Slam Dunk Festival 2019 Preview (Part 2)
As the weekend creeps closer, the excitement grows for this years Slam Dunk! From Surprise guests to one off sets, this weekend is set to be one to remember and we. can. not. wait! Here is part 2 of our Slam Dunk Festival Preview. We interviewed Milk Teeth, Rob Lynch & TiLLie alongside Influencer & Slam Dunk veteran Hannah Louise.
Milk Teeth
This is your 2nd year at Slam Dunk, however, this time around we have an almost all-new line up. Including Em Foster (member of the incredible Nervus) joining the band! How have things been with the new line up? It seems to be working really well!
The new lineup is the happiest, most productive and strongest it’s ever been. It’s refreshing and it’s nice to wake up happy.
You’ve got some incredible Festivals ahead this summer. What are you looking forward to from these shows?
We have a lot to look forward to I feel really fortunate. Anti fest and Slam Dunk are this month and there’s a lot of bands I’m stoked to finally watch live. We are playing some new ones this year we haven’t before such as Mad Cool in Madrid and Truck Fest which is always fun to go do something different than before. The big one for us this year is main stage at Reading and Leeds. I’m equal parts excited equal parts shitting my pants!!
Who will you be trying to check out over the weekend at Slam Dunk?
I’m super excited to be playing the Dickies Stage this year - I could easily stay there all day and see a lot of the bands I want to! (Menzingers, Touché, Get Up Kids, Tigers Jaw) others on my list are Microwave, Cancer Bats, The Bronx, Employed To Serve, Lagwagon, The Interrupters, Wallflower and Turnstile
You released ‘Stain’ at the end of 2018, which was the first new music we’d heard since the Go Away EP. What do we have to look forward to from Milk Teeth?
I can confirm a new album is on the way which i cannot wait to be out. I can see myself growing up and hear changes in the music along the way and it’s been so great to continue to have that release to put all the shit in my head somewhere and interpret it through a positive channel.
Hannah Louise @ Slam Dunk Festival South 2018.
Hannah Louise (@hannahlouisef)
What makes you visit Slam Dunk as often as you have, why is it special to you?
Slam Dunk is filled with nostalgia for me, it's nice to have an excuse to stick on a Taking Back Sunday t-shirt and sing/scream/tell along to some old favourites.
Best memories/performances from Slam Dunk?
Running between the Alkaline Trio and New Found Glory headline sets having the time of my 16 year old life in 2010.
Who will you be checking out in 2019?
Obviously Bullet For My Valentine (the last time I saw them was in 2008, yikes), Glassjaw, Gallows, Turnstile, New Found Glory, Hellogoodbye, Angel Dust, A Loss For Words, Saves The Day, The Get Up Kids, Tigers Jaw... busy day.
Rob Lynch
This is your 7th year playing Slam Dunk! That’s pretty impressive, what does it mean to you to be asked to return year after year?
I love playing at Slam Dunk, it’s always one of my favourite shows of the year, so it’s an honour to be asked back so many times. I’m also grateful as it means I don’t have to buy a ticket to go.
Also... has anyone worked out if you’ve played the festival more than anyone else?
I know that We Are The Ocean held the previous record for times played and The Skints have played a lot too. But I think if you combine my Lost On Campus & RL performances then I will hold the top spot after this weekend.
When you played the first couple of Slam Dunk Festivals, it was under your former moniker Lost On Campus. What do you remember about those performances and how do they compare to more recent years?
I remember being so excited about being asked to play! I went to the first ever Slam Dunk Festival in 2006 so to then play at the festival a few years later was a bit of a thrill. The first couple of times that I played, the festival was a much smaller proposition than it is now, so it’s really great to see how much the festival has grown in popularity over the years.
Who are you hoping to check out at this year's festival?
The line-up this year is so good and I know that I won’t get the chance to see everyone that I’d like to, but I’ll be aiming to catch bits of The Menzingers, NOFX, LTJ, NFG, Saves The Day, Simple Plan, The Interrupters, Touché Amoré and Trophy Eyes.
What can we expect from your performance this year?
20 minutes of uplifting emo acoustic songs that you can singalong to with your friends.
TiLLie
For those who don't know - who is tiLLie?
anti-pop leader of the glitter gang. my manager described my songs as "uplifting anthems with a massive middle finger raised” and i think that’s pretty accurate. i’m not a big fan of love songs, so a lot of my songs are about break ups, mental health, empowerment and redemption. if ur feeling like u wanna kick some ass and tell someone who’s boss, you’ll wanna check out my music.
You've played Vans' Warped Tour which Slam Dunk is often compared to! How was that experience?
i absolutely loved warped tour. it was my very first tour ever and it couldn’t have been a better experience. i was out hustling from like 7am until 10pm everyday between setting up, working merch and performing, so it was definitely a challenge on the body, but it’s basically punk rock summer camp for adults haha. i made so many friends, met so many amazing members of the glitter gang, and overall it was just so cool to play be a part of something that I grew up going to.
How are you feeling about this year's Slam Dunk Festival?
i cannot wait for it, this is my first time playing in the UK! im playing an acoustic set, which im really excited about. that’s how i got my start, but i haven’t played an acoustic show in a long while. it feels much more personal and vulnerable, so it’ll be cool to connect to people i’ve never played for in that way.
Who else are you hoping to check out over the weekend?
my girl lights, idkhow, grandson, glassjaw, and hellogoodbye.
How can people support you? & What do we have to look forward to from you?
i just released my debut ep ‘loud mouth’ in march and you can stream that just about everywhere - whoistillie.com. you can also follow me online at @whoistillie across all platforms as i’ll also be on tour with yonaka through the eu and uk during the same time. i’ll be releasing some really cool music videos and a cover here soon too!