By Jase Walker
Slam Dunk is just around the corner for what is looking to be an immensely warm and more importantly, not-rainy, May bank holiday weekend!
In a bit of a change of my usual preference for all the small acts at festivals, this year’s Slam Dunk has offered me a selection of bands on one of it’s main stages that barring a couple of exceptions, quite literally fits my main music preferences right now. This right here is going to be my spot for almost the entire day, I honestly cannot get across how much I am excited for these bands one after the other. The only two I’ll be missing due to other commitments will be Zand and Kids In Glass Houses.
My top five for this year hinges almost entirely on this stage as well and in no particular order the big ones for me are these:
Vukovi
It’s no secret that I’ve fallen in love with everything these Glaswegians have put out, and their most recent album, “Nula” is no exception. It’s a sexy, fun and riff packed album and I don’t doubt that Janine (vocals) will end up doing something daft and I’ll be there for it.
Holding Absence
These guys have taken up a massive residence in my heart with their bittersweet songs and humble live shows, but not only that, they’re a real lovely bunch of people as well. ‘The Biggest Mistake Of My Life’ quickly became a real favourite album of mine and with a new album on the horizon and potentially a couple of new songs, it would be a big mistake to miss these.
PVRIS
Another act that blew into my life with a passing chance to catch them live in Manchester a few years back at Gorilla and this catchy pop rock with some real attitude has now found itself on my regular playlist, especially with their 2020 album “Use Me” and the more recent singles. Fantastic live show and I’m always going to be hungry for more!
Billy Talent
I honestly never thought I’d get to see these guys live again. With the Covid pandemic screwing up so many tour schedules and them dropping off the Slam Dunk lineup multiple times, I was losing hope of seeing these again any time soon but this Canadian post-hardcore act are finally on the way back to the UK and I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t try honestly to get my fill of them.
Enter Shikari
‘A Kiss For The Whole World’ is already one of my top albums for 2023, I can’t stop listening to it and after their phenomenal performance at New Century Hall in Manchester a short while back, I can finally say I’ve learned some of the bloody words this time! Hopefully bringing with them their full stage production, which blew me away at Victoria Warehouse a while back, this will be an incredible way to wrap up this year’s Slam Dunk.
These are who I’m focused on this year. That’s not to say that Slam Dunk is short on other stages because it absolutely isn’t. Were I able to, I’d be splitting myself into six parts and seeing each stage all day but in this case it’s not really possible sadly!
I do wish I could spend the entire day on the Knotfest stage as well because that stage is stacked but it’s not my priority for this day!
However you choose to spend your Slam Dunk though, I hope you have the best day! See you in the pit!
- Slam Dunk South takes place next Saturday (27 May), with Slam Dunk North the following day. Über Rock will be covering both legs with our correspondents presenting their individual takes on what goes down over the course of this double whammy of a weekender.
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