Slam Dunk 2018: Good Charlotte, Thursday, Creeper and more announced for Birmingham festival

Good Charlotte will be joining the previously announced emo-rock legends Jimmy Eat World for a co-headline slot.

Their co-headline performance is set to be a defining moment for the festival as it marks the Slam Dunk Festival debut of both artists.

Joining them will be the likes of Pvris, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Creeper, Every Time I Die, Crown The Empire, Real Friends and Knuckle Puck.

Rock band Thursday are also set to reform and play the festival as a UK exclusive.

Formed in 1995 after brothers Joel and Benji Madden saw the Beastie Boys in concert, Good Charlotte have grown to become of the most popular modern punk bands.

The group released their self-titled debut album in 2000, but came to many people's attention hosting the MTV show All Things Rock. The Young & The Hopeless was released in 2002 with singles including Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, The Anthem and Girls and Boys.

Good Charlotte went on hiatus in 2011 before returning in 2015 and releasing their sixth studio album Youth Authority in 2016.

Since their inception in 2012, Pvris have gone from strength to strength and garnered a legion of fans.

Last year the band released their second full-length album entitled All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell - which included hit songs Heaven, What's Wrong and Anyone Else.

They last played the festival in 2015, after which being originally booked for the new bands stage were upgraded to the main stage due to their sudden rise in popularity.

After standing as one of the most recognisable voices in modern British rock over the past decade, Frank Carter and his band The Rattlesnakes have had a mammoth rise over the past 18 months.

The former Gallows and Pure Love vocalist and The Rattlesnakes have released two vastly acclaimed albums, captured festival audiences with sets of the weekends and culminated this year in their biggest headline show to date at London's Brixton Academy.

Frank Carter says: "I cannot wait to play Slam Dunk – this has been an incredible couple of years for us, and I can’t think of a better way to start our festival season in 2018 than showing up and absolutely dominating at Slam Dunk.

"Get ready – we’ll see you in the Snake pit!"

Creeper rose to phenomenal heights after the release of their debut album Eternity, In Your Arms which featured hit singles Suzanne, Hiding With Boys, Black Rain and Misery.

Creeper say: “It is with great excitement that we can announce today that we will be returning to Slam Dunk festival in 2018.

"Slam Dunk is always such an important event for our scene each year, and it is an incredible privilege to be playing the main stage. See you all there!”

After seven years away, Thursday will return to the UK in 2018, with Slam Dunk the only place to catch one of the most hotly-anticipated reunions in alt-rock history.

Lead by frontman Geoff Rickly, Thursday reached out and touched at the hearts and minds of a generation - with records like Full Collapse and War All The Time.

After time spent apart, and a feverish demand for their return - Slam Dunk 2018 is primed for a truly special moment as Thursday finally return to prove just why they sit in a class of their own.

Having played the very first Slam Dunk Festival in 2007, it is indeed a momentous welcome back!

Geoff Rickly of Thursday says: “From the very first moment Thursday started playing shows again, we began to ask each other, ‘How can we get back to the UK?!’ Well, we have finally found a way.

"We're very happy to be joining some of our oldest friends at Slam Dunk and we have a bunch of surprises still in store. See you soon. Stay tuned."

After last playing Slam Dunk in 2016, metalcore titans Every Time I Die can’t stay away.

The Buffalo hardcore heavyweights have gained vast recognition on this year’s UK tour run, selling out the likes of London's KOKO.

Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die says: "We’ve played just about every festival there is, indoor and out, and when the only complaint you have of Slam Dunk is: there are too many good bands playing to see all the ones you want, you know you’re a part of something great.

"We’re coming back and we’re bringing the heat. don’t miss it."

Chicago pop-punk band Knuckle Puck began by covering songs after their formation in 2010, before the band members started writing songs.

Following this, the group released a number of EPs, one of which, While I Stay Secluded, peaked at number 5 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.

Knuckle Puck release their latest full-length album, Shapeshifter, this year - which was the follow-up to their debut 2015 release Copacetic.

Kevin Maida of Knuckle Puck says: “We're pumped to come back to the UK, let alone to play Slam Dunk for a second time.

"The first Slam Dunk we played was one of the best experiences we had overseas and we're excited to make some new memories."

After its most successful year to date in 2017, Slam Dunk Festival has been crowned the Best Metropolitan Festival at the UK Festival Awards.

The news comes after the first huge names were announced for 2018, along with details of an expanded and new site for Slam Dunk South at Hatfield Park.

Festival Director, Ben Ray comments: "I’m very happy to win this award of course. The event that we put on is very unique, with each of the 3 metropolitan sites offering something different.

"The fenced off festival site built in a city centre in Leeds, the only multistage music festival to be held on the NEC complex and I’m glad after 8 years on the university campus in Hatfield we could win the award for them the final time there."

Slam Dunk Festival comes to Birmingham NEC on May 28, 2018.

For more information and tickets, visit: https://slamdunkmusic.com/tickets/#ticket-4