by Nicola O’Connell

With Slam Dunk Festival 2024 only a week away, we thought it would be a cracking time to highlight some of the fantastic women that are on the line-up. The festival boasts some truly great artists and though I’m now a crisp 31yo, my teenage heart that dreamed of being in a band loves seeing the girls in rock get the recognition they deserve. We at crookedjukebox. will be heading to Slam Dunk on Saturday 25th of May at Hatfield Park, so here’s some of who we’re looking forward to seeing.

So far it looks as though we’ll be spending a good chunk of our day at the KERRANG! stage for Honey Revenge, Taylor Acorn, RØRY & Pale Waves. 
Fronted by Devin Papadol and joined by Donovan Lloyd on guitar, Honey Revenge are an American pop-rock band that we developed a love for instantly after listening to their latest album ‘Retrovision’. I’m dying to hear their song ‘Airhead’ live. I just know that those hearing these guys for the first time will love it.

Obviously, we’ll be hanging around for Taylor Acorn who will follow after Honey Revenge. After seeing her twice last year, first at Download Festival and then her headlining show days later at the Camden Underworld in London, we couldn’t pass up another festival experience watching Taylor Acorn. The way Taylor pulled an enormous crowd and had everyone in that tent involved was nothing short of amazing. Check out Taylor’s new release ‘High Horse’, I don’t think she’s capable of releasing anything close to subpar. Every song is a hit to me.

We’re completely lucking out with our schedule for the day because next on the KERRANG! stage will be RØRY and when I tell you I’ve never been so mad to discover such a cool artist JUST after they’d toured. So when I saw she would be at Slam Dunk I was so excited. RØRY’s latest album ‘Family Drama’ touches on some raw and tough topics but she portrays them perfectly. I’m also just simply in love with her voice.

Late afternoon hitting the KERRANG! stage is Pale Waves. I’m excited to revisit this band as it’s been such a long time since I actually listened to them. The band, made up of Heather Baron-Gracie, Ciara Doran, Hugo Silvani and Charlie Wood, give an indie pop/rock, synth-pop kind of sound (depending on what era you listen to). I got the chance to see them live when they supported The 1975 at the O2, London in 2019. I quite enjoy them, they have some mega catchy songs. I used to have ‘Television Romance’ and ‘There’s a Honey’ on repeat an ungodly amount of times during that time. Listening to their newer music the synth-pop element has been left behind and I’m not mad about it! I feel like Pale Waves are one of those bands I can simply put on and just enjoy.

More female fronted bands not to be missed during the festival are Against The Current, As December Falls, As Everything Unfolds and The Interrupters. 

Whilst researching all these bands on the line-up we discovered The Skints. Even if you aren’t a listener of ska music, I beg of you to give these guys a listen. Their influences spread across many genres from soul, pop, grime and hardcore. Ska isn’t a genre I usually listen to, and it’s not even that I dislike it in any way, I actually think it’s brilliant and I’m just missing out on a whole world of music because I tend to gravitate toward your usual rock styles. Personal favourites I’ve been listening to on repeat are ‘This Town’ and ‘Rat-at-at’. I’m in awe of Marcia Richards sound. I can’t quite describe it but her voice is so crisp and clear despite the insane speed in which she goes at. They have not one, not two, but three vocalists and it brings such a great vibe. The band consists of Jamie Kyriakides (vocals, drums, guitar), Joshua Waters Rudge (vocals, guitar), Jonathan Doyle (bass) & the previously mentioned Marcia Richards (vocals, keyboard, saxophone, guitar, sampler). I think this bunch will bring a great energy with them and a fun crowd. I’m hoping I do catch some of their set.

Lastly, we have to mention the iconic The Selecter. Before I gave them a search I was utterly convinced I knew the name but could not for the life of me figure out where from. Upon seeing the ‘Too Much Pressure’ album cover I realised. I’m about 99% sure I’ve seen this within my Dad’s vinyl collection. Fronted by the rightly dubbed “Queen of Ska”, Pauline Black, is joined by her fellow bandmates Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson and Charley 'Aitch' Bembridge. If I have time in my schedule on the day I would 100% love to head on over to the Monster Energy Stage to catch them. I just know they’re going to put on a good show.

So, all in all, a fantastic line-up before you even add the rest of the bands to the mix. Keep an eye out for our next post where we’ll share the rest of the bands on our schedule. We’re looking forward to covering the day and sharing the content we capture with you.