Slam Dunk Festival has released an emergency weather update ahead of their Northern leg in Leeds today (May 26), after heavy rainfall at the Temple Newsam site.
The northern leg of this year’s event is due to take place today (May 26) at Temple Newsam near Leeds, with feature performances from the likes of You Me At Six, All-American Rejects and I Prevail. The southern leg went down at Hatfield Park yesterday (May 25).
The rock, pop-punk and emo festival took to social media this morning to give an update on the current status of today’s event.
Shortly before 10am, they wrote: “Having assessed the ground conditions for Slam Dunk North, we are sorry to inform you that due to the weather, the ground is in bad condition.”
Important information regarding Slam Dunk North.
Having assessed the ground conditions for Slam Dunk North, and we are sorry to inform you that due to the weather the ground is in bad condition.
— Slam Dunk Festival (@SlamDunkMusic) May 26, 2024
“While the event is going ahead, we cannot guarantee access customers the experience that we had hoped. While facilities including platforms and ambulant areas are still available & customers can still attend, we advise that those with mobility issues avoid the site.”
The festival also confirmed that refunds would be available.
While the event is going ahead, we cannot guarantee access customers the experience that we had hoped. While facilities including platforms and ambulant areas are still available & customers can still attend, we advise that those with mobility issues avoid the site
— Slam Dunk Festival (@SlamDunkMusic) May 26, 2024
This followed an earlier post at 9am that explained that the site had suffered high levels of rainfall in the lead-up to the festival, “with possibly more set to come”.
“We advise festivalgoers to pack for all weather conditions, including sensible footwear for the day,” they added.
They said they had taken the decision to close all car parks on the site, and all advance parking passes will be refunded.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING SLAM DUNK NORTH. PLEASE READ. pic.twitter.com/4dy0JDAeqA
— Slam Dunk Festival (@SlamDunkMusic) May 26, 2024
“We now advise that customers travelling with car parking passes now seek parking in Leeds city centre and make alternative arrangements to the festival site.”
Slam Dunk will arrange for additional shuttle bus services to the site, free of charge for those with car park tickets. Previous bus arrangements are still in operation.
“We are extremely saddened to have to make this decision after all the additional plans we have put in place which were proved successful yesterday in Hatfield, but our customer safety is paramount. We apologise for the inconvenience, we ask that you be patient, and we thank you in advance for your co-operation.”
In January, it was confirmed that Slam Dunk would host You Me At Six’s final festival performance after the band announced plans to break up following a farewell tour next year.
Speaking to NME, frontman Josh Franceschi recalled: “Ben Ray, who books Slam Dunk, was our first ever manager and gave us our first show in a proper venue at The Cockpit in Leeds.
“When we got there, we just bombarded him, let us open [the festival]. No one knew who we were. But he believed in us, and he gave us that chance.”
He continued: “I think it’s a really poetic ending to our great relationship. How big that festival has become is a testament to him and his team, but also to this alternative scene that we have in England.
“When other festivals have maybe dipped in and out of guitar music, Slam Dunk hasn’t. It’s a great honour to go and play there.”