Every year, Slam Dunk Festival storms into Hatfield Park and Temple Newsam like a freight train, delivering the very best in pop-punk, metalcore, and alternative rock. 2025 was no exception. The Ambersphere team had the privilege of being on site at Hatfield Park, soaking in the incredible atmosphere and witnessing the festival in full swing – flawlessly executed by the production team, with standout lighting design supplied by the brilliant crew at ZigZag Lighting.
This year’s festival saw an electric mix of both Slam Dunk favourites and debuting acts. With the likes of Hot Muligan, Neck Deep and headliners A Day to Remember all bringing their own energy and roar worthy choruses on the Main Stage West. The Main Stage East was stacked with heavyweights like The Used, Finch and Electric Callboy, who delivered a truly electrifying set.
Other stages included The Monster Energy Stage, Kerrang! Stage and The Key Club Stage with no shortage of action – each area delivering its own distinct slice of the Slam Dunk soundscape.
One thing that stuck out for us was the technical side of the spectacle. We were thrilled to see a strong presence of MA Lighting’s grandMA3 consoles running multiple stages across the site.
The MA3’s flexibility, power, and reliability were in full display across both the north and south sides, giving lighting designers the platform they needed to craft some seriously impressive looks.
We had the chance to catch up with several of the LDs and operators, and it was clear that the MA3 was helping them bring their creative visions to life, even in the high-pressure world of festival programming.
One standout moment of the day came courtesy of Electric Callboy, whose high-octane performance was enhanced by the searing punch of Ayrton Veloce Profiles. With Lighting design by Patrick Unger, the fixtures cut through the day’s shifting light conditions and kept up with the band’s relentless pace – delivering saturated colour, tight beams, and jaw-dropping effects throughout. Not to mention all the pyro and confetti you could wish for.
Production Shoutouts
Pulling off a festival like Slam Dunk takes serious coordination and dedication. Hats off to:
- Technical Production Director: Simon Angilley
- Technical Production Manager: Tom Rawlinson
- Festival Director: Ben Ray
- Lighting Supplier: Zig Zag Lighting
- Managing Director (Zig Zag): Neil Hunt
Zig Zag Lighting Crew Chiefs:
- Tom Loynes (North)
- Gareth Lonsdale (South)
Main Stage West Ops:
- North: Otis Benjamin
- South: James Matthews
Main Stage East Ops:
- North: Ted Harcombe
- South: John Richardson
Monster Energy Stage Ops:
- North: Zack Burnside
- South: Luke Maxwell
Included in Photos:
- James Matthews – Lighting on the Main Stage West
- James Spilsbry – LD for The Used on the Main Stage East
- Patrick Unger – LD for Electric Callboy on the Main Stage East
Photo credits: Ambersphere, Claire Hodgkins & Sam Strutt
