Slam Dunk 2025: the breakdown
Photos by @tijsvl & @stories.from.the.pit
One of the most well-known UK alternative music festivals returned to Hatfield with an incredible line-up blending bands from the punk, ska, hardcore and metalcore scene. Here are our impressions of some of the bands we managed to catch.
The Ataris
It had been a long time since The Ataris last played in the UK — especially around London — so anticipation among fans was running high. Their set turned out to be one of the most reflective and emotionally resonant of the entire festival. Tracks like In This Diary and The Saddest Song sparked heartfelt singalongs that swept across the crowd, while their iconic cover of The Boys of Summer landed with timeless impact. Leaning heavily on So Long, Astoria – probably their most defining album – their performance felt less like a comeback and more like a heartfelt reunion.
Landmvrks
Landmvrks have been on a steady rise in the last few years. Back in October, they opened for Beartooth and Polaris on their European tour, and even then, their mix of heavy riffs and catchy choruses stood out—especially on tracks like Death and Lost in a Wave, which got the crowd both moshing and singing along. But their performance at Slam Dunk took things to a whole other level. With powerful energy and real presence on stage, the French metalcore band showed they’re more than ready to take on a headlining spot in the near future.
Stray From The Path
Stray From The Path tore up the stage with their hard-hitting lyrics and heavy riffs, putting on one of the most intense sets of the day. Songs like Fortune Teller, Kubrick Stare and Guillotine had the crowd jumping and shouting every word, while frontman Drew York’s raw energy kept everyone locked in from start to finish. At the end of the set, he threw a few copies of their new album Clockworked into the crowd, and a few lucky fans managed to catch them. With this being their final album before the band breaks up later this year, the whole performance felt like a moment fans won’t forget anytime soon.
New Found Glory
There’s a reason why New Found Glory are still considered one of the best pop-punk bands around—they simply know how to throw a party that brings everyone together. With their last UK appearance dating all the way back to 2019, their return felt long overdue. It made perfect sense that their Slam Dunk 2025 setlist was a hit parade of classics, featuring My Friends Over You, Head On Collision, and All Downhill From Here. The energy was infectious – nonstop singalongs, crowd surfing and mosh pits.
Less Than Jake
It wouldn’t be Slam Dunk without some brass-fueled fun, last year we had bands like Interrupters, Mad Caddies and Goldfinger, while this year Less Than Jake delivered for the ska lovers. Their set was expected but by no means boring. Classics The Science of Selling Yourself Short and All My Best Friends Are Metalheads kept the pit moving and the crowd had amazing time.
Electric Callboy
Electric Callboy was probably the band that we were most excited to see play in the UK this summer after hearing the insane news about Frank Zummo (Sum 41) joining them on drums. And rightly so, they turned their Main Stage appearance into an out of this world full-blown neon-lit rave. Anyone who has seen them before probably knows that they are the true kings of the eclectic sound – ingeniously blending euro dance, absurd humour, breakdown and heavy guitars. At Slamdunk South, tracks like Hypa Hypa, MC Thunder and We Got the Moves had the crowd going completely mental, while a surprise cover of Sum 41’s Still Waiting became one of the festival’s most memorable moments and definitely wormed up the hearts of all the Sum 41 fans. Their new single Revery, released just a day before the festival, offered a glimpse into a more refined, metalcore-influenced evolution for the band, suggesting that Electric Callboy may be entering an exciting new phase.
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio are back on this side of the pond especially and exclusively for Slam Dunk, and they made sure we felt it! Playing classics like Armageddon, Private Eye and Radio, as well as songs from their 2024 release Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs, the band frontend by former Blink 182 singer Matt Skiba closed the Monster Stage with an hour of true punkrock. Their stage presence a might have felt a bit low on energy (jetlags aren't easy, and the production could've notched up a gear, but overall.. who really cares with a repertoire a band like this has. Not a single word was left for Matt Skiba or bassist Dan Andriano to sing on their own, the crowd sang along with every note. Latest addition Atom Willard (formerly of Against Me!, The Offspring, Angels And Airwaves and the list goes on...) is the piece you didn't know was missing from this three-piece puzzle, what a perfect beast! We can't wait for Alkaline Trio to come back and show us their full worth!
Scowl
Up-and-coming hardcore band Scowl proved once again they’re more than just a hype. Despite the messed-up schedule at The Key Club stage, they absolutely owned their headlining spot. Fans had a blast seeing their newest singles from Are We All Angels played alongside heavier hits like Bloodhound and Shot Down. Overall, their evolving sound feels like a natural step forward — showcasing not just their range, but their depth beyond the loud energy and strong stage presence.
To summarise, Slam Dunk South 2025 wasn’t just a trip down memory lane. It was a loud, joyful, and emotional reminder that this scene is still thriving and there’s a lot of new names to watch out for.
