Every pop punk and rock fans dream festival Slam Dunk has just announced some big names for next year. Earlier today the word was released that Arizona Rock Band Jimmy Eat World will be headlining the annual festival among a wave of more alternative acts.
This will be the band’s debut appearance at Slam Dunk and they will be celebrating their 25th anniversary together. The festival is held in three separate locations over the weekend of May 26th, 27th and 28th, on the Spring Bank Holiday. Fans get a choice whether to attend in the North of England in Leeds (26th), the Midlands in Birmingham (28th) or South in Hertfordshire (27th), which will be at new venue this year in Hatfield. The punk heavy party is held over one day and is host to eight stages.
We got to know another 5 acts would be joining Jimmy Eat world also, including Taking Back Sunday who’s set will be their third appearance at Slam Dunk over the years, and the emo-heavy Sleeping With Sirens. Pop punk favourites Four Year Strong, Trash Boat and State Champs were also revealed to complete the first batch announced.
THE #SDF18 FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT IS HERE pic.twitter.com/1o7fzZlpjQ
— Slam Dunk (@SlamDunkMusic) November 15, 2017
The festival hits the mark of its twelfth year and aims to share the biggest and most upcoming acts in emo, rock and pop punk. It is constantly attracting a bigger crowd and the change of venues in the South is evidence to this. When speaking to The Independent, festival director Ben Ray said: “We are sad to leave the University however the event was selling out months in advance so we knew we had to move it and make it bigger due to demand from the fans.”
Jimmy Eat world formed way back in 1993 and are known to be one of the best and well respected bands of the pop-rock scenes, with nine studio albums under their belt. Their ninth release last year was named Integrity Blues and became the band’s highest charting release in the UK, reaching number 21 on the UK Albums Chart. They were seen this summer at Reading and Leeds Festival on the main stage, so if you missed that it may be important to know as a UK fan that Slam Dunk will be their only UK festival appearance in 2018.
You can get a ticket from Friday November 17th at 9am, and will cost you £49 for the day, or if you attend the infamous after party and want a chance to meet some band members, you can pay the slightly higher price of £55. Get tickets here.