Welcome to Slam Dunk North! In this review, we cover Lake Malice, Defects, Winona Fighter, I See Stars, Landmvrks, Stray From The Path, and A Day To Remember. Throughout the day, we experienced everything Slam Dunk has to offer, checking out some amazing showcase talents!
Lake Malice
Opening the Key Club Stage this morning is Brighton’s alternative rock duo, Lake Malice. Kicking off their set with “Bloom,” they come out in force and power with their unmissable and incredible sound. The duo, joined by backup dancers, performs their latest single “Scatterbrain” and the 2023 single “Bloodbath,” featuring heavy breakdowns. Lake Malice’s high-energy performance was exactly what The Key Club Stage needed to start the day off strong.
Defects
Kicking off Main Stage East today is the UK metal band Defects. Coming out in full force, they’re here to have fun and show us a good time, engaging the crowd and getting everyone clapping throughout their set with “End Of Days,” “Modern Defects,” and “Broken Bloodlines.” Tony Maue’s incredible vocals showcase his impressive range. Despite intermittent rain, their smiles and laughter made their performance even more special. They closed their set with a new song, “Heretic,” highlighting Defects’ growing talents.
Winona Fighter
Coming from Nashville, USA, for their debut UK festival appearance is punk rock band Winona Fighter. Kicking off their high-energy set with “You Look Like A Drunk Phoebe Bridgers,” Winona Fighter immediately captured the gathered crowd. Referencing their debut album, “My Apologies To The Chef,” frontwoman Coco Kinnon’s exceptional talent as both the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist kept the audience energised. Within seconds, Coco joined the crowd to party, engaging fans experiencing Winona Fighter live for the first time. Their catchy sound got everyone singing along, especially during “R U Famous.” They also covered “Sabotage” by The Beastie Boys. Winona Fighter’s presence in the UK scene is refreshing, and based on their performance today, they’re a breakthrough artist to watch.
I See Stars
American electronicore metal band I See Stars took the stage with force, quickly capturing the crowd. Making their first Slam Dunk appearance since 2012, their packed stage showed they’ve been missed. Their energetic set included “Drift” and “Split” from their 2024 album “Split,” alongside fan favourites “Murder Mitten” and closing with “Anomaly.” Throughout their set, pits opened, and their infectious energy spread rapidly through the crowd.
Landmvrks
Seeing Landmvrks perform at Slam Dunk was always going to be a treat. Their energetic set began with “Creature,” immediately opening mosh pits and encouraging crowd surfing. The French metal band controlled the crowd effortlessly, notably with a call-and-response moment during “Everytime I Feel Like,” where the audience shouted back “Death.” Their latest album, “The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been,” showcases their growth as a band, evident in the stage design inspired by its artwork. Mat Walsh from While She Sleeps joined them for “A Line In The Dust.” Their exciting forty-minute set ended strongly with “Self-Made Black Hole,” marking a highlight of the festival.
Stray From The Path
Quickly following on stage from Landmvrks, we have the American Hardcore band Stray From The Path. Within seconds of them entering the stage, they have pits opening up and fans flying over the barrier. Starting their set with “Needful Things”, their tight and powerful sound just boomed over the mics and watching the sea of heads moving on the hill just showcased how much people were dying to see them live. Asking for 100 crowd surfers to come over during their set kept security on their toes. With the surprising announcement of a brand new album coming out this week called “Clockedworked”, Stray From The Path threw a few copies of it out to the crowd and informed the lucky fans at Slam Dunk Festival could grab a copy early from the festival site. We got a taste of what to expect from the newest album with a performance of “Kubrick Stare”, which continued the high energy that they had brought to the crowd. Finishing off their set with “First World Problem Child”, their performance at Slam Dunk won’t be forgotten!
A Day To Remember
Closing off this year’s festival was the long-awaited headliner, A Day To Remember. They kicked things off with their 2009 hit “Downfall Of Us All,” as fans screamed back the iconic “Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da, Da-da, da-da, Da-da, Da-da Let’s go” line, while CO2 pyro covered the stage. The crowd responded with nonstop energy, fully embracing the high-powered set.
The 20-song setlist included fan favourites such as “Right Back At It Again,” “If It Means A Lot To You,” and their well-known cover of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You Been Gone.” At one point, the show was briefly paused when fans signalled for help in the crowd, allowing security and medics to intervene. During the pause, the crowd lightened the mood by practising their crowd-surfing technique.
Once the green light was given, A Day To Remember came back even harder, launching into “All My Friends” from their 2025 album Big Ole Album Vol. 1. The song brought out the festival’s community spirit, with fans loudly singing along arm-in-arm with their friends. The band’s set was a masterclass in how to close a festival, with every moment delivering powerful sound and presence. They ended with “All Signs Point To Lauderdale,” rounding out Slam Dunk North on a high note.
Slam Dunk North Overview
Slam Dunk North has significantly evolved over the years, demonstrating clear listening, learning, and growth. Changes to the stage layout successfully addressed previous congestion issues, improving stage-to-stage navigation. Additional water points were conveniently placed, alongside better distribution of toilets. Food vendor options were plentiful, though queues remained. Shuttle bus improvements made transportation swift and user-friendly, providing a positive experience for first-time users.
However, a couple of criticisms include unclear signage for non-alcoholic/low-alcoholic options at main bars, causing confusion during peak times. The separate bars previously offered seemed preferable based on attendee feedback. Additionally, the After Party wristbands caused confusion due to inconsistent acceptance across venues, requiring repeated ticket scans and leading to uncertainty among attendees. Addressing these minor issues will further enhance the experience.
Ending positively, Slam Dunk Festival was highly successful, especially the expanded VIP/Guest area offering more activities and shelter. The diverse artist lineup catered to various tastes, featuring both new and returning artists. With the upcoming 20th anniversary, Slam Dunk is poised to become even better. Overall, this year’s Slam Dunk Festival was one to remember!
