Slam Dunk 2026 is just around the corner
Words: Chloe Michelle
Photos: Matt Sheppard
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Another year of Slam Dunk is just around the corner and we’re here to give you some band recommendations! This year marks its 20th anniversary of the festival, starting in 2006. It has had many more festival dates over the years but its flagship festival continues strong.
Photo: Matt Sheppard / Dream State | Slam Dunk 2025
Sublime
Who doesn’t love a bit of ska in their music playlist? Sublime are three-piece band, originally formed in 1988 and continue to give us a show whenever they come to the UK. From the classic 1996 hit, ‘Santeria’, to their newest single, ‘Until The Sun Explodes,’ we can guarantee you’ll have a good time if you catch these guys.
You can catch them on Main Stage West at 7:30pm.
The Home Team
Now, I don’t know about you, but these guys have been all over my Tik Tok recently and they look like a fun band to go see. The Home Team are a four-piece rock band travelling over from Seattle. Others would describe them as heavy pop, but it’s up to you to make your mind up about them. Either way, they’re on a recommendations list for a reason. You may have heard their song, ‘Worthy’ from their album, ‘The Crucible of Life (Deluxe Edition)’. If you haven’t, we’ve very helpfully linked it for you so you have no excuses! (We’re all in awe of Brian’s hair as well, yes?)
You can catch them on Scott’s Key Club Stage at 4:35pm.
Trash Boat
We’ve added a British band to the list, of course! Trash Boat have been in the rock scene for roughly 12 years but haven’t performed at Slam Dunk since 2023. This will be their 5th appearance! Top tracks to get you in the mood we recommend are, ‘Strangers’, ‘He’s So Good’, and ‘Brave Face.’
You can catch them on Scott’s Key Club Stage at 3:15pm.
Unpeople
These are an absolute hidden gem who are growing by popularity by the day - for good reason as well! We caught them headlining Noizze Fest in 2025 and have been a little obsessed ever since. They even made it to Download Festival in 2025! They’ve very recently brought out a new single called ‘Clouds.’ We’re very excited to catch them opening up Main Stage at Slam Dunk this year and over at 2000 Trees in July.
You can catch them on Main Stage West at 12:35pm.
Knocked Loose
We’ve got to include a Main Stage headliner on the list so of course it’s got to be Knocked Loose. Going back to 2013, Knocked Loose have ‘knocked’ it out of the park with every song and album they release. They’re definitely one of the heavier bands on this line up so they won’t be for everyone’s taste, but don’t ‘knock’ them until you try them! (Ok, we’ll stop with the puns..) A handful of songs to give a go from us would be, ‘Slaughterhouse', ‘Suffocate’, and ‘Mistakes Like Fractures.’
You can catch them on Main Stage East Right at 9:05pm.
Origami Angel
Finally, we have another hidden gem for you. We caught Origami Angel in Clwb Ifor Bach when they stopped off in Cardiff last year and what a treat they were. We’re very excited to see that they’re still growing and will be making an appearance at Slam Dunk this year. They’re a duo from Washington D. C. who formed back in 2017 - so have almost been going for a decade now! Give these songs a listen before the big day; ‘The Title Track’, ‘24 Hr Drive-Thru’, and ‘Dirty Mirror Selfie.’
You can catch them on Scott’s Key Club Stage at 3:55pm.