The festival has announced there will be a few logistical changes for 2024.
Slam Dunk is known nationally as the UK’s biggest independent rock festival for good reason - and Leeds is lucky enough to host the northern site year-on-year.
Located on the Temple Newsam Estate in East Leeds, the festival attracts thousands from across the country and with it, comes a mass of cars, buses and festival-goers travelling by train, taxi and locals on foot.
New for this year, Slam Dunk has announced there will be different 'directions to approach the site depending on where you are parking or being dropped off' and there will be two car park entrances, plus more signage and 'improved pick up and drop off operations'.
Image: Supplied
Slam Dunk has said that new changes for 2024 'ensure improved traffic management, designed to allow everyone a much quicker arrival and departure from the festival'.
The festival reminds people that car parking tickets are only available in advance - and depending on how you choose to travel to the festival and whether or not you're parking or dropping off, you'll receive information via email in advance explaining how to get to your destination.
The instructions for those with car park tickets will not be made public for a more streamlined approach, and this will hopefully minimise traffic as well.
Slam Dunks says "Please do not try to approach the car park entrances without a pre-purchased car park pass being displayed in your windscreen."
"For all pick up and drop offs please head to the designated entrance and do not try to access through the car park entrances. These areas will be clearly signed on your approach to site.
"Please stay tuned for more information on news and details on improvements to the festival sites coming soon. With just a few months to go, we’re looking forward to seeing you all back at Slam Dunk Festival 2024!"
You can find more about the changes to parking and drop offs here.
About Slam Dunk Festival
Image: Supplied
Slam Dunk is set to return next summer, and the festival’s already giving us a sneak peek into what to expect from the line-up.
Just announced are You Me At Six, The All American Rejects and I Prevail at the top of the bill, plus a selection of pop-punk, emo, metal and alternative artists, spanning from The Wonder Years to La Dispute and everything in between.
Taking place once again across two sites: Leeds’ own Temple Newsam will host Slam Dunk North on Sunday 26 May 2024 whilst Hatfield Park will host Slam Dunk South for Saturday 25 May 2024.
Renowned as one of the biggest alternative festivals for finding new breakthrough artists and meeting likeminded rock, metal and pop-punk music fans alike, Slam Dunk has become internationally recognised to its commitment to music lovers.
This year is set to be extra special as it will be YMAS's final-ever UK festival performance.
The Wombats aren’t just still going strong - they’re getting better. And honestly? Long may they reign.
The Wombats absolutely tore the roof off the First Direct Arena in Leeds last night, Wednesday 26 March and what a night it was.
From the second they hit the stage it wasn’t just a gig, it was a full-blown indie-pop spectacle, packed with infectious energy, nostalgia, and a whole lot of dancing.
They kicked things off with “Moving to New York,” and honestly? The crowd was in from the first note.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Matthew Murphy’s unmistakable vocals rang through the arena and suddenly, thousands of people were screaming every lyric like it was 2007 all over again. It was one of those moments where you could just feel how much this band still means to people.
Despite the massive venue, The Wombats somehow made it feel intimate. The lights? Pure chaos in the best way - vibrant, colourful, and totally in sync with the band’s wild, bouncy sound.
Murphy’s cheeky banter between songs made it feel less like a polished arena show and more like a jam session with a few thousand of your closest mates.
Setlist-wise, they nailed it. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and “Greek Tragedy” had the whole place losing it, while the stripped-down version of “Techno Fan” gave everyone a minute to breathe (and maybe get a little emotional).
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those quieter moments just made the high-energy choruses hit even harder. It was a rollercoaster - in the best way possible.
Then came the encore. If you thought the crowd was loud before, “Kill the Director” took things to another level. Pure, chaotic indie bliss. The kind of moment you don’t want to end.
Here’s the thing about The Wombats: some might say their older songs hit harder than their newer stuff, but is that just nostalgia talking? Or maybe it’s a generational thing?
Either way, they proved they’re still one of the most exciting live bands out there. They’ve still got the hooks, the humour, and the ability to turn a massive arena into a sweaty, euphoric singalong.
Mumford & Sons add new Leeds show at the First Direct Arena to sell out UK tour
Clementine Hall
Two new arena dates have been added to their forthcoming UK tour, after selling out the entire run within two hours.
Ahead of dropping their fifth studio LP Rushmere at the end of the month, the cult favourite folk-rock outfit announced a brand-new European tour in support of the record, including a limited UK leg.
The now sold-out arena run starts in Europe in November before now arriving in Leeds on Sunday 30 November.
The significance of the band’s return can be found in the title of the new album, as Rushmereis the spot where it all began for the boys: a pond located on Wimbledon Common in south-west London where Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane first hung out.
However, the multi-award-winning acoustic-driven British rockers and folk revivalists are now a trio following the departure of Winston Marshall, who quit the band back in 2021 following controversies surrounding his right-wing beliefs.
Image: Supplied
With that in mind, it’s rather fitting that they have insisted that beyond just a place and a title, Rushmere is alsothebeginning of a new phase.
Following an intense period of creativity, the project was produced by fellow nine-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb and recorded at the famous RCA Studio A in Nashville, as well as in Savannah, Georgia and back home at Marcus’ studio in Devon.
The album itself drops on this Friday 28 March and judging by the little that we’ve heard so far, they’ve been well worth the wait.
As for the arena show, tickets will go on sale this Thursday 27 March at 10am.
Best of all, they’re donating £1 from every ticket sold straight to War Child UK – this sort of stuff should be standard for any big act as far as we’re concerned.
Sophie Smith -
21st March 2024 
