Slam Dunk Festival Rescheduled For September

This year's Slam Dunk Festival has been postponed until later in the year.

The alternative all-dayer was set to take place across May Bank Holiday weekend in Leeds and Hatfield, but has now been moved to the first week of September 5 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Slam Dunk festival will now take place at Leeds Temple Newsam on September 5 and Hatfield House on September 6.

The Slam Dunk team shared the following statement:

"For the first time in our 15 years, we have found ourselves being forced into postponing Slam Dunk Festival. This is not a decision we wanted to make but are left with no choice. In light of the global situation it is within the best interest of public health and wellbeing to postpone the festival until later in the year. Furthermore, Leeds City Council have applied a ban to all public events within their grounds, including Temple Newsam, until the end of June. So even if a national quarantine or ban had finished by then, #SDF20 still would not be able to happen in May.

"Since the pandemic broke out, we had been working tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver the festival you all know and love, whilst keeping your health and safety at the forefront of our operations – it became very apparent that could not be achieved in the current climate. So our focus and hard worked switched, and we have spent the last few days working flat-out to save the situation as best we could.

"We are currently reaching out to all the artists on the line-up and we’ve had an overwhelmingly positive reaction, thus locking in a large percentage of the announced line-up for September, including headliners Don Broco and Sum 41. It has taken us until now to address this publicly because we have chosen to reschedule instead of cancel, and with multiple artists playing this year, countless suppliers and contractors, and an army of staff/crew there is a HUGE amount to co-ordinate to make this reschedule happen. We have a great deal to sort out with an enormous amount of moving parts to consider – please, please bear with us while we do so.

"We know a great many of you will have already made plans by booking transport and accommodation for the original dates and for that we apologise for the inconvenience. However we know a number of hotels and transport companies are now allowing free amendments to bookings so we hope the majority of you can take advantage of that. Additional add-ons, like parking tickets, afterparty tickets and shuttle buses will remain valid for the rescheduled dates.

"With all that being said, please remember we are an independent company with a very small team who work relentlessly around the year to deliver this festival to you. Of course none of us wanted this but the decision has been made in the interest of the safety for our bands, staff and all of you.

"It is a decision that puts not just our passion, but our livelihoods in the balance like so many others in so many industries as a result of this pandemic. We are publicly appealing now to all of you – to hold onto your tickets. We promise to provide the festival you know and love, just a later date. We are fans just like you, and this is the scariest time we have faced as a business. We truly appreciate all the time, money and love you have invested into our festival over the years, and we need you now more than ever."

Slam Dunk isn't the only festival to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, Glastonbury was forced to cancel due to the virus, and SXSW in Austin, Texas was also pulled. Coachella festival has rescheduled for October – originally due to take place in April.

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