Thirteen Bands You Need to See at… Slam Dunk Festival 2025

Slam Dunk Festival is upon us! Barbeques are wheeled out, shorts and t-shirts are dusted down out of the wardrobe, and, after months of dreary weather, UK rock fans get ready for the start of the 2025 festival season.

After what feels like an absolute eternity, the UK festival season kicks off properly as Slam Dunk kickstarts a season of huge outdoor festivals and shows. A staple of the festival calendar, Slam Dunk 2025 sees organisers go all out with a line-up showcasing the cream of the alt-rock scene.

From headliners like A Day To Remember and Alkaline Trio to rising stars of the alt scene like Scowl and Lake Malice there is something for everyone at Slam Dunk.

To help you navigate through the multiple stages, inevitable clashes and favourite new bands, V13 has plucked out our 13 must-see sets from a crammed Slam Dunk line-up. We’ll see you in the pit!

1. Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake are a Slam Dunk must see! Hitting the Monster Energy stage from 7:15pm, the ska-punk legends are sure to bring non-stop, feel good energy, massive sing along anthems and the best party vibe you could hope to experience. The only draw back, Electric Callboy are due to make their Slam Dunk appearance half way through their set. Still, if you plan to be there for the entirety of the show, don’t expect to stand still for a moment.

2. Electric Callboy

Are you after possibly the most unhinged fun you can have at Slam Dunk? Look no further then Main Stage East at 7:45pm when Electric Callboy hit the stage. Their genre-bending mix of metalcore, EDM, dance and absurd humour will ensure that everyone present will experience a metal infused rave party for the ages! Just be sure to check in with the “Elevator Operator”!

3. Dream State

If you are one of the early birds hellbent on lapping up as much musical joy as possible, then make sure you’re at Main Stage East for 12:40pm when Dream State are set to bring their raw emotion through their take on post-hardcore and alternative rock to the stage. With powerful, hard hitting vocals from Jessie Powell accompanying by hypnotic and transcendent riffs, you will find yourself hooked from start to finish.

4. New Found Glory

Pop-punk at its finest! New Found Glory will bring the sunshine even if the day turns out to be gloomy when they hit Main Stage West at 5:55pm. With several decades worth of anthems in their arsenal, New Found Glory will ensure their infectious energy draws forward waves of crowd surfers saluting to the gods of rock with devil horns raised. It will be your one opportunity to proudly and loudly declare your intention to pick “My Friends Over You” without the risk of enlisting a divorce lowyer the following day!

5. The Ataris

The Ataris are set to hit the Monster Energy Stage at 2:40pm and will bring fans back to the early 2000’s with their emo-punk vibes. If you need that hit of nostalgia to return you to simpler days, you can be guaranteed The Ataris will deliver. The Boys of Summer are a must for all seeking out the best of what punk-rock has to offer.

6. Rain City Drive

If you are looking to find something new to add to your playlists, alt-rockers, Rain City Drive should be at the top of your list of bands you don’t know, but should, to see at Slam Dunk. Arriving on the Kerrang! Stage at 3:25pm, you can expect a powerful blend of post-hardcore accompanied by some incredible soaring vocals that will have you hooked as a fan for life!

7. A Day To Remember

Over the years there have been plenty of bands who have headlined Slam Dunk who have put on a right show but, in headliners American pop-punk/metalcore troop A Day To Remember, Slam Dunk has a headliner that will simply make Slam Dunk their own. From scream-to-the-skies anthemic choruses to huge moshpit breakdowns, the Florida band will make sure Slam Dunk 2025 signs off with a bang.

8. Stray From The Path

Now, if we’re talking scream-to-the-skies anthems built for moshpits then American rap/metalcore/hardcore outfit Stray From The Path drop perfectly into that category. Known for their scathing lyrics and crunching metallic rap-infused hardcore, Stray From The Path are guaranteed to whip this Slam Dunk crowd up into a right fury.

9. Imminence

Swedish band Imminence are rapidly becoming one of the most talked about rising bands on the rock and metal scene in 2025. Their recent headline shows brought rave reviews across the board and you’ll be a fool to pass up the opportunity to see what all the fuss is about when the symphonic metalcore Swedes bring their jaw-dropping show to Slam Dunk for what will, quite possibly, be one of the most unforgettable sets of the weekend.

10. Kid Bookie

Kid Bookie is one of those artists that epitomises exactly what the alternative rock scene is all about in 2025. From collaborations with everyone from Corey Taylor to TechN9ne, the London singer/rapper promises to bring a furious set packed with snarling genre-smashing rhymes to Slam Dunk this weekend.

11. Hot Milk

After a long day at the first festival of the year, Mancunian alt-rock duo Hot Milk are going to make sure the energy levels don’t drop when they headline the Kerrang! Stage. Yes, their stage time clashes with some of the main stage headliners however, when the Mancunian pair race onto the stage and blitz through their power-packed bangers, they’ll certainly be giving the other headliners a run for their money.

12. Scowl

American hardcore punk band Scowl are going to be one of those bands that will leave the Slam Dunk crowd feeling punch drunk by the time they’ve finished their hardcore smash ‘n’ run set. The outspoken band have clawed their way to the top of the pile in the hardcore scene and will surely wipe the floor with those Slam Dunkers who are still left standing by the time the festival feels the full force of their Californian fury.

13. Lake Malice

Another of the current crop of the UK modern metal, rising stars Lake Malice were last seen tearing up the UK supporting Slam Dunk favourite RORY on her UK tour. No strangers to the UK festival circuit over the past couple of years, the Japanese-anime inspired alternative metal duo will give Slam Dunk something a little different and something that is the stepping stone to more high profile slots for future festivals.

Slam Dunk will return to Hatfield Park on Saturday 24th May, before heading north to Leeds, Temple Newsam on Sunday 25th May 2025.

For ticket and line-up info, head over to the official festival website here. Check out our coverage from Slam Dunk 2024 here.

Slam Dunk 2025 Poster