Slam Dunk Festival’s beginnings were less than humble. The inaugural event hosted at Leeds’ Millennium Square boasted Fall Out Boy as headliners, no mean feat for any festival’s early days yet testament to Slam Dunk’s notable influence. Ten years later, it remains a measure of their success, having brought the likes of Reel Big Fish, New Found Glory, All-American Rejects, Taking Back Sunday and many more over to grace the coveted headline slot. It’s also proved a platform for emerging superstars, championing You Me At Six (who also called Slam Dunk Records their home) and offering an early outing to Paramore.

Having grown out of the city’s alternative club night, Slam Dunk has established itself as a stalwart in the UK festival circuit. Now spread over three days and three locations, their 10th anniversary taking to Leeds, Hatfield and its first appearance in Birmingham having moved from Wolverhampton, it’s providing the opportunity for fans new and old to satisfy their musical cravings. Far from just pop-punk, emo and ska, Slam Dunk has broadened into hardcore and metalcore with ease, continuously presenting itself as a true one of a kind.

Slam Dunk excels with its atmosphere as well as its eclectically unique line-up. It’s nothing less than a celebration of the alternative, yet isn’t afraid to add in a few surprises here or there. It caters to very specific markets, as it has since its launch in 2006. Those seeking to immerse themselves in metalcore are able to do so, as those looking exclusively for upbeat pop-punk can revel elsewhere on site. For those looking to experience the far reaching boundaries of the international alternative scene, there’s nothing better. Far from the upper echelons of trendy, Slam Dunk is enjoyable over cool or pretentious.

Throughout its 10 years, Slam Dunk has provided immeasurable highlights to thousands of punters. A quick survey among the Punktastic team reveals tales of musical enlightenment, ranging from recent appearances by The Wonder Years to watching You Me At Six ascend from opening act to double-headliners over the decade.

“I first attended the festival when I was 17 (I’m 25 now) to see that ‘little known’ band You Me At Six,” says writer Nicole Tiernan. “As an avid Myspace user at the time (R.I.P. Myspace) I had started quite a popular fan page for them, so with this along with my friends at the time we would help spread word about their upcoming debut and so on. So for them to headline the festival last year for the second time was pretty special, especially because of the amount of tracks from ‘Take Off Your Colours’ on the setlist. It was a great opportunity to have a singalong and pretty much murder the tracks with my own voice with both new and old friends that were around at the time just made that event even-more special.”

Will Whitby, a feature writer here at Punktastic, found himself separated from his friends, admittedly not a unique situation at a bustling festival. Still, things worked out well. “The Wonder Years at Slam Dunk 2015 was one of the best experiences I ever have had,” he admits. “I had a bit of a crush getting into the show because I went to see Moose Blood alone and I managed to get into a few songs in and couldn’t find my mates. ‘The Devil In My Bloodstream’ came on which was my mates song and I managed to find my friend Loz right on the drop in the chorus and we screamed it in each other’s faces and crowd surfed. The rest of the set was incredible and vintage Wonder Years.”

As the office conversation continues, it’s clear that Slam Dunk celebrates a particularly strong sense of community. Tales of bands engaging directly with the fans shine through, as do stories of shared memories and moments. Although these may not be unique to Slam Dunk, they are defining. As the first of its kind, the festival retains the underdog vibe despite its considerable growth. It’s a far cry in size from the one-location event of 2006 and the confines of the University of Leeds Refectory in 2007, but its sprit remains intact.

As Slam Dunk organisers gear up for their 10th birthday celebration, it arguably boasts its biggest line-up to date. It’s as much as celebration of established talent as it is a showcase for emerging acts. Whether fans choose to spend their time with Panic! At The Disco, Of Mice & Men, The Story So Far or one of the festival’s many other stage toppers, one thing remains clear: There will always be a story to tell.

Slam Dunk Festival 2016 will take place on the 28th May (Leeds), 29th (Birmingham) and 30th (Hatfield). Full details, and tickets for Birmingham, are available via the festival’s website.

Photo by Olly Hanks