Slam Dunk 2011: Ben Ray Q+A

The Slam Dunk promoter talks to Rock Sound about the festival weekend ahead!

Posted Friday, 27 May 2011 in

Slam Dunk 2011: Ben Ray Q+A Slam Dunk festival weekend is finally upon us and before heading off to Leeds and Hatfield to watch the likes of Goldfinger, Deaf Havana, The Starting Line, Anti-Flag, Lower Than Atlantis and more we decided to grab a quick interview with brand promoter and founder Ben Ray.

Want to know about plans for the future of the festival and the changes made to Slam Dunk South after last year’s problems? Read on…

Has planning this year’s festival been more or less stressful than previous years?
“It’s been a lot more stressful this year,” admitted Ray. “Sales have been slower this year, like they have for a lot of festivals, due to the current climate. Obviously we are well aware of the problems in Hatfield last year and we’ve spent a lot of time preparing and making sure those problems don’t occur again this year.”

So what will be the main differences for everyone at Hatfield on Sunday?
“The most obvious one is that we have moved the main stage outdoors. Last year when the rain came down people automatically went indoors, this year we’ve made people very, very aware that some of the biggest bands will be playing outside, hopefully everyone will be more prepared for that this year. Weather at this point is looking good, but if it changes people should bring wet weather gear.”

Have you changed any other stages?
“There is also a second stage outdoors now too, it's the smallest stage from the small bar last year and we’ve moved it outside to the piazza area. We’ve actually got one less stage than last year just to help improve the flow of people round the venue. What we’ve also done is open doors earlier and so we actually have more bands on this year.”

Are you confident that the Slam Dunk team have fully remedied the congestion problems of the 2010 event?
“The problems we had last year at Hatfield were thoroughly investigated and we found out how it happened. It was a combination of the bad weather and some stage changeovers occurring at the same time, this caused the two walls of people to hit each other and get stuck. That problem will be solved by a flow system which wasn’t put in place last year, there will be a one way system in and around the staircase of doom, as we call it, throughout the day. I don't want to see any repeats of last year at South, I’m confident that the southern event is going to be better than the north one this year.”

Who will you be trying to see this year?
“This year is the tenth anniversary of the Slam Dunk brand, when the club nights started ska-punk was at it’s height and most of the night was taken up playing Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger songs. To tie the tenth anniversary to those three bands, who are coming together in the UK for the very first time to help us celebrate, is something I can’t wait to see. The Starting Line reunion will be a big deal and there is a lot of talk about the UK bands, especially We Are The Ocean and Deaf Havana, who are getting stronger and playing new material.”

Where could Slam Dunk go next after the ten-year anniversary? Have you even begun to think about 2012 yet?
“We have been thinking about that and there are many ideas I’d like to try whether it means moving to different venues or cities. I think whatever happens the festival has to stay true to its roots and it has to remain a multiple stages event. Whatever we do we’ve got to find venues or cities that can help us retain this format so we can get lots of bands on a number of stages. I think I see it staying as a one day event, people have often said that it would be better moving to two days in one city but I think you’ve always got to be different. If I took it outside and made it multiple days then it would just be too similar to a lot of other festivals.”

To get the stage times for Slam Dunk North and South click here and here. Keep checking back to the site for interviews and photos from both festival locations throughout the weekend.