The walk up from the station to the festival site was filled with energy; festival goers joyfully handed out full beer cans to those they passed, realising there was not enough time to drink a 6-pack before reaching the gate. Leather jackets came off in the beating down heat and the swarm of band t-shirts avidly stomped towards the music.
Navigating the festival grounds was incredibly straightforward, highlighting clear signage and a sensible layout; the stages, food stalls, bars, and toilets were well distributed throughout the site, making access easy with minimal hassle. The festival organisers doubled the amount of water points compared to last year which was gratefully received, given the sky inferno at peak times. I found the hydration stations quickly, only queuing for a couple of minutes max on each visit (I was generally stationed towards the back of the site, darting between Key Club, Monster & Kerrang! stages).
Demographically the crowd ranged from mid-20’s to mid-40’s+, spirits were high and the crowd were lucky enough to experience an ideal British day out with sun, pints and good tunes. I mostly gravitated towards the Monster stage, where the sound and overall production were fiercely tight. The audiences at both Monster and Key Club were my kind of people – absolutely none of us still have the knees to crouch low and jump up, but god damn we were determined to have a nice circle pit and high five along the way. Watching the crowd at Key Club mid-afternoon, I immediately threw myself into the chaos for H20 – Don’t forget your roots, it would be rude not to.
A few stages had minor sound issues here and there, as is expected for an outdoor fest and fans experienced some difficulty hearing vocals at the beginning of Against The Current‘s set as production eased into the swing of things. Regardless, Chrissy Costanza gave it her all, showcasing relentless energy as she danced and swung the mic stand around, refusing to let any technical hiccups slow her down. As the set went on, the big top filled and the band delivered a dynamic performance which had crowds captured and electrified.
A day festival systematically means a tight schedule and some overlaps forced difficult who-to-see decisions. Thankfully the organisers published a slick clash finder in advance meaning fans could prep where they needed to leg it to next, and assess how much time was needed to hit the bar along the way. Sets ran pretty much to time and stages were close enough to each other, without causing a sound clash, that it was easy to sprint between two bands playing at the same time and experience optimal balance.
I stomped around the majority of the festival on my own exploring and I feel it’s vital to note how safe I felt in general, as a woman alone (granted, I knew where my friends were stationed nearby if needed). All my interactions fleeting through the site and moshing myself to the front of sets were positive, finding new friends and meeting fans along the way. When nightfall hit and The Interrupters finished their raucous set, ending in huge uproars from the crowd singing along to ‘Kerosene’, it was time to make my way back to the friend group. The lighting and presence of yellow vests was very minimal at this point other than around main stage; navigating my way from Monster to main in the darkness I imagine would have felt more secure, with an increase in staffing and lighting. However, overall, I felt comfortable enough to navigate Slam Dunk alone and enjoy the acts I wanted to see, without concern.
Year after year, Slam Dunk develops and matures alongside its audience. Noticeable adjustments are made, culminating in delivering a unique independent festival backed by a strong crowd, annually returning and supporting the event’s progress. Many of the faces I found amongst the crowd this year were those who I had met on my first Slam Dunk jaunt in 2018 (Jimmy Eat World slapped so hard), all of them a few years older, possibly wiser, and partying hard in the full spirit of Slammy D.
Slam Dunk Festival South 2024 delivered a great day of music and atmosphere. Passionate crowds, easy access to necessities and a strong lineup, sealing a positive reputation for Slam Dunk as one for the summer calendar, here’s to next year Hatfield!