As the biggest pop-punk extravaganza comes to an end, we pick our highlights of the festival.

With Slam Dunk Festival bringing you over 60 acts across eight stages during just one day, it seems impossible to see most of them. Showcasing a diverse plethora of artists, from hardcore metal themes to softer poppy offerings, Slam Dunk undoubtedly stood out on this year’s festival circuit. There was clearly something for everyone, and even the rain couldn’t spoil the mood.

We also learnt a new meaning of the word ‘impossible’ as we tried to catch as many bands rocking the stages at The Forum in Hatfield as we could. Since we like a challenge, why not torment our souls a little bit more and choose the acts that were exceptionally brilliant. Nevertheless, we decided not to include the headliners Enter Shikari as it would’ve been pretty unfair.

Boston Manor

Unquestionably and unequivocally, Blackpool’s rock outfit Boston Manor stole the entire show. Taking to The Key Club Stage for a 4 pm slot just to see the whole room packed must have counted for something. With their last year’s breakthrough debut album, Be Nothing, and never-ending energy it seemed, the band delivered an exquisite performance.

Boston Manor thrive in mastering the juxtaposition of the fast-paced and melodic, tinged with enraged and refined lyricism. The punchy Burn You Up opened the set leaving the fans breathless just after a couple of notes whereas the emotional charge of Lead Feet and Broken Glass went off so effortlessly. The ambitious and relatable nature of the group’s catalogue stands out significantly, hitting you when you least expect it. With Henry Cox‘s vocal lead the band radiates confidence and strong charisma, making it irresistible not to stop by just to check them out. Trapped Nerve, from 2015’s Saudade EP, was a well-received throwback, commencing  with an absolute mayhem of Laika which rounded off their definitely too short set.

Don Broco

Well, these guys definitely know how to put on a great show. Delivering an exclusive UK festival performance, English rock outfit shook the Jägermeister Stage as well as they shook the entire crowd.

Their recent stand alone single, Everybody, kicked things off with its heavy riffs and grandiose vocal layers. There was no time for resting as Don Broco were climbing up their energy levels throughout the entire set. Vocalist Rob Damiani showcased the charisma of a true frontman as he practically owned the stage, jumping all around it and stagediving at the beginning of the set. Well, the jumping part would undoubtedly make you question your physical condition and ability.

With a boisterous flare their 2015’s Automatic material simply shone, adding even more energy to the mix. What You Do To Me and Fire were accompanied by massive sing-along whereas Nerve took it down a notch, thanks to its melodic choruses. Don Broco‘s debut album Priorities kept the show a little bit heavier and rawer, reliving the fiery spirit of Hold On and Whole Truth. However, an interesting turn of action occurred as Dani Winter-Bates of Bury Tomorrow joined the band onstage for Thug Workout, a raw cutting-edge tune that surfaced almost a decade ago. With their brand new single Pretty rounding off and a wave of masks taken from the horror-esque video for the track, it was one of the most thrilling sets at this year’s Slam Dunk.

The Maine

The Phoenix-based quintet has been having quite a party this year. With a decade passed since their formation and their long-player #6, Lovely Little Lonely, released earlier this year, it seems like the reasons to celebrate are plenty.

Taking to the Monster Energy Stage at this year’s Slam Dunk Festival, and keeping it classy in their fancy suits from the very beginning, The Maine were ready to deliver some fun time, and so was the crowd. From John O’Callaghan‘s speech that “Music is fucking fun” to “Somebody’s smoking pot, I can smell it”, to bringing a guy on stage, it’s fair to say the bond with the audience was pretty strong. The entertaining factor was vividly there, complimenting the music part even more significantly.

Despite the fact The Maine‘s most recent material dominated the set, nostalgic sensation was taking over. Black Butterflies & Déjà Vu sparked with its precise tempo shift and infectious drum work whilst a guitar-driven concoction of infectious melodies Do You Remember? (the other half of 23) only amplified the piercing melancholia. Worth to mention, the catchy essence of Bad Behavior would have you swaying in an instant. With a girly theme throughout the set, as they do, Girls Do What They Want was a massive throwback to the band’s debut album Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, whereas English Girls certainly won the crowd over, as it’s a sheer hit whenever they play it in the UK. The meaningful and emotive nature of their lyricism undoubtedly stands out, and what’s even more important it’s not diminished while translating into live format. American Candy‘s Am I Pretty? and closing track Another Night On Mars were just a few examples to prove it, with a sense of belonging and understanding forever hailing from their music.

Perhaps, The Maine are not your everyday band who thrive in moshpits and stagediving, but they surely have something special going on with their audience.

Neck Deep

Alright, a few words of clarification here. I am aware that the headline says Top Three but I’m afraid I must insist on the ‘impossible’ part yet again. My heart ached a few times while I was picking the highlights, and I clearly couldn’t leave this next band out.

Neck Deep are one of those bands you simply must see at least once in your whole life. A pure embodiment of all great things punk music conveys, with anthemic arena-worthy tunes and live shows that keep you on the edge. Just the fact of opening with My Chemical Romance’s Welcome To The Black Parade made them the coolest.

Shutting things down at Monster Energy Stage, Welsh outfit showcased a plethora of varied tracks. With the release of their third studio album The Peace And The Panic, being just around the corner, there was no better way to celebrate than to spin some brand new tunes. Happy Judgement Day and Where Do We Go When We Go are just a preview of new things coming our way, and their as catchy as Neck Deep can be.

With a laid-back and teasing attitude, the band stormed through their set. Tracks from their sophomore album Life’s Not Out To Get You stood out vastly, with some fan favourites the hard-hitting Serpents, blistering Kali Ma and emotive December. On the other hand, Losing Teeth and Crushing Grief (No Remedy) were just a few tunes from the array that brought back the essence of their debut Wishful Thinking. With Can’t Kick Up The Roots still ringing in our ears, we wish we could’ve done it all over again as we were slowly being devoured by the cold night.

Photos: Kasia Osowiecka