GROAT went down to Hatfield Park for this year's Slam Dunk Festival, topped by hometown legends Enter Shikari alongside none other than The Offspring. Like most of the crowd, nursing the hangover from the previous night's Heavy Music Awards proved a piece of cake with the sheer amount of talent on display. Here are our top picks from a stacked day of music down in Hertfordshire.
Trash Boat
Veterans of this festival and the local area, Trash Boat took up a deserved slot on the main stage, soaking in that sweet summer sun. With a ballsy decision to move hit single 'Strangers' to the front of the set after teasing so on social media, its a reminder of the sheer back catalogue they now have - packed with hits upon hits. New banger 'Delusions of Grandeur' takes on a new energy live; it's a perfect circle pit track and hopefully a sign of what's to come next from the St Albans five-piece.
Dragged Under
One of the catchiest bands around with a hardcore edge, Seattle's Dragged Under proved their mettle on UK soil when they played Download Festival 2022 on their album release weekend. Fresh from dates with The Ghost Inside, numbers from Upright Animals went down a treat in a jam-packed tent, with 'Crooked Halos' being a standout sing-along. 'Chelsea' reminded us why they have potential to be titans, a monster riff that builds in leaps and bounds, with lyrics that are strikingly also appropriate to the state of affairs at the football club. A solid set from one of the festival's most fun live acts.
Boston Manor
There's a reason these guys launched The GROAT Podcast. Playing a rare live show this year as they go into hibernation to work on Datura's second half, there's no sign of rustiness - they are on the best form of their lives. With an overflowing tent, it's a set that leans heavy on new material: this is the Boston Manor of the present, still paying homage to their hit 'Halo' but powering into the future with their new material ('Desperate Pleasures' being a highlight). The key takeaway from the set was the sound quality, pioneering their signature tones and translating it into a festival season is no simple task, yet the boys from Blackpool make it look easy. One of the defining UK bands of this scene - and this generation.
PVRIS
Set to release EVERGREEN in just over a month's time, this could be the album that propels PVRIS to new levels of success. Fronted by the immortal Lyndsey Gunnulfsen, new hits like 'GOOD ENEMY' bring the riffs to the festival, a fitting display on their largest slot at Slam Dunk to date. Combining lush electro-pop with hints of pop-punk, their glorious sound is one that'll be remembered in years to come, with a devout following here in the UK. Catch them in October supporting Fall Out Boy on their UK arena dates!
Enter Shikari
Hometown shows are a rarity for Enter Shikari, often playing the likes of Alexandra Palace and Brixton Academy in London. Yet, cycling from their homes to Hatfield Park, this was a pure celebration of their craft - with a unique setlist and production to match. Special appearances from Cody Frost and Wargasm for their recent collaborations were a welcome treat, the band drawing one of the biggest crowds in the festival's history - finishing off with some magnificent pyro. 2024 will have to hit stellar heights to match what we just witnessed.
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