Slam Dunk 2017 consisted in three days of pure and utter craziness. It was a world of its own, a bracket in time that makes you believe that for the duration of a bank holiday weekend, the outside world isn’t a thing anymore. For three days, you live for what is going on inside Birmingham’s NEC, around the streets of sunny Leeds (for Leeds always manages to see the sun that day, it seems) or on the campus of the University of Hertfordshire. You don’t look forward to anything apart from the next band you’re going to watch, or the next friend you’re going to run into and catch up with, around a beer or in a moshpit. For three days, that’s exactly how you want things to be. Slam Dunk is a carefree stop in every alternative kid’s daily life, a little solar system of its own, the best weekend of the year.

For me, its 2017 edition (my seventh year attending!) has consisted of all three days, as I jumped all aboard the Megaticket train, about twenty-five bands, no trips to the first aid tent for the first time since the ridiculous Empty Pint Injury of 2015 and a vodka latte. Its motto probably should have been “don’t question it, just embrace it”. Can we get that on a t-shirt for next year?

The headliners

As was the case last year already, I wanted to watch A LOT of headline sets over the course of the festival - four, to be precise, which is a problem because Slam Dunk only lasts for three days. I started by checking out Bowling For Soup in Birmingham. It shouldn’t work, should it? Their live sets are a collection of iconic ska-punk tunes played at twice their original speed to leave more time for repeated beer breaks, useless smoke effects and terrible jokes. Yet, when it’s over and you’re finished dancing to your heart’s content to 1985 or Girl All the Bad Guys Want, somehow, you’ve had the time of your life, and you’re ready for another round. I still can’t quite figure out if Bowling For Soup are a comedy act who happen to have a bunch of albums out, or a genuine band who happen to be funny, or both, but it doesn’t matter. It was pure, unapologetic fun, and sometimes, it’s all you want from life.

In Leeds, I divided by the headliner slot between two bands. First, I caught up with Wrexham pop-punks Neck Deep. I could have been okay with not seeing them at all this weekend, despite how much I enjoy their music and live shows, as I had seen them earlier this year, but they had just released Happy Judgement Day and, since it has a key change, I needed to see it performed in the flesh. (My obsession with key changes has reached a new high this year, and I don’t know how I feel about it). My first time seeing Neck Deep had also been at Slam Dunk, back in 2014, so it was nice going back to where I first saw them - even though they moved on from a packed room to a packed city square. Neck Deep are going to make it big, aren’t they? Big for real, I mean, not big by this scene’s standards. I had a hard time leaving the set, because every song was so catchy and there was no down time. The key change was also a treat. They always are.

I then made my way to the Jägermeister Stage to see the end of Enter Shikari. Once again, I could have been okay not seeing them over the weekend, as I had seen Take to the Skies performed in full in Milan, but it was too good not to see more of it. I was sat at the back, taking it all in, and let me tell you, the cover of Oasis’ Half the World Away as a tribute to the victims of the Manchester attack was the most heartbreaking and heartfelt thing I have heard all weekend. Enter Shikari are one special, unique band, aren’t they?

Last but not least, in Hatfield, I caught up with Australian outfit Tonight Alive. To anyone who knows me, it’s no secret how much I love those five, what their music means to me and how much it has helped me over the years (after the Hatfield afterparty, it’s also no secret to bass player Cam Adler, who had the grace and kindness to suffer my drunk ramblings and feelings for about fifteen minutes). There was absolutely no way I could miss them - apart from the tour they did with You Me At Six, I haven’t missed a single tour since 2012 and I don’t want to start now. The venue wasn’t packed and the crowd was chill, peacefully singing along and dancing. Long gone are the times when your girl here opened up moshpits to their sets, and I had the loveliest time. Of course, I cried - there will never be a day when The Other Side stops pulling on my heart strings. Mostly, I smiled. Every time I see Tonight Alive, I feel refreshed, I feel genuinely happy, I feel like I am right where I need to be. Seeing them is always a little bit magical, and Slam Dunk was no exception.

The bands I saw three times

Last year, I saw too many bands three times over the weekend, or just badly organised my time. Either way, I had promised myself I wouldn’t do it again this year, and keep the amount of bands I would watch on all three sites to a minimum. This minimum was four. There was, unsurprisingly, We Are The Ocean. The end of their career as I know it and their last ever shows were the main reasons I upgraded to three Slam Dunk days instead of just two, and I couldn’t miss a second of it. I started crying the second they came on stage in Birmingham. In Leeds, I cried so much my friends were worried about me. In Hatfield, I started out crying, and then ran headfirst into a pit and crowdsurfed to Nothing Good Has Happened Yet, only to find a picture of myself on the festival’s Instagram story. Having a picture of myself with a giant smile on my face at one of my favourite band’s last ever show was the greatest thing that could have happened over the weekend. Yes, I’m sad they’re gone. Mostly, I’m happy they were, are and will always be a part of my life. That deserved a smile. And a crowdsurf.

I couldn’t help but watching Bury Tomorrow tear up the main stage three days in a row. Their Birmingham set had to be cut short because frontman Dani Winter-Bates’ microphone was misplaced, but the rest went smoothly. Crowd action to die for, the comeback of Sceptres in a short set and the confirmation that these boys are doing great and taking over the world? Exactly what I wanted.

No one will be surprised when I say I did watch With Confidence three days in a row. We were following the entire UK tour, and it would have been rude not being there at every Slam Dunk set - especially considering how brilliant those shows were. Birmingham wins at best crowd, hands down, but overall, those three sets were some of my favourite times seeing the Australians. The atmosphere was just rowdy enough, I crowdsurfed to my favourite part in my favourite song and everyone was just so loud. I loved those sets.

Finally, I ended up watching Don Broco three days in a row, and they are, without a doubt, in the top three of my favourite bands of the weekend. Don Broco are one of these bands that never cease to amaze me with their live performances. When you see them, they are instantly better than the last time you have seen them, and I don’t think I have ever watched them play even an average set. From the very first day, they have always been incredible. They are showmen, their songs are always perfectly performed and they have the best crowds. Featuring Bury Tomorrow’s Dani Winter-Bates on Thug Workout and With Confidence’s Josh Brozzesi on Pretty was a great addition to the party.

The best band of the weekend, hands down

That is an award that goes to one of the best bands in the scene / at what they do / on Earth / on the line up / on any line up, ever / all of the above : Stray From The Path. The second the first note hangs up in the air, you stop seeing the fact that they are playing on a small stage, on a car park, next to another stage. The only thing your attention is drawn to is the chaos this band has unleashed over the tiny little car park, in the middle of a crowd that will relentlessly crowdsurf and pit for the entirety of the excellent set. Stray From The Path are a band that will never apologise for what they believe in or what they stand for, a band that takes no prisoners, a band that will always play to over a hundred percent of their abilities and a band that will never, ever be scared of shouting “fuck Front Porch Step and fuck Ian Watkins” on a stage, nevermind where that stage might be. I don’t think there are any words to articulate how much I admire and appreciate them. Being at Slam Dunk and not seeing them wouldn’t have felt right. (I still can’t believe I threw myself in the pit for D.I.E.P.I.G)

The band I wanted to see for a while and it finally happened

It has been a while since I have fallen head over heels in love with Seaway’s pop punk sound, and it has also been a while during which I have managed to miss every single one of their UK tours, no exception. Name it, I wasn’t there - until Slam Dunk 2017 happened. I caught their performance at Slam Dunk South and had the time of my life jumping and dancing around, relishing the fact that I was finally getting to watch them play. It was a hundred percent worth the wait.

The best discovery

It’s not a discovery per se as I had listened to their music beforehand, but it kind of is because I only started listening to them two weeks before the event. Say hi to the Australians in Trophy Eyes, the newest instalment in my life, a life which didn’t need another band, but also did. I caught twenty minutes of their set after Sorority Noise at Slam Dunk South and was swept off my feet.

Other honorable mentions

Sorority Noise, as always, were an explosion of feelings of the best kind. I can’t think of a band whose live performance is more genuine and intense. Using will always break me. The Maine never fail at putting the absolute biggest smile on my face. I hadn’t seen Decade in over two years and it was a pleasure seeing them again. They are always excellent live, and clearly deserve more love and attention. We managed to catch a little bit of Boston Manor, and man, that was unreal. The size of that crowd and how loud it was blew my tiny little mind. The One Tree Hill lover and Dude Ranch goer in me caught The Ataris, and enjoyed every second of it. So Long, Astoria is one hell of an album. We The Kings played a cover of Jimmy Eat World's The Middle, and Check Yes Juliet ("the song that made them", according to frontman Travis Clark) twice in the space of one small set, and yet I had the time of my life.

As always after Slam Dunk, I am now already looking forward to next year, polishing my band wishlist and counting the days until I find myself roaming around seven stages, navigating the clashes and catching up with my mates. So long, Slammy D. It’s been a blast.

(Current wishlist for 2018 : While She Sleeps, American Hi-Fi, Jimmy Eat World, Light You Up, Hands Like Houses, Northlane, You Me At Six's ten year anniversary tour for Take Off Your Colours)

Despite being a band who tours relentlessly and announces European shows quite often, we hadn't seen A Day To Remember on a Parisian stage for almost five years (bar a couple of Hellfest appearances). It's safe to say their Trianon headliner was long overdue, and to make up for lost time, they brought us quite the party.



The evening was opened by one of my favourite bands, the beautiful Moose Blood. Last time they were in France, their gig at the Pop Up Du Label was sold out and packed from front to back, but tonight, they have to win over the capital and a full room all over again. They had the toughest spot of the evening, Moose Blood. It's still early, and their music is miles away from A Day To Remember's heavy sound. Yet, they still make magic, being the truly lovely and talented band they always are. They were just themselves, oozing loveliness and kindness, with frontman Eddy Brewerton thanking us all for spending a little bit of our evening watching them. They brought their sensitive and delicately crafted emo tunes to the stunning theatre, played them with all their heart and all their might, and it was different, of course it was, and there was about five of us singing along, but still, it worked. It was odd, if I'm honest, seeing Moose Blood without a singalong loud enough to deafen the whole town. But it reminded me of what their music truly is - comforting like a soft blanket, a warm cup of tea and rereading an old diary, and joyous and full of life like spending an evening with some of your best friends in the world, laughing and singing along like nothing else matters.




I've always known that Neck Deep were destined for greatness, but I don't think I was expecting anything quite like what happened in Paris. They are no longer the little unknown band who had accompanied All Time Low on tour. They have become successful, one of the greats, and the amount of people bouncing along to opener Gold Steps shows it. Quite quickly, we find our feet in the moshpit, jumping up and down, realising we all have the lung capacity of toddlers but carrying on anyway, because what else can you do when Neck Deep are on stage, themselves spinning around and having a blast? I can't think of anything more obvious than how delighted the Welsh boys were to just be here, playing for us and offering us a ray of sunshine in the cold of February. Their catchy tunes are played fast and loud, and are echoed by the whole crowd - especially songs that seem to be on their way to becoming bonafide classics (Kali Ma, Can't Kick Up the Roots). Quite simply put, Neck Deep are a joy to watch live, their set is solid happiness and it undeniably makes you want to join in. You could have believed it was their own headliner they were playing. I don't know of a lot of things that have come out of North Wales (and yet I sing along to Can't Kick Up the Roots like I've hung out at the Central Station my whole life) but it's safe to say Neck Deep are the very best.







It's Mr Highway's Thinking About the End and its iconic breakdown ("Disrespect your surroundings", anyone?) that will open the evening, and as soon as the first notes echo around the venue, the crowd is on fire. Running around in circles to Paranoia, arguably the heaviest track on the setlist, wasn't my smartest or strongest idea of the night, but at least, it showed me what a great crowd the band were facing. Whatever frontman Jeremy McKinnon asked for, whether it was a circle pit, a wall of death, crowdsurfing, people getting on their friends' shoulders or even using your mate as a surfboard, the audience happily obliges, wreaking havoc in the theatre from start to finish.


Just like Neck Deep, when A Day To Remember are on a stage, they make you want to join in. They have an unbelievable energy, never faltering from start to finish, and it feels like they're not even trying to get people's attention - in the best way, that is. They just walk on a stage, grab their instruments and start playing, and all eyes are on them, attention undivided, lyrics echoed by a thousand people hung on to their every word. When 2nd Sucks' "Just get the fuck over it" resonated in the room, it felt like there were ten thousand of us in there - the shouting along was that loud.


The Floridians are touring Europe to promote their latest album, the heavy Bad Vibrations, and the six songs extracted from it will get the same kind of reaction as older tracks. The circle pit during Paranoia sees a huge chunk of the venue involved, and bouncier songs like We Got This or Naivety will get the whole crowd singing (and me half-accidentally belting out the lyrics to Camp Rock's This Is Real, This Is Me during the chorus of Naivety. It works, you can try). Songs from previous albums are welcomed with open arms, like old friends you haven't seen in a while, because on this side of the world, A Day To Remember are old friends we haven't seen in a while. It's unsurprisingly that I find myself shedding a tear or five thousand to Have Faith in Me, or Homesick.







The first part of the set ends with 2010's All I Want (a classic among all classics) and The Plot to Bomb the Panhandle (from 2007's For Those Who Have Heart), and the band will come back for an encore composed of a lovely rendition of If It Means a Lot to You and bouncy tunes All Signs Point to Lauderdale and The Downfall of Us All. It's during moments like these that you can see the mark A Day To Remember have made on our little world - how many bands have THAT many songs to drive a crowd crazy. This band has got to a stage where they could safely play greatest hits gigs for the rest of eternity and get away with it, but it's obvious they want to go higher and they want to be bigger - and they should. They are one of these bands that have a fair chance at making it to the bigger leagues and the festival headlines, and I can't wait to see it happen.


What a difference five years made.
The last time A Day To Remember had come to Paris, they were shooting for the stars already but their set hadn't been met with the attention and chaos it deserved. Five years later, they have a packed room in front of them, over a thousand people ready to have a party, dance in the confetti and climb on giant inflatable orcas. I think that's what they call making it.

In 2015, while I was at T in the Park, a smaller festival was taking place near Cheltenham, in south west England : 2000 Trees. I adored every single minute of T, but there was still a part of me that would have loved to be surrounded by all these trees. My friends all were there and kept praising the event, and the likes of Deaf Havana, We Are The Ocean, Bury Tomorrow and The Xcerts were playing. 

It felt like my dream festival.

And in 2016, here I went.

On the 6th of February, London turned into pop punk central for one night only, and I was one of the lucky ones who attended it.(Granted, I found a golden ticket for the pop punk event of the year at 1am on the very day it was meant to happen, but oh well. What matters is I was there, right? Right?)