Slam Dunk Festival 2027 has wasted no time reminding everyone why it has become such a fixture in the UK alternative music calendar.
The first wave of artists for next year’s festival has been announced, and it is a properly loaded one. BOWLING FOR SOUP, SIMPLE PLAN, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, BEARTOOTH, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, THE USED and THE FRONT BOTTOMS are among the biggest names heading to Leeds and Hatfield, with plenty more spread across the festival’s multiple stages.
And if that sounds like a fairly broad mix, that’s because it is. Slam Dunk has never been interested in putting itself neatly into one box. The festival describes itself as a celebration of emo, pop-punk, metalcore, ska and more, and the 2027 announcement follows that formula rather perfectly.
For pop-punk fans, there is plenty to get excited about. BOWLING FOR SOUP and SIMPLE PLAN are two of the biggest names in the first announcement, bringing a huge dose of early-2000s nostalgia with them. The bill also includes THE MAINE, WE THE KINGS, THE ACADEMY IS…, CUTE IS WHAT WE AIM FOR, FOUR YEAR STRONG, TROPHY EYES and KNUCKLE PUCK.
WE THE KINGS are particularly interesting, with the band marking the 20th anniversary of their career, while TROPHY EYES will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Chemical Miracle. Those anniversary performances add another layer to a festival that has always understood just how important nostalgia can be to its audience.
But Slam Dunk 2027 isn’t simply about looking backwards.
On the heavier side of the line-up, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, BEARTOOTH, WAGE WAR, THE AMITY AFFLICTION and ERRA bring plenty of metalcore muscle, while SLEEPING WITH SIRENS and THE USED add two very different flavours of alternative rock to the mix. Then there is the festival’s ska and punk contingent. REEL BIG FISH, LESS THAN JAKE, THE INTERRUPTERS and GRADE 2 are all on the first announcement, creating another reason why the various stages at Slam Dunk are likely to involve some serious timetable negotiations.
Because that is one of the great problems with this festival: there is usually too much you want to see!
Slam Dunk has grown a long way from its beginnings as a single-stage event in Leeds in 2006. The festival now runs across two locations, with the North edition taking over Temple Newsam in Leeds on Saturday 29th May 2027 before the entire line-up heads south for the Sunday edition at Hatfield Park on 30th May. Importantly, all artists play both days, so fans aren’t choosing between different line-ups depending on which location they attend.
That two-city format has become a big part of the festival’s identity, allowing fans from across the UK to get involved while retaining the feeling of one huge weekend rather than two completely separate events.
And there is clearly more to come – The festival’s own announcement describes this as the first lot of artists joining the 2027 bill, meaning the current line-up is only the opening chapter.
For anyone who grew up with pop-punk, emo and alternative rock, there is an obvious nostalgia factor here. But the heavier additions and newer names mean Slam Dunk isn’t simply recreating a festival from 2005 and hoping everyone remembers the words.
It is mixing generations.
If you are looking for a place to stay for Slam Dunk North 2027 then check out our interactive accommodation map below. Just add in the dates you want to stay and you will be able to see what’s available nearby.
You can spend one part of the day watching a band whose records soundtracked your teenage years, then turn a corner and discover a newer act playing to a crowd who may be seeing them for the first time. That sense of discovery has always been part of the appeal.
Slam Dunk also remains an all-ages festival, with under-fives admitted free, making it one of the more accessible ways for younger fans and families to experience a major alternative music event together.
There are still plenty of names missing from that poster, though, and that’s what makes this first announcement particularly interesting.
With Bowling for SOUP, SIMPLE PLAN, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, BEARTOOTH, THE USED, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, THE FRONT BOTTOMS, REEL BIG FISH, LESS THAN JAKE, THE INTERRUPTERS and a host of other artists already confirmed, Slam Dunk has given itself a very strong starting point.
Now comes the fun part: finding out who gets added next.
Two cities. One line-up. And, judging by this first announcement, a lot of very difficult decisions when the stage times eventually arrive.
If you are looking for a place to stay for Slam Dunk South 2027 then check out our interactive accommodation map below. Just add in the dates you want to stay and you will be able to see what’s available nearby.
If you also need to find a flight to get you there, try our flight search feature below! Simply add in your home and destination city, select the dates you want to travel and search away!
