BREVIEW: Paul Weller @ Genting Arena 24.08.18

Paul Weller @ Genting Arena 24.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

 

 

 

Words & pics by Eleanor Sutcliffe

You can spot Paul Weller fans from a mile off. Clad in Fred Perry polo shirts and jeans, and finished off with a Harrington jacket, the Genting Arena is teeming with them. It looks like everyone has stepped out of the 80s, back when The Jam were at the height of their career.

Since Weller first emerged as The Modfather back in the day, he has released a total of 26 albums with three different ensembles. His 14th as a solo artist, True Meanings, is scheduled for release on 14th September.Paul Weller @ Genting Arena 24.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe As a musician who has been performing since before I was born, I decided to bring along the biggest Paul Weller expert I know – my dad, who has been listening to Weller since he was 15 and is brutally honest after a pint or two.

As a rescheduled show, having postponed the original March gig due to severe weather conditions – namely ‘the beast from the east’ –  the Genting Arena isn’t as busy as I had anticipated; many fans have not been able to make it to the new date, and the new seating arrangements which have been put in place have got some that could angry and frustrated. We slowly weave our way through disgruntled men and women before settling in by the sound desk for the evening.Paul Weller @ Genting Arena 24.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

Paul Weller’s stage is surprisingly bare. Having shot my fair share of shows in the Genting Arena, I have become accustomed to bizarre stage set ups, with CO2 cannons, pyro, and just about every visual prop you can think of. He’s forgone all this for two simple black and white film screens each side of the stage to broadcast his performance. A brave move for someone in this day and age, however somehow it works. Weller’s audience aren’t here for the theatrics – they’ve been lifelong fans, many of them listening to his material since they were in their teens.

Paul Weller @ Genting Arena 24.08.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeKicking off his set with ‘White Sky’ from his 12th album Saturns Pattern, we’re treated to a 29 song setlist which spans the entire of Weller’s career. While his newer material such as ‘Woo Sé Mama’ certainly gets people swaying, it’s not surprising that it’s material from his days in The Jam and The Style Council which garners the best reaction tonight; after people head for the bar during ‘Long Time’, they’re soon racing back in to dance along to ‘Man in a Corner Shop’.

Paul Weller @ Genting Arena 24.08.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeIt must be hard playing to a crowd who only seem to want to hear the classics, as many leave the arena to grab refreshments during Weller’s more recent songs. As an artist who has expressed numerous times his desire to move away from his Modfather days, I can only imagine his frustration at playing new material to a room who seem more interested in the contents of a ‘greatest hits’ compilation from The Jam. Every time a tech appears on stage clutching a telecaster guitar, the crowd begin to whoop excitedly, knowing they’re about to hear yet another 80’s throwback.Paul Weller @ Genting Arena 24.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

Despite this, Weller is in good spirits and glides effortlessly between instruments, dabbing with a grand piano during tracks like ‘You Do Something to Me’. His performance is top notch, which is impressive considering the different genres we are treated to throughout the night. From the Britpop style of ‘That’s Entertainment’ to the folk ballad ‘Wild Wood’, Weller and his backing band flit seamlessly between styles with ease.

He’s also the only artist I have ever witnessed to do not one, but two encores, although this confuses the crowd somewhat and results in a third of them leaving before he performs ‘Town Called Malice’. To my amusement, a gentleman in front of us begins to clap his crutches excitedly over his head while screaming along to the chorus. It’s a sight to behold.

Taking a bow along with his band to rapturous applause from the room, I’m excited to see what style we’ll be treated to when True Meanings is released in September. And whilst the album’s early releases and cited collaborations point towards his more folk focused songwriting, the beauty with Paul Weller’s music is that it truly could be anything.

For more on Paul Weller, visit www.paulweller.com

For more on Stone Foundation, visit www.stonefoundation.co.uk

For more on the Genting Arena, including venue details and further event listings, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk

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NOT NORMAL – NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To sign up to NOT NORMAL – NOT OK, click here. To know more about the NOT NORMAL – NOT OK sticker campaign, click here.

BPREVIEW: Paul Weller @ Genting Arena 24.08.18

BPREVIEW: Paul Weller @ Genting Arena 24.08.18

Words by Eleanor Sutcliffe

After rescheduling his Birmingham show in March due to heavy snow, Paul Weller will be performing at Genting Arena on the Friday 24th August – with support from Stone Foundation.

Doors open at the Genting Arena from 7:30pm, with all original tickets remaining valid for the rescheduled date. Further tickets are also available, priced from £48.61 + fulfillment fees. For direct gig information, including venue details and online ticket sales, click here.

Paul Weller has been back on the road as a precursor to his latest album, True Meanings, scheduled for release on September 14th 2018 through Parlophone Records. Weller has released a somewhat staggering 14 solo studio albums since 1992, underpinning a career that has seen him release a total of 26 studio albums as the frontman of three prominent ensembles.

Rising to fame back in the 1970s with his first band, The Jam, it wasn’t too long before Weller broke into the UK Top 40  with their debut single, ‘In the City’, scrapping into the official album chart in May 1977. The Jam’s follow up and more politically charged ‘Eton Rifles’ made it to No3 in November 1979, before Weller scooped up his first No1 with The Jam’s ‘Going Underground’ in March 1980.

But six studio albums and multiple hits later Weller decided he’d had enough and left The Jam, much to the surprise of fellow band members Rick Buckler, Bruce Foxton and Steve Brookes. And seemingly their fans, as The Jam’s 1982 farewell tour sold out shows across the UK including five consecutive dates at Wembley Arena while both their final single, ‘Beat Surrender’, and studio album, The Gift, reached No 1 on the official UK charts.

Determined to move on musically Weller was soon focused on another project, and so in 1982 The Style Council emerged. Teaming up with keyboard player Mick Talbot, drummer Steve White, and former Wham! backing singer Dee. C Lee, The Style Council explored different musical genres and styles including jazz, folk and R &B, and achieved modest success across Europe and America. Gaining his first ever No1 singles in America and Australia, with ‘You’re The Best Thing’ and ‘Shout To The Top’, Weller reportedly felt free from The Jam-shaped box which he had been confined to earlier on in his career. However as the 1980s came to an end so did The Style Council, announcing their split in 1989 after Polydoor refused to release their deep house tinged fifth studio album, Modernism: A New Decade.

Whilst many musicians would then live out the rest of their careers regurgitating past hits with an unenthusiastic backing band, Weller was always known for going against the grain which was exactly what he did, as he paved the way for his solo career. After a slow start with his eponymous solo debut, Weller reinforced his place as one of Britain’s finest singer/songwriters with the release his Mercury prize nominated Wild Wood in 1993, followed by the widely revered Stanley Road in 1995.

Now with 13 solo studio albums tucked under his belt and another on the way, as well as numerous accolades including the 2006 BRIT Lifetime Achievement Award, it’s clear that The Modfather isn’t departing from the British music scene anytime soon.

True Meanings, with promotional material boasting a ‘grandiose-yet-delicate, lush orchestration’ with ‘Paul’s better-than-ever voice, singing some of his most nakedly honest words’, is scheduled for release on 14th September and features a variety of collaborations from artists including Lucy Rose, Rod Argent (The Zombies) and Noel Gallagher.

The lead single from True Meanings, ‘Aspects’, was released on 25th May to coincide with Paul Weller’s 60th Birthday, whilst the album’s latest teaser, ‘Movin’ On’, was released on 1st August.

‘Aspects’ – Paul Weller 

Paul Weller plays at the Genting Arena on Friday 24th August, with support from Stone Foundation – the gig has been rescheduled from 2nd March, with all original tickets still valid. For direct information, including venue details and links to online tickets, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk/whats-on/paul-weller

For more on Paul Weller, visit www.paulweller.com

For more on Stone Foundation, visit www.stonefoundation.co.uk

For more on the Genting Arena, including venue details and further event listings, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk

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NOT NORMAL – NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To sign up to NOT NORMAL – NOT OK, click here. To know more about the NOT NORMAL – NOT OK sticker campaign, click here.

BREVIEW: Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18

Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

 

 

 

Words Ed King / Pics by Eleanor Sutcliffe

It’s no secret or hyperbole that Iron Maiden fans are amongst the most loyal of the heavy metal fraternity. But seeing over 15,000 rockers donning party hats, holding balloons, and waving birthday messages to Maiden’s longest standing lead singer was a large scale surprise.

Whether you’ve followed the band from the start or jumped on with any of their 16 studio albums it’s a pretty special atmosphere tonight, as a sea of Iron Maiden t-shirts and merchandise (along with the people wearing them) stand as a living museum to the band’s 40 year career.

But there is also theatre in the air, as a packed out Genting Arena have come to see Iron Maiden play one of six UK dates on their Legacy of the Beast World Tour and were promised a ‘very special show.’ Known for ‘having fun’ with their stage sets, this could mean nearly anything with Iron Maiden, and speculation and anticipation run rife through the crowd. That and a few plastic pints of Maiden’s very own Trooper beer.

Killswitch Engage – supporting Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeFirst up though is Killswitch Engage, the Massachusetts spawned metalcore five piece who are joining Iron Maiden at all of their UK dates. Opening with ‘Strength to the Mind’, the lead single from their last studio album Incarnate, it’s a pretty lively affair – with the band’s lead guitarist, Adam Dutkiewicz, jumping around like an adderall adolescence, wiping pantomime amounts of sweat from his brow, and giving head high kicks during ‘Life to Lifeless’.

After a short break, with an en masse attempt to get served… not easy with over 15,000 thirsty people, we hear UFO’s ‘Doctor Doctor’ coming over the arena’s PA system – the longstanding cue that Iron Maiden are making their way from the dressing room.Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Scenes from the battlefields of World War II play out on the screens at the back of the stage, with quotes from Winston Churchill being somewhat drowned out by a soundtrack of explosions and gunshots.

Then it happens… Iron Maiden launch into their set with ‘Aces High’, as what looks like a full scale Spitfire swoops in to stand as the most outlandish set piece above the stage. Someone said there might be pyrotechnics tonight, which indeed there (including Dickinson strutting around the stage with a portable flame thrower) but no one warned me about a bloody plane.

Even more pertinent in the city that made the Spitfire, with Castle Vale only a stone’s throw down the M6, it’s a simply phenomenal opener – replete with Dickinson dressed in full fighter pilot paraphernalia and the swagger of man who could probably fly the thing.Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe I remind myself it’s the lead singer’s 60th birthday today, then quietly question ‘what have I done with my life..?’

So the theme is ‘war’, with camo netting covering the stage and the first part of Iron Maiden’s set marching through a tracklist including ‘Where Eagles Dare’, ‘Two Minutes to Midnight’ and ‘The Trooper’. But it’s also a cherry picked selection of Maiden’s extensive back catalogue, with ‘Fear of the Dark’, ‘The Number of the Beast’, and the band’s eponymous closer from their 1980 debut album being a fitting full stop – as well as a generous hat tip to the band’s original lead singer.

Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeThe power, ferocity, and noise levels don’t falter, from Iron Maiden’s spectacular start to their three track encore which ends with ‘Run to the Hills’ – sending the Genting Arena into an almost dangerous state of hysteria.

Luckily, and making the finale almost as memorable at the beginning (…an actual plane), we are left with Monty Python’s ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ coming over the PA, creating a more subdued sing-a-long to send us all home.

Iron Maiden have enjoyed four decades as one of heavy metal’s most successful ensembles, with a gold star reputation for high octane live shows, a tireless work ethic, and a fiercely loyal crowd that will (sometime literally) travel oceans to see them. If tonight is anything to go by, with the passion and production coming off stage a clear cut above anything you would call ‘the norm’, then it’s it’s a well earned trophy.

And happy birthday Bruce Dickinson… what an unbelievable way to celebrate six decades on this planet. Let’s raise a pint of Trooper and toast to many more.

 

 

 

Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeIron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeIron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeIron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeIron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

For more on Iron Maiden, visit www.ironmaiden.com

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Killswitch Engage – supporting Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18  / Eleanor Sutcliffe

Killswitch Engage – supporting Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Killswitch Engage – supporting Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Killswitch Engage – supporting Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

For more on Killswitch Engage, visit www.killswitchengage.com 

For more from Live Nation UK, including further event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.livenation.co.uk

For more on the Genting Arena, including venue details and further event listings, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk

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NOT NORMAL – NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To sign up to NOT NORMAL – NOT OK, click here. To know more about the NOT NORMAL – NOT OK sticker campaign, click here.

BPREVIEW: Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18

BPREVIEW: Iron Maiden @ Genting Arena 07.08.18

Words by Ed King

On Tuesday 7th August, Iron Maiden bring their Legacy of the Beast World Tour to the Genting Arena with support from Killswitch Engage – as presented by Live Nation UK.

Doors open at the Genting Arena from 7:30pm, with tickets ranging from £48.50/60 plus booking and administrative fees – although prices vary depending on positioning within the arena and ticket outlet.

For direct gig information, including venue details and online sales through The Ticket Factory, click here. For tickets direct from Live Nation, click here. For tickets from Ticketmaster, click here.

Iron Maiden are, quite simply, one of the most successful bands on the planet. And their 40 year stamp of authority on the heavy metal scene is unrivalled, starting out with the release of their eponymous debut in 1980 and still breaking new ground (and sales figures) with their latest studio LP, The Book of Souls, released in 2015.

Seriously, try and name another metal outfit that survived for so long and has even grown its sales/fanbase decade after decade. You can’t. Because they don’t exist. Love ‘em, fear ‘em, blame ‘em for the satanic betrayal of the American dream (we’re pointing at you, The Moral Majority) Iron Maiden are a phenomenal success story.

But what makes their latest, arena packing, sell out, world tour such a litany of red letter dates is that it technically shouldn’t be happening – Iron Maiden founder and bassist, Steve Harris, had gone on record saying the band wouldn’t release more that 15 studio albums. The Book of Souls was No16; for all intents and purposes, Iron Maiden should have hung up their plectrums, mics and drumsticks back in 2015.

But as Harris told The Guardian during Iron Maiden’s first Indian concert, at the Bangalore Palace Grounds in 2007, ‘we do think about some kind of half-retirement… But it seems the world won’t let us.’ And why wouldn’t you carry on, when you’re band is still breaking new markets across the globe and your last studio album (and let’s just clarify the trajectory again, your sixteenth studio album) reached No1 in 24 countries.

Iron Maiden have been on the road with their Legacy of the Beast World Tour since May 2018, scheduled to play six dates in the UK from Belfast (2nd Aug) to London (10/11th Aug). According to the band’s longstanding manager, Rod Smallwood, fans can expect a “history/hits” set list with “both new material and the older favourites” getting performed from Iron Maiden’s extensive portfolio. Even Eddie, the band’s longstanding mascot, is dusting off some of his former glories – with the tour poster presenting him as from his Piece of Mind (1983) and Somewhere in Time (1986) days.

As Smallwood continues, “we decided to base the theme around the Legacy of the Beast name… giving us scope to get creative and have some fun, especially with Eddie! We’re working on a number of different stage sets, all in keeping with the Maiden tradition and we hope to give our fans a fantastic experience when they come to see this very special show.” 

‘Speed of Light’ – Iron Maiden (from The Book of Souls)

Iron Maiden bring their Legacy of the Beast World Tour to the Genting Arena on Tuesday 7th August, with support from Killswitch Engage. For direct show information, including venue details and online sales through The Ticket Factory, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk/whats-on/iron-maiden

For more on Iron Maiden, visit www.ironmaiden.com 

For more on Killswitch Engage, visit www.killswitchengage.com 

For more from Live Nation UK, including further event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.livenation.co.uk

For more on the Genting Arena, including venue details and further event listings, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk

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NOT NORMAL – NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To sign up to NOT NORMAL – NOT OK, click here. To know more about the NOT NORMAL – NOT OK sticker campaign, click here.

THE GALLERY: Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18

ROAM @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

 

 

 

Words & pics by Eleanor Sutcliffe

Ah, Slam Dunk… I arrive at the NEC camera in hand, with a carefully curated list of who I want to see. In 2017 I left the festival absolutely knackered from running in between stages, having seen maybe a third of the bands I planned to, and I vowed one year I would be better prepared. 2018 is not that year.

First is Nottingham based four-piece As December Falls, who were voted by members of the public to open the Rock Sound Breakout stage at Slam Dunk’s Birmingham date. I’m no stranger to the band’s material, having played their debut EP A Home in Your Head on repeat following its release; however it’s the first time I’ve managed to see them live and in color so to say.

As December Falls @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeTheir set is short but energetic, with singer Bethany Curtis pacing back and forth across the stage to ‘Capture’ and my personal favorite ‘Don’t Say a Word’. For a genre that is predominantly fronted by male singers, I’m happy to see a woman performing – but at the same time, I’m uncomfortable at the fact that it’s a defining feature of the band. They’re brilliant. Why should it matter that they’re female fronted? I mentally pocket the subject Stage openers Knuckle Puck – one of the handful of bands to attend Slam Dunk following the European touring festival Galaxy Camp. And I’m only in the photo pit for a few minutes until I’m taken out WWE style by a rogue crowd surfer; being kicked in the head while the band thrashed out ‘Pretense’ was not planned, but serves as a rather brash (and painful) reminder for me to be a little more cautious in the pit.

Dream State @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

I run back to the Rock Sound Breakout Stage to catch Dream State perform. Having met them on a recent acoustic tour supporting As It Is, I’ve more used to hearing their material stripped back to its bare bones and I’m eager to see how the full band would compare today. Heavier than what I had anticipated, Dream State are one of the more energetic bands of the day, with singer Charlotte Gilpin flinging herself into the crowd on more than one occasion. Stand out tracks include their single ‘In This Hell’, which sends the festival audience into a state of fury and has since made itself at home on my Spotify.

The Impericon Stage is housing a stellar lineup for the day; myself and some other photographers decide to head over to see Astroid Boys. Having performed numerous shows in Birmingham, I’m interested in seeing the and perform in front of a crowd of this size – the last time they did that in Birmingham was supporting Enter Shikari last November.

Astroid Boys @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

Benji emerges with a child on his shoulders, who stares in what looks like bewildered fear at the crowd before racing to the side and being scooped up by who I presume is his father. Strangely, co-front man Traxx is nowhere to be seen, and we find out later that he has left the band. Nevertheless, the remaining members bring their fusion of hardcore and grime to the foyer of Genting Arena in full force, despite Benji’s vocal range being slightly stinted due to the band’s antics the night before in Leeds.

I retreat to the foyer balcony to catch the rest of Astroid Boys’ set and I am overjoyed when they play ‘Foreigners’. From this safer distance I spot a few of my friends throwing themselves into mosh pits below and question the overall safety of the day’s proceedings; this becomes a more serious matter after I am flattened for a second time in the photo pit while shooting The Devil Wears Prada by a crowd surfing fan, despite the efforts of security to catch him.

The Devil Wears Prada @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeI’m given a quick once over and when they’re happy no bones are broken, I’m bundled back out and forced to watch the rest of their set from the sound desk while nursing a rather impressive bump on my shin. And while as energetic as some of the other bands I have seen today, I feel The Devil Wears Prada’s set falls slightly flat due to parts of it sounding slightly out of time. However, this doesn’t put off the hoards of fans screaming along to tracks such as ‘Born to Lose’.

I decide to give hardcore a break and make my way to the Signature Brew Stage to watch Broadside. A friend of mine recently came off tour with the band and recommended I see them, and I’m pleasantly surprised. Their set is bouncy and fun, with singer Ollie Baxxter extending the mic out to the crowd numerous times to allow them to sing along.

The Signature Brew Stage delivers some of the best shows at Slam Dunk 2018 – whether it’s ROAM flinging inflatable pineapples onto the crowd to encourage crowd surfers and back flipping on stage, or Trash Boat descending into the masses for tracks like ‘Strangers’, the performances here are strong throughout the day.

As It Is @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeHeadliners As It Is deliver one of their best shows to date later on in the evening too, debuting their new darker aesthetic much to the joy of their fans. Their latest release, ‘Wounded World’, taken from their upcoming album The Great Depression, shows an exciting development in their sound and is a far cry from the pop-punk tones we grew accustomed to on their previous albums. It even features a breakdown and screaming, much to my inner angsty 14 year old’s delight.

Although the band’s new direction has caused somewhat of a rift in their fan base, with some keyboard warriors claiming it mirrors My Chemical Romance’s look that we all fell in love with back in 2006. Personally, I’m sold; I love the nostalgia of it. Give me a month and I’ll be backcombing my hair and smearing black eyeliner on my face all over again.

But let’s not forget our home talent, bought to Slam Dunk by Birmingham based acoustic artist Luke Rainsford. I try to be unbiased here as I work with Luke regularly, but he’s fucking brilliant.Luke Rainsford @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe His music is not for the faint of heart, with harrowing lyrics relating to sensitive subjects such as death, depression and anxiety, but that doesn’t put off the crowd gathered for his set on the Key Club Acoustic Stage. Watching the audience sing along in unison to tracks such as ‘Frame’, it’s heartwarming that the young artist I met supporting This Wild Life back in 2016 has garnered such a large local following.

Live, it’s a simple set up – no band or backing, just Rainsford with his guitar, which makes his performance all the more powerful. It’s the type of music you listen to alone, late at night, while contemplating your purpose in life. It’s gut-wrenching at times, but there’s comfort to be found in its honesty. Listen to ‘Sweet Briar’ if you don’t believe me.

By now it’s early evening and the crowds are starting to accumulate at the larger stages. I head back into the belly of the beast to see State Champs, who I last saw cause absolute carnage at their headline show at O2 Institute.State Champs @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe The crowd they’ve gathered at Slam Dunk shows their fan base is still growing, and again I dodge bodies that pour over the safety barrier while snapping photos of singer Derek DiScanio pacing across the stage with seemingly boundless energy.

Their old material is, as expected, wonderful – however their newer tracks feel slightly flat. I desperately want to like ‘Crystal Ball’, but I can’t help but feel it lacks the punch and angsty atmosphere that we were introduced to when the band dropped ‘Around the World and Back’. Musically, State Champs are nearly faultless today, but they pale in comparison to the subsequent performance by Sleeping with Sirens. Call me a sucker for showmanship, but if your guitarist can balance his instrument on a single hand then I’m sold.

Realising I should probably eat something before I pass-out, I head outside to the Fireball Stage in search of sustenance. I’m not a fan of this stage usually, however I find myself bobbing along to the likes of The Skints and Goldfinger with a group of fans in the arena. This is one of the beautiful parts of festivals – you can literally stumble across new music and fall in love instantly. Even if you have to trek for what feels like miles between stages.Sleeping with Sirens @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Which, on this somewhat spread out festival site, it probably is.

In case you haven’t gathered, I’m a sucker for bands with female artists in this genre. They’re few and far between, especially on the bigger stages, which is why I am hell-bent on seeing PVRIS perform back on the Jägermeister Stage during the evening line up. And despite what looks like some technical difficulties involving Lynn Gunn’s in-ears, their performance was everything you’d expect and a definite improvement on their last Birmingham show at the O2 Academy in November last year. PVRIS’s nine song set is a balanced mixture of material from both of their albums, opening with piano piece ‘Heaven’ and finishing with the much faster, heavier ‘My House’.

Unfortunately the headliners clash, resulting in a decision between Good Charlotte and Jimmy Eat World. I settle on the latter – reasoning that as I haven’t ventured out to the Monster Stage yet, I could do with a change of scene.

PVRIS @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

Big mistake.

The Monster Stage was far.

Half an hour walk, to be precise. Which translates to a fifteen minute sprint.

For most of the bands, Slam Dunk works on what photographers tend to call an ‘open pit’ policy. This means you could go into any photo pit, at any time, and shoot the band performing. However, this rule does not apply to the headline acts and the photographers covering the festival are only allowed a more standard pit access to shoot the first three songs. This results in utter chaos, as fans and press alike rush over to the Monster Stage to try and catch the start of Jimmy Eat World’s performance.Jimmy Eat World @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe And being only human this serves as a major flaw for both myself and many other photographers, as despite our best efforts we arrive late for the headliner’s set, looking, and feeling, rather worse for wear.

Jimmy Eat World’s set up, however, is stunning – large, red streetlamps shine on the stage and I find I enjoy their set much more than I thought I might. Despite not being a huge Jimmy fan, I recognise tracks such as ‘Futures’ and cult classic ‘The Middle’. But it’s the crowd that make this performance so wonderful tonight; strangers hold hands and sing along to tracks together, while others dance with each other. In the end, I watch the fans more than I watch the band.

But this is what makes a festival, and this is certainly what makes Slam Dunk so special. And whilst I may not have been as prepared as I had hoped, leaving my body armour and roller skates at home, this is why we throw ourselves around a spread out site year after year, dusting ourselves off from mosh pit and crowd surfing related injuries. All good practice for Slam Dunk 2019.

 

 

 

Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

Jimmy Eat World @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor SutcliffeJimmy Eat World @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe PVRIS @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe PVRIS @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Goldfinger @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Goldfinger @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Sleeping with Sirens @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Sleeping with Sirens @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe State Champs @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe State Champs @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Luke Rainsford @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe As It Is @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe As It Is @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Trash Boat @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Trash Boat @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe ROAM @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe ROAM @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Broadside @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Broadside @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe The Devil Wears Prada @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe The Devil Wears Prada @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Astroid Boys @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Astroid Boys @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Dream State @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Dream State @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe Knuckle Puck @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe As December Falls @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe As December Falls @ Slam Dunk Festival 2018 (Midlands) @ NEC 28.05.18 / Eleanor Sutcliffe

For direct information on Slam Dunk, visit www.slamdunkmusic.com

For from the Genting Arena, including full event listings and links to online ticket sales, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk