick To Your Guns
Hardcore is at its best when it’s inspiring. The combination of passionate, heart-on-sleeve vocals and scathing instrumentals can be a winner and make even the most sullen person ready to take on the world, and few do this better than Stick To Your Guns. With nearly two decades at the forefront of hardcore and inspiring those who choose to listen via the medium of breakdowns and stirring gang vocals, it certainly won’t be a static affair. With their last album Spectre adding massive choruses to their arsenal, the prospect of a setlist bringing the newer tracks with older songs from their masterpiece Diamond, there may be a devoted crowd there for the start but this will be a set that definitely has the potential to win over a whole host of new fans for the veterans.