SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL is back with a BANG and now ready to announce the first bands for the 2015 festival. The festival takes place over the May bank holiday weekend at 3 sites in Leeds, Hatfield and Wolverhampton. Having announced the massive increase in capacity at all events late last year, 2015 sees the Leeds event return to its original home, Millennium Square.

Headlining will be the mighty YOU ME AT SIX, who have a very special place in SLAM DUNK history; having played the festival regularly on their way up to stardom and also released their debut album 'Take Off Your Colours' through the festivals very own Slam Dunk label.

YOU ME AT SIX front man Josh Franceschi explains a bit more about how special SLAM DUNK is: “We are really excited to be headlining Slam Dunk Festival again. We had a lot of fun last time we played there, and can’t wait to close the festival each night. Leeds in particular will always have a special place in You Me’s hearts as our first ever label and management company was based there. 10 years of the band, so it feels right to be part of the festival!”

Former SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL headliners TAKING BACK SUNDAY return to play as special guests with a 2015 UK festival exclusive.

TAKING BACK SUNDAY front man Adam Lazzara says: “Excited to head back to Slam Dunk Festival again in 2015.  Man those folks really tell you how it is, so if you can get those shows/crowds up to a certain volume you know you’re doing okay.  To be able to get back over for it makes us really happy, we love it there. ”

Those LOWER THAN ATLANTIS boys have had an amazing 12 months following the release of the hugely acclaimed, self-titled chart smasher of an album and more Radio 1 A list singles than you can shake a stick at. Check out the latest video for Criminal HERE.  “Obviously really excited to play! Slam Dunk was one of the first festivals we ever got to play, it's nice to be asked back later on in our career. We went last year as punters and had such a laugh! Roll on the summer!” says vocalist Mike Duce

Also joining the line-up include international pop punk kings THE WONDER YEARS, the hottest UK band in the last 12 months NECK DEEP, the marvellous BAYSIDE (fresh off their stint touring with Gaslight Anthem), Chicago buzz band of the moment KNUCKLE PUCK, Detroit pop punk staples FIREWORKS, ska punk a go-go with former festival headliners REEL BIG FISH, Swedish punk legends MILLENCOLIN, festival veterans GOLDFINGER, Japanese dance/metal/synth/bonkers act CROSSFAITH, the brilliant (and possibly one of the best live band in the world?) GALLOWS, NYC hardcore legends H2O, Andrew Neufeld and his brilliant COMEBACK KID chaps, and FINALLY for this 1st announcement, recently reunited and returned hardcore heroes BANE.

Speaking about Slam Dunk North, Ben Ray, Slam Dunk Festival Director :

“Being the 10th Slam Dunk Festival I thought I’d make it a special one! For the last few years, the festival has been tucked away up at the university, and with it selling out easily each year, we’ve not had to shout about it too much. Now it’s doubling in size and we are taking over half the the City Centre, hopefully more people in Leeds will realise how big the homegrown Slam Dunk brand has grown across the country.

I’ve wanted to make the move back to Millennium Square for a while, so to do it this year is great. To have 3 former headliners to come back & play the same year is crazy. As I used to manage You Me At Six and I released their first album on Leeds based Slam Dunk Records makes it even more special.”

The full 1st announcement line up in full:

YOU ME AT SIX (main stage headliners)

TAKING BACK SUNDAY

LOWER THAN ATLANTIS

THE WONDER YEARS

NECK DEEP

BAYSIDE

KNUCKLE PUCK

FIREWORKS

REEL BIG FISH

MILLENCOLIN

GOLDFINGER

CROSSFAITH

GALLOWS

H2O

COMEBACK KID

BANE

Saturday May 23rd - Leeds - City Centre - Millennium Square. Surrounding on-street stages, O2 Academy and Leeds Beckett Uni.

Sunday May 24th - Hatfield - The Forum, University of Herts, Hatfield Campus (22 mins train from Kings Cross)

Bank Holiday Monday May 25th - Wolverhampton - Wulfrun Hall, Civic Hall and surrounding area/Wolves city centre

For any regional information on SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL 2015, press quotes, images, for interviews with Mr Slam Dunk, Ben Ray, please contact Simon Fogal at I Like Press – simon@ilikepress.co.uk