Concert News

Sum 41 To Co-Headline Slam Dunk Festival 2020

• 5th Nov 2019

Showing no signs of slowing down, Slam Dunk Festival continues cement their alternative standing, revealing punk stalwarts Sum 41 as co-headliners with Don Broco, the return of Punk In Drublic led by NOFX, the transatlantic powerhouse billing of Billy Talent, The Used, The Story So Far, the world-exclusive reunion of We Are The In Crowd and homegrown talent with Basement alongside the reunion of hardcore mob Your Demise, Dream State and Grayscale for the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

Lead by the inimitable presence of frontman Deryck Whibley, Sum 41 captured the spirit of a generation with anthems of ultimate defiance spat straight into the face of the mainstream. With early records ‘All Killer, No Filler’ and ‘Does This Look Infected’ boasting some of the most definitive and influential songs of the era, Sum 41 proves their ferocity continues to run deep with seventh album as ‘Order In Decline’ shaking up the rock world. The Grammy-nominated Canadian punk poster boys have scored multi-platinum albums across the globe, embarked on eleven headline and 7 co-headline tours spanning many continents and have won countless awards from the likes of the Juno Awards – making them more than qualified to appear as a Slam Dunk Festival headliner. Sharing the status with previously announced co-headliner Don Broco, the set-to-be iconic performances from both headline acts will not clash. 

Bursting onto the scene as Billy Talent with their self-titled debut album in the early 2000s, the Canadian punk rock outfit has since proved their staying power with a remarkable multi-platinum discography and unrivalled live experience featuring Benjamin’s Kowalewicz’s standout vocals against their jagged angst-ridden rock. Staying at the top of their game in their 25 year career history, Billy Talent will be at Slam Dunk demonstrating exactly how.

Standing as true pioneers of emo, The Used will bring their genre-defining spectacular to Slam Dunk for the first time next year. Achieving platinum success with their self-titled debut and follow up in ‘In Love and Death’, The Used’s longevity is the product of their baying honesty and unrelenting passion, promising an emphatic display when they perform hits such as ‘The Taste of Ink’, ‘Pretty Handsome Awkward’ or ‘I Caught Fire’. 

Following a raucous punk-party-starting debut at last year’s Slam Dunk Festival, NOFX are set to bring Punk In Drublic to both Leeds and Hatfield for another year, alongside Californian punk kings Pennywise that will grace the coveted slot. With acts still to be announced, the curation by Fat Mike promises to be the only place to catch punk royalty.

Fat Mike says:
“I don’t actually remember playing last year…. so we decided to do it again this year! I probably still won’t remember, but this time we’re gonna video tape it!”

One of the most visible pop-punk bands on the scene, The Story So Far are a band following their own path. Incorporating elements of hardcore into their bouncy verses, the Californian act have been relentlessly writing and touring since the release of Under Soil And Dirt in 2011. Releasing their latest Proper Dose last September, The Story So Far’s energetic return to Slam Dunk Festival will be an unforgettable moment.

The Story So Far say:
“Honored to a part of a historic festival yet again, thanks for having us back and can’t wait to rock out with y’all.”

Having only performed at Slam Dunk once in 2011 before their hiatus, grunge-rock outfit Basement will return in 2020, promising modern melodic empathy. Hailing from Ipswich, their latest singles Be Here No / Are You The One sees the band return to form following their 2012 album Colourmeinkindness.

In a world exclusive especially for Slam Dunk Festival 2020, We Are The In Crowd will reunite for what is set to be a whirlwind celebration of their late 2000s pop-punk prestige. Signed by Hopeless Records after news of the bands Myspace page hacking, punchy vocals from Tay Jardine and Jordan Eckes and upbeat attitude won over audiences in the states and beyond. Recording with Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount (All Time Low, Jimmy Eat World, Mayday Parade) WATIC’s records Best Intentions and Weird Kids are a time capsule to a golden era of pop punk. 

In another ground-breaking reunion, hardcore mob Your Demise will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the critically-acclaimed album ‘The Kids We Used To Be’, 10 years after their last performance at Slam Dunk Festival. Hertfordshire’s heavy hitters were known for the sheer magnitude of power that left even the most learned audiences stunned – their upcoming performance promises to take it back to 2010.

Ed Mcrae of Your Demise says:
“This is the biggest comeback since Jesus came out the rock with more rock”

Welsh post-hardcore quintet Dream State and alt-rock noisemakers Grayscale will be returning to the festival in 2020 as revealed on Slam Dunk socials earlier in the week. Dream State will make sure to storm the stage with tracks from their recently released debut album ‘Primrose Path’ and Grayscale delivering the hits from their latest offering ‘Nella Vita’.

A rite of passage for lovers of the alternative, Slam Dunk returns once again as a key date in the festival calendar. Slam Dunk Festival North will take place on Saturday 23^rd May 2020 at Temple Newsam and Slam Dunk South will take place on Sunday 24^th May 2020 at Hatfield Park. Tickets are on sale now.

In a monumental move, last year saw Slam Dunk operate as a fully green field festival, shifting away from its urban beginnings as Slam Dunk North made its debut at Leeds Temple Newsam site, joining Slam Dunk South in a park location as it enjoyed its second year at Hatfield Park. Celebrating ten years since the first Slam Dunk South date, 2020’s May Bank Holiday weekend is the only place to catch the world’s very best alternative music.

TICKET INFORMATION
Limited early bird tickets are still available for £64 + booking fees, with the price rising to £69 + booking fees for general admission tickets soon.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.slamdunkfestival.com.

Big Green Coach Company are the official travel partners for Slam Dunk Festival 2020.
Travel packages can be found here.