Held last month, at Hatfield Park, Slam Dunk Festival South delivered a vibrant day of punk, pop-punk, emo, and ska. With a stellar lineup featuring A Day To Remember, Electric Callboy, Neck Deep, Save Ferris, The Used, and Finch, the festival attracted a diverse crowd of music enthusiasts.
Headliners A Day To Remember brought their signature mix of breakdowns and singalongs, commanding the main stage with undeniable energy. Electric Callboy lit things up with their chaotic, tongue-in-cheek blend of metalcore and EDM, while Neck Deep proved once again they’re the UK’s reigning pop punk kings.
Over at the Monster Stage, Save Ferris brought a jolt of energy to the afternoon. Monique Powell’s stage presence was magnetic — her charisma and powerhouse vocals lit up the crowd. Blending punk, rock, and ska with infectious flair, the band delivered a tight, high-energy set. With fresh faces in the lineup following their resurgence, Save Ferris are clearly on a mission — and judging by their ferocity on stage, they’re gaining serious momentum and showing no signs of slowing down.
We caught up with Monique shortly after her set.
The Glaswegian rockers Twin Atlantic tear through their set with confidence and muscle. From the punchy “Salvation” to the full-throttle energy of “No Sleep”, it’s banger after banger. Sam’s electric onstage, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he thrashes through “Brothers and Sisters”, and when “Heart and Soul” hits, it’s pure festival euphoria.
By now, Neck Deep are woven into the very fabric of Slam Dunk. Having climbed their way through every stage over the years, this set marks their biggest moment yet — and they rise to it with all the colour, humour, and heart you’d expect.
Frontman Ben Barlow keeps things playful, especially before launching into Take Me With You, when he spots inflatable aliens in the crowd and calls out to his fellow UFO enthusiasts.
Things turn emotional during Part of Me, a fan-favourite sing-along that has Ben visibly choked up — not that he needs to sing much; the audience carries every word. They wrap things up with a joyous, confetti-soaked In Bloom, proving once again why they’ve earned their place as Slam Dunk royalty.
When Electric Callboy last hit this very stage in 2022, few could’ve guessed their viral Hypa Hypa moment would be the launchpad to something this big. Fast-forward to 2025, and thousands are packed in for their headline set — many in costume, sporting We Got The Moves wigs or Pump It headbands, ready for chaos.
From the first beat, Nico and Kevin command the stage with unrelenting energy. There’s confetti, pyro, glitter jackets, and stage banter that could even rival blink-182 in sheer absurdity. Early in the set, they introduce Frank Zummo of Sum 41, who’s filling in on drums — and just three songs in, they detonate the crowd with a surprise: a full-throttle, Callboy-style cover of Still Waiting, dropping jaws across Hatfield.
Tracks like Elevator Operator hit a whole new level live, but it’s the debut performance of Revery that really turns heads, suggesting that the band’s next era might outshine everything they’ve done before.
If there’s a limitation, it’s their continued reliance on covers — four in one set hints at hesitation. But at this point, it’s clear: Electric Callboy have the charisma, catalogue, and command to stand tall as UK festival headliners. All that’s left is for them to fully trust in their own firepower.
Fans have been asking for A Day To Remember at Slam Dunk for years — and 2025 was the year the festival finally delivered. On paper, they’re a perfect fit. If Slam Dunk has a signature sound, ADTR helped write the blueprint: breakdowns, shout-along choruses, and enough bangers to put your local butcher out of business.
With a discography built for festivals, the Ocala crew had no shortage of weapons. Opening with the fist-pumping “The Downfall of Us All” was an inspired choice, immediately whipping the crowd into a frenzy. “2nd Sucks” followed like a punch to the throat, all fury and adrenaline. They signed off with “All Signs Point to Lauderdale” — the ultimate anthem for anyone who’s ever wanted to escape their hometown.
In between, there were fun surprises too, like a throwback cover of “Since U Been Gone”, dusted off at the request of touring bassist Bobby Lynge and hilariously introduced via a tongue-in-cheek snippet of Pantera’s “Walk”.
Overall Slam Dunk Festival South 2025 nailed the essentials: a killer lineup, great weather, and smoother logistics than ever before.