Slam Dunk 2025

[sheffinghell]

Dry day at Live at Leeds today, so the ground is in really good condition. Hard surface a good way back in front of main stage too.

[Dales]

We got lucky at South, just a few drops at the end of the night. A real top day after worrying about it being a wet one.

[northernangel]

Decent day. 

 

Saw Sophie Powers as key club as usual schedule was off but that wasnt a bad choice. Finch, Noafince, Less Than Jake and met them as well, NFG, listened to The Ataris, Knuckle Puck, saw the end of Rain City Drive which I enjoyed and ADTR.

 

The getting out was less favourable though from what I hear getting in and out for the car park was easy again in the south so I'll just options for that next time if I go again. Also felt like it might be my point of being done there this year. I'm not sure who they could get for the cost next year compared to this year. NFG, Less Than Jake and ADTR was the ultimate win. 

[DomDom1984]

Alkaline Trio was my highlight but The Used was a bit special. 

[northernangel]

10 hours ago, DomDom1984 said:

Alkaline Trio was my highlight but The Used was a bit special. 

 

I nearly went back in the tent for 10 minutes but didn't see the point. By that time there was so much walking stage to stage I wanted to sit down before the band. Barely any gaps in schedule to sit for more than 10 minutes.

[andyrhodes24]

Very disappointed with the sound quality at main stage west down the hill. I know there’s not much they can do about the wind but I couldn’t hear a thing of Electric Callboy near the access platform. All you could hear was bloody Wargasm over the top. Massive shame as I was looking forward to them.

 

Also just open the fire exits at the end of the night instead of forcing everyone through the bottleneck?

[andyrhodes24]

From South, the one from four second in is shocking:

 

Edited May 26, 2025 by andyrhodes24

[NorthernSoul52]

Stronger than last year for structure, but think they need to consider a way to turn the downhill stages into something with better acoustics. Wind always plays havoc there in Leeds.

[northernangel]

37 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Very disappointed with the sound quality at main stage west down the hill. I know there’s not much they can do about the wind but I couldn’t hear a thing of Electric Callboy near the access platform. All you could hear was bloody Wargasm over the top. Massive shame as I was looking forward to them.

 

Also just open the fire exits at the end of the night instead of forcing everyone through the bottleneck?

 

Is that north site?, as you've mentioned about the hill? South also had a bottleneck where they suddenly seemed to realize 10 minutes after ADTR finished that it meant crowds needed to leave considering they finished 10 minutes later anyway. The crowd organisation getting out of south was poor with many opting to choose the shuttle line and just divert past marshals who weren't stopping them into the train line exit at a further point which I don't blame them for. It wasn't as bad as the barrier queue at North for shuttle afterwards last year by a long way but it was needless to incorporate it in for train attendees leaving masses of open green space with no traffic flowing through them. It might have been changed last year though at South, I wasn't there. I will say however that I don't regret my decision not to go back to the north site even with that live at Leeds lineup as a double option.

 

The vibe and festival is changing a bit though for me and two friends that are also a bit older for that festival being mid 30s said the same. It was very evident more so than it has been of the younger crowd. If that is my time has come to move on then I've bowed out on a high.

 

21 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

From South, the one from four second in is shocking:

 

Yeah that's bad.

Edited May 26, 2025 by northernangel

[andyrhodes24]

1 minute ago, NorthernSoul52 said:

Stronger than last year for structure, but think they need to consider a way to turn the downhill stages into something with better acoustics. Wind always plays havoc there in Leeds.

We left Electric Callboy after a couple of songs due to the sound, aside from the wind you had the Key Club stage sound bleeding through on one side and the Kerrang stage on the other. Another issue of Slam Dunk cramming too much into one day.

 

Highlights were Landmvrks, Twin Atlantic, ADTR and Graphic Nature.

[andyrhodes24]

1 minute ago, northernangel said:

 

Is that north site?, as you've mentioned about the hill? South also had a bottleneck where they suddenly seemed to realize 10 minutes after ADTR finished that it meant crowds needed to leave considering they finished 10 minutes later anyway. The crowd organisation getting out of south was poor with many opting to choose the shuttle line and just divert past marshals who weren't stopping them into the train line exit at a further point which I don't blame them for. It wasn't as bad as the barrier queue at North for shuttle afterwards last year by a long way but it was needless to incorporate it in for train attendees leaving masses of open green space with no traffic flowing through them. It might have been changed last year though at South, I wasn't there.

 

The vibe and festival is changing a bit though for me and two friends that are also a bit older for that festival being mid 30s said the same. It was very evident more so than it has been of the younger crowd. If that is my time has come to move on then I've bowed out on a high.

 

Yeah that's bad.

Yeah it was north. I was optimistically keeping my eye on the massive green fire exit fence directly to the left of ADTR which would’ve let people out straight to the arena exit but that would’ve been too easy! First time I’ve done Slam Dunk since they moved it to Temple Newsam, won’t be heading back unless the lineup is something special!

[northernangel]

35 minutes ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Yeah it was north. I was optimistically keeping my eye on the massive green fire exit fence directly to the left of ADTR which would’ve let people out straight to the arena exit but that would’ve been too easy! First time I’ve done Slam Dunk since they moved it to Temple Newsam, won’t be heading back unless the lineup is something special!

I probably won't be either to be honest. I like the slam dunk south site and I had a decent day but cost wise this year pushed the barrier! I was extremely lucky to get in through the super early bird bracket but that's likely to go up from £109 with fees to £115/120 next year and it's just too much. I've just got a Friday Download ticket for example cheaper than what I paid for that Slam Dunk day ticket although I get that it was on the aftermath but it's still cheaper for a final price Download ticket than Slam Dunk.

 

I'm not too sure who the could get down to justify the cost. I would say you're looking at the likes of Deftones, Biffy Clyro if they fit and Limp Bizkit. But LB your was much more than what both ADTR and The Offspring charge which are the two biggest headliners they have had. Deftones were a bit cheaper. I don't think Biffy would fit the mould really but I'd say they are about right to do it now. I wouldn't see them fitting in after the 3 bands before ADTR this year for exmaple but then I'd have happily taken Biffy Clyro over ADTR if that was the option....that might make me in the minority though.

Edited May 26, 2025 by northernangel

[onlyacat]

1 hour ago, andyrhodes24 said:

From South, the one from four second in is shocking:

 

WOW.

I had seen some people complaining on Slamdunk social media and assumed it was a bit of a whinge. This could have been manslaughter. Did the band not see this happening? I've seen sets stopped for much less. 

 

It was my first SD at Temple Newsam (been to 6 other years) and won't be bothering for a while. The sound was bad for about half the acts we caught. 

[northernangel]

53 minutes ago, onlyacat said:

WOW.

I had seen some people complaining on Slamdunk social media and assumed it was a bit of a whinge. This could have been manslaughter. Did the band not see this happening? I've seen sets stopped for much less. 

 

It was my first SD at Temple Newsam (been to 6 other years) and won't be bothering for a while. The sound was bad for about half the acts we caught. 

It's generally just a crap site really. I'm up there next week through wanting bands wise rather than venue choice but its only one stage which I’d be happy enough for them to put close to the other big stage for Slam Dunk but I'm expecting it elsewhere. 

[baggie92]

8 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Yeah it was north. I was optimistically keeping my eye on the massive green fire exit fence directly to the left of ADTR which would’ve let people out straight to the arena exit but that would’ve been too easy! First time I’ve done Slam Dunk since they moved it to Temple Newsam, won’t be heading back unless the lineup is something special!

We had the exact same issue with the sound for The Used, was awful. Sound at both sites is poor but will go back to South next year.

[Henrik]

Decent day at South.

 

Alkaline Trio the highlight for me, despite the sound being pretty terrible.

 

Finch and The Used were good fun too.

 

Hopefully next year's line-up will draw me back in.

 

[elviiin]

A good day at South, weather was fine.

Electric Callboy my highlight.

Bar service quite slow and car park still needs some improvements. Basically a free-for-all getting out, needs more staff.