The stage is set for Slam Dunk Festival’s debut in Hatfield Park this weekend.
The touring pop-punk, ska punk, metal and alternative rock festival has moved across town from the University of Hertfordshire to the grounds of Hatfield House.
Lifestyles for the Rich and Famous rockers Good Charlotte and Arizona’s Jimmy Eat World will headline the main two stages near where Elizabeth I heard she had ascended to the throne 460 years ago.
Slam Dunk South will take over the Hertfordshire stately home’s estate on Sunday, May 27 with eight stages, having previously been held on the university’s College Lane campus.
Wristband exchange starts on site at 10am, with the main festival arena opening at 12.30pm.
![Welwyn Hatfield Times: PVRIS will play Slam Dunk Festival in Hatfield [Picture: Eliot Lee Hazel]](/resources/images/15672672.jpg?type=mds-article-620 "Welwyn Hatfield Times: PVRIS will play Slam Dunk Festival in Hatfield [Picture: Eliot Lee Hazel]")
The first bands will be on stage shortly after, with the music finishing at 10.30pm.
The venue switch has been brought about by organisers’ desire to increase the capacity, having outgrown the Hatfield university site.
That could hold up to 10,000 people across the site, with the new location having a capacity double that.
The festival’s afterparty will still be held at The Forum Hertfordshire at the uni from 10.30pm until 3am.
• SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL SOUTH 2018 STAGE LINE-UPS AND SET TIMES
Speaking about the move, festival director Ben Ray said: “We are sad to leave the university, however the event was selling out months in advance so we knew we had to move it and make it bigger due to demand from the fans.”
Having first arrived at The Forum Hertfordshire in 2010, Slam Dunk promoters were reluctant to leave the festival’s spiritual home in the south.
“We looked for alternative sites, and looked at moving it to London,” said Ben to the Welwyn Hatfield Times.
“But it would have been a shame to move the festival from Hatfield.
“It has been our home since 2010, and Hatfield is now associated with Slam Dunk.”
This year’s Jagermeister Main Stage will include a headline set from Good Charlotte, who will be making their Slam Dunk debut.
Their set is due to start at 9.05pm.
Also playing the Jagermeister Stage are arena rockers PVRIS and the ferocious Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, as well as State Champs, Knuckle Puck, Four Year Strong, Sleeping with Sirens and Creeper.
The Monster Energy Main Stage will be the place to catch emo-rock legends Jimmy Eat World as they celebrate their 25th anniversary with their first performance at Slam Dunk, which also visits Leeds and Birmingham over the weekend.
Jimmy Eat World’s headline set is scheduled to start at 9.05pm.
Showing them how it’s done will be previous Slam Dunk headliners Taking Back Sunday, who return to the festival having last played Hatfield in 2015.
The Monster Stage in Hatfield Park will also feature sets from Lower Than Atlantis, Moose Blood and Twin Atlantic.
The Fireball Stage big top will be the place for ska and punk, with the tent being headlined by genre favourites Reel Big Fish.
Tickets for Slam Dunk cost £49 plus booking fees, and they are available from http://slamdunkmusic.com/
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